The continent’s prime groups are actually previous the midway stage of the 2025/26 league part, with every of the 36 golf equipment concerned having performed 5 of their eight matches forward of the knockout rounds beginning in February.
The competitors has already seen some blockbuster matches as a number of the continent’s prime sides have confronted off – with and – and the race for the automated qualification locations is starting to warmth up.
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The groups who end within the prime eight within the desk will qualify for the knockout rounds mechanically, with these sides in ninth to twenty fourth dealing with off in play-off ties in an effort to qualify for the knockout rounds correct. The competitors for locations is already shut, with solely 4 factors separating sixth-placed Dortmund and Union SG in twenty fifth.
golf equipment dominated the early matches within the league part – with , Man Metropolis, and all beforehand occupying locations within the prime eight – and although the Blues continued that pattern with the win over Barcelona, latest losses for Metropolis, Newcastle and Liverpool imply that a number of the English golf equipment want to start out choosing up wins in the event that they wish to guarantee automated qualification.
So, with 4 matches left and every membership dealing with drastically totally different schedules, might every Premier League aspect end within the prime eight automated qualification locations?
Arsenal
The Gunners moved prime of the desk with the win over Bayern (Getty Photographs)
Arsenal marked themselves out as the perfect aspect on the continent with an outstanding win over Bayern Munich this week. with Mikel Arteta’s males boasting a 100 per cent document and only one objective conceded after 5 matches.
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The Gunners have gotten previous their hardest take a look at with flying colors, and the dominant nature of their performances has marked them out as the current favourites to win the competitors.
With the Gunners now three factors forward of second-placed PSG with three video games left to play, it might take an unprecedented dip in kind for Arsenal to drop out of the highest eight, particularly contemplating two of their remaining matches come in opposition to Membership Brugge and Kazakh minnows FC Kairat.
Liverpool
Liverpool’s shock loss to PSV continued a dire run of kind (Getty Photographs)
Regardless of a rocky patch in latest weeks, Liverpool have managed to avoid wasting their finest kind for Europe, with Arne Slot’s aspect having crushed each Atletico and Actual Madrid to date in 2025/26. Nonetheless, an unprecedented 4-1 loss to PSV at Anfield this week means the Reds slip to thirteenth within the desk, although they’re only one level off eighth.
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Slot’s aspect nonetheless should play Inter Milan as they give the impression of being to safe a spot within the prime eight, they usually seemingly gained’t head into that match as favourites based mostly on present kind, whereas the away match in opposition to an in-form Marseille additionally seems troublesome. Nonetheless, with the ultimate match coming at house in opposition to Qarabag, Arne Slot might be assured of no less than making the play-offs, and win over Inter or Marseille places them within the driving seat for the highest eight.
Manchester Metropolis
Metropolis had a blip in opposition to Leverkusen, however they’re nonetheless answerable for their very own future (Getty Photographs)
Manchester Metropolis’s on their European document after the away draw to AS Monaco, with Pep with simply three matches left of the league part.
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Simple wins over Napoli, Villarreal and Borussia Dortmund imply that the Cityzens sit in ninth within the desk with 10 factors, although the subsequent match comes on 10 December away to Actual Madrid – lose that and there could also be some fear setting in on the Etihad.
Nonetheless, with Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt to come back after Los Blancos, Metropolis are virtually sure of incomes a spot within the prime 24, they usually can nonetheless be assured of securing a spot within the automated qualification locations too, with 16 factors the supposed ‘goal’ for making the highest eight.
Chelsea
A well-known win over Barcelona means Chelsea made an enormous step in direction of automated qualification (Getty Photographs)
With 5 matches performed, Chelsea sit in seventh within the league part desk, although they’re stage on factors with these sides combating to get into the highest eight.
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Optimistic outcomes in opposition to Ajax and Benfica had been sandwiched between a disappointing loss to Bayern Munich and a sloppy draw to Qarabag, however the Blues exploded into life this week with an outstanding win over Barcelona.
That win signifies that Enzo Maresca’a aspect have taken an enormous step in direction of ending within the prime eight, they usually have virtually actually secured a spot within the the highest 24 to ensure a knockout spherical play-off tie. With matches in opposition to Atalanta and Pafos to come back earlier than a probably difficult fixture away to Napoli to complete the marketing campaign, the Blues are very nicely positioned to complete within the automated qualification locations, barring a stunning dip in kind.
Tottenham
Spurs’ loss to PSG places them sixteenth within the desk (Getty Photographs)
Tottenham Hotspur’s marketing campaign began with a whimper with a slim win over Villarreal adopted by attracts to Bodo/Glimt and Monaco, and although some it sprung into life with the 4-0 win over an admittedly poor Copenhagen aspect, the 5-3 loss to PSG this week has despatched the Lilywhites again into sixteenth within the desk, although solely two factors behind the groups round eighth.
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That consequence leaves Thomas Frank’s aspect in want of wins in the event that they wish to keep within the prime 24, although they’ve a winnable house fixture in opposition to Slavia Praha and a tougher match in opposition to German giants Borussia Dortmund earlier than they end with an away fixture in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt. Any losses might pile the strain on Spurs, they usually’ll must wrap up that consequence in opposition to Slavia to place a foot within the play-offs.
Newcastle
Newcastle must keep away from defeat to Leverkusen to remain inside touching distance of the highest eight (Getty Photographs)
Regardless of combined kind that has seen them battle at occasions domestically, Newcastle had been flying excessive in Europe, dropping only one match – at house to Barcelona – earlier than profitable three on the bounce to rise as much as sixth within the league part desk.
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Nonetheless, that run modified this week as a Nick Pope mistake noticed them of their fifth match of the marketing campaign, with the Magpies now sitting in eleventh.
Whereas convincing wins over Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao present a reminder that the Magpies are one of many continent’s most troublesome sides to play on their day, they’ve troublesome fixtures in opposition to Leverkusen and PSV subsequent up, earlier than a probably large remaining match away to PSG.
It might come to move that the Magpies’ house kind defines their marketing campaign, and with the Leverkusen and PSG video games each away, Eddie Howe’s aspect must safe a win at house to PSV if they’re to maintain up their hunt for the highest eight. Nonetheless, the tie away to Leverkusen on 10 December is the largest sport to date – win that they usually’ll be in an ideal place forward of the ultimate matches.
