The final day of the UEFA Champions League league phase has arrived.
In a complete bonanza of action, all 36 teams will be in action simultaneously with 18 matches kicking off at 3 p.m. ET.
There is plenty on the line Wednesday, with only two teams having clinched a spot in the last 16 and only four teams completely eliminated from the competition already.
That means 30 teams will be jockeying for position on Wednesday. Some will be aiming to finish inside the top eight and clinch an automatic berth in the round of 16. Others are pushing to finish in the top 24, clinching a spot in the playoff round.
Here is everything you need to know heading into the final day of action.
How to watch Champions League today: Live stream, TV
Watch Champions League on Paramount+
Champions League schedule, games today
*All games kick off at 3 p.m. ET
- Ajax vs. Olympiacos
- Arsenal vs. Kairat
- Monaco vs. Juventus
- Athletic Club vs. Sporting CP
- Atlético Madrid vs. Bodø / Glimt
- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Villarreal
- Borussia Dortmund vs. Inter
- Club Brugge vs. Marseille
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Tottenham
- Barcelona vs. Copenhagen
- Liverpool vs. Qarabağ
- Manchester City vs. Galatasaray
- Pafos vs. Slavia Prague
- Napoli vs. Chelsea
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Newcastle
- PSV vs. Bayern Munich
- Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Atalanta
- Benfica vs. Real Madrid
Champions League standings and table
(Entering play Wednesday, Jan. 28)
- Arsenal – 21 points
- Bayern Munich – 18 points
- Real Madrid – 15 points, +11 goal differential
- Liverpool – 15 points, +6 GD
- Tottenham – 14 points
- PSG – 13 points, +10 GD
- Newcastle United – 13 points, +10 GD
- Chelsea – 13 points, +6 GD
The full Champions League table can be found HERE.
Champions League tiebreakers
If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the league phase matches, the following criteria are applied, in this order, to determine their rankings:
- Superior goal difference in the league phase
- Higher number of goals scored in the league phase
- Higher number of away goals scored in the league phase
- Higher number of wins in the league phase
- Higher number of away wins in the league phase
- Higher number of points obtained collectively by league phase opponents
- Superior collective goal difference of league phase opponents
- Higher number of goals scored collectively by league phase opponents
- Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all league phase matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
- Higher club coefficient (see Annex D)
Champions League format
The top eight finishers will receive an automatic berth to the round of 16. So far, only Arsenal and Bayern Munich have clinched a top-eight finish.
The 16 teams who finish from ninth to 24th in the league phase will face each other in two-leg playoff ties, with the eight winners advancing to the round of 16.
The teams who finish from 25th to 36th place will be eliminated. So far, only four teams have no chance of finishing inside the top 24: Kairat, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Which teams have qualified?
In terms of qualification to the next round, the 36 teams can be divided into five different groups. They are as follows:
- Round of 16 confirmed: Arsenal, Bayern Munich
- Round of 16 or playoff place confirmed: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Chelsea, Barcelona, Sporting CP, Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Inter, Juventus
- Round of 16, playoff place, elimination possible: Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Qarabag
- Cannot advance directly to the round of 16, playoff place possible: Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco, PSV, Athletic Club, Olimpiacos, Napoli, Copenhagen, Club Brugge, Bodø/Glimt, Benfica, Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise, Ajax
- Eliminated: Kairat, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Eintracht Frankfurt
When is the Champions League draw?
The draw for the playoffs and knockout stage will be held on Friday, Jan. 30.
Champions League knockout round schedule
Playoff round
- First legs: Feb. 17 and 18
- Second legs: Feb 24 and 25
Round of 16
- First legs: March 10 and 11
- Second legs: March 17 and 18
Quarterfinals
- First legs: April 7 and 8
- Second legs: April 14 and 15
Semifinals
- First legs: April 28 and 29
- Second legs: May 5 and 6
Final
- May 30 in Budapest
