The league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League is nearing its conclusion, and with just one round of matches remaining, all six English clubs are in with a shout of finishing in the top eight. Ending the league phase as one of the top eight sides would mean immediate advancement to the Round of 16 and thus avoiding the knockout phase play-offs. Managers and players will obviously be keen to avoid the extra two games in February, partly because they could get knocked out, but also because players will be less fatigued.
With seven games down and one to go, what do the English clubs need to do to finish in the top eight? With five of the so-called Big Six of English football, plus Newcastle (in place of the missing-in-action Man United), this is a great opportunity for Premier League sides to stamp their authority on Europe’s top competition. We’ll run through the English sides in the CL, starting with a side that has already secured its place in the Round of 16.
Arsenal – Cruising Through in Style
Things couldn’t have gone much better for Mikel Arteta’s side in the Champions League this season: seven games, seven victories, and they’ve scored 20 goals and have only conceded two. Bayern Munich are the Gunners’ nearest rivals, having won six of their seven games, and the one they lost? Against Arsenal at the Emirates!
With 21 points on the board, Arsenal are guaranteed to progress to the Round of 16. They are also guaranteed a top-two finish, and they’ll likely finish at the top of the pile. Their final league phase game is at home against Kairat, the bottom side, who have managed just a single draw and no wins from their seven games. The Gunners have a fantastic chance to maintain their 100% record and go into the Round of 16 as the team to beat.
Liverpool – Reds Can Conquer Qarabağ to Progress
For all the talk of Liverpool having an awful season, they have performed pretty well in the Champions League this term. Okay, the 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in Matchday 2 wasn’t ideal. And the 4-1 home defeat to PSV was even worse. But a 5-1 triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt and a well-deserved 1-0 win over Real Madrid at Anfield mean Arne Slot’s men have amassed 15 points from their seven matches. That means a victory in their final match at home against Qarabağ would guarantee progression to the Round of 16.
A draw might well be enough, depending on what happens with the teams below them, but Slot will be eager to make sure. They certainly looked impressive on Wednesday when winning 3-0 at Marseille, although the Reds won’t take anything for granted as Qarabağ will be fighting to stay in the play-off spots.
Tottenham Hotspur – Champions League Relief from Domestic Woes
Spurs are down in 14th place in the Premier League at the time of writing, but they’re up in fifth in the Champions League and have a great chance of making it to the Round of 16. Assuming Thomas Frank is still in the dugout, he’ll attempt to mastermind victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Wednesday. The Bundesliga side have badly underperformed in the Champions League this term, having won one, drawn one and lost four of their games so far. A win for Spurs would see them through, and it would probably buy Frank a little more time in his job too.
Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester City – 13: Lucky for Some?
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle face a very tough trip to Paris Saint-Germain for their final game. Both sides are on 13 points as things stand, as are Chelsea, Barcelona, Sporting, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Atalanta. As such, even victory for any of these sides might not be enough to secure progression to the Round of 16, as it could well come down to goal difference. Incidentally, if sides are level on points and goal difference, the sides would be separated on goals scored, then away goals scored, then wins, then away wins (and several other factors, if needed). Newcastle have a chance against PSG, but we wouldn’t bet our house on the Magpies prevailing.
Chelsea are arguably better-placed than Newcastle based on their final fixture, but only just. The Blues must travel to Napoli as Liam Rosenior attempts to find a way to beat the Italians. As things stand, Napoli are in danger of not even progressing through the play-offs as they are down in 25th place in the table. With two wins, two draws, and three defeats, Antonio Conte’s men could be feeling the pressure, and the Blues could take advantage if they remain patient.
Pep Guardiola’s Man City haven’t been exactly firing at times this term. Not least when going down 3-1 to Bodø/Glimt on Tuesday, which was a new low. It means they have plenty of work to do if they want to join Arsenal and co in the Round of 16. If they want to avoid the play-offs, City will need to beat Galatasaray at home, and, ideally, by a large margin of goals. When you have Erling Haaland in your side, scoring plenty is always possible, but will he show up on Wednesday?