Juventus, Benfica, Celtic, Galatasaray, CFR Cluj and holders Chelsea will all be aiming to secure themselves a place in the Champions League knockout stage on matchday six.
With 13 of the 16 available slots already filled by the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, only Groups E, G and H still have teams vying for a last 16 berth.
The Bianconeri travel to Donetsk knowing that a point against Shakhtar will see them through at the expense of Rafael Benitez’s side, who of course lifted the trophy back in May.
Should Chelsea go out, they will be the first defending champions to be knocked out in the group stage since the European Cup was re-branded in 1992.
Elsewhere, SPL champions Celtic know that they must better Benfica’s result to make it through to the next stage, but will be given heart by the fact the Portuguese side travel to Camp Nou to face the Blaugrana.
Finally, CFR Cluj must better Galatasaray’s result, a difficult task given that they are playing Manchester United at Old Trafford, while the Turks play already-eliminated Sporting Braga.
Before we bring you the qualification scenarios and permutations, here are the Champions League tie-breaker criteria to separate teams that are level on points:
i.) Higher number of points won in the group games between the teams in question
ii.) Superior goal difference in the group games between the teams in question only
iii.) Higher number of goals scored in the group games between the teams in question only
iv.) Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group games between the teams in question only
v.) Superior goal difference from all group games
vi.) Higher number of goals scored from all group games
- Porto have qualified for the last 16, but can secure top spot if they avoid defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
- Paris Saint-Germain have qualified for the last 16 but will finish top of the group if they beat Porto.
- Dinamo Kiev have already secured themselves Europa League football.
- Dinamo Zagreb have been eliminated from European competition.
- Schalke have qualified for the last 16, but can secure top spot if they beat Montpellier.
- Arsenal have also qualified for the knockout phase, but can secure top spot if they beat Olympiakos and Schalke do not beat Montpellier.
- Olympiakos have secured Europa League football.
- Montpellier have been eliminated from European competition.
- Malaga have qualified for the last 16 as group winners.
- AC Milan have qualified in second place.
- Zenit and Anderlecht have an equal head-to-head record.
- Zenit will qualify for the Europa League if they better the Belgians’ result, if both teams draw, or if the pair win but Zenit finish with a higher goal difference.
- Anderlecht will qualify if if they better Zenit’s result, or finish with a better goal difference.
- Borussia Dortmund have qualified as group winners.
- Real Madrid have qualified in second place.
- Ajax can clinch Europa League football if they match or better Manchester City’s result.
- Manchester City will clinch Europa League football if they win, and Ajax fail to pick up three points.
- Shakhtar have qualified, but can secure top spot if they get at least a point against Juventus.
- Juventus will secure a place in the knockout stages if they draw in Donetsk.
- Chelsea can only qualify for the last 16 if they beat Nordsjaelland and Juventus lose. If they do not do that they will play Europa League football.
- Nordsjaelland are out of European competition.
- Bayern Munich have qualified for the last 16, but can clinch top spot if they match or better Valencia’s result.
- Valencia have also qualified and can take first place if they better Bayern’s result.
- BATE have secured Europa League qualification.
- Lille have been eliminated from European competition.
- Barcelona have qualified as group winners.
- Benfica will qualify if they match or better Celtic’s result.
- Celtic will advance should they better Benfica’s result.
- Spartak Moscow have been eliminated from European competition.
- Manchester United have qualified as group winners.
- Galatasaray will qualify for the last 16 if they match or better CFR Cluj’s result.
- CFR Cluj will make the last 16 if they better Galatasaray’s result.
- Sporting Braga have been eliminated from European competition.
Germany became the first team to join co-hosts Poland and Ukraine in the tournament finals, and Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and England have since followed them.
That leaves the likes of France, Russia, Greece, Portugal, Belgium, Serbia and Scotland, among others, to tussle for the remaining nine spots: four will go to the group winners, one to the best runners-up amongst all the groups, and four more via the play-offs.
Which teams will safely secure automatic entry to the Euro 2012 finals this Tuesday? Who will have to settle for the two-legged play-off? And which nation will have their hearts broken?
First, here is a reminder of the qualification rules:
– Group winners qualify automatically for the finals.
– One group runner-up with the best record (most points in games against the top five teams in the group) will also gain direct qualification.
– The remaining eight runners-up will contest a two-legged play-off and the winners will qualify to make up the 16 finalists.
– If teams are level on points at the end of the group matches, the following tie-breaker criteria will take precedence:
i.) higher number of points won in the group games between the teams in question
ii.) superior goal difference in the group games between the teams in question only
iii.) higher number of goals scored in the group games between the teams in question only
iv.) higher number of goals scored away from home in the group games between the teams in question only
KEY:
Q = Qualified for last 16
W = Group winners
X = Cannot advance to last 16
E = Qualified for Europa League round of 32
| MATCHDAY FIVE: |
| Bayern Munich v Villarreal |
| Napoli v Manchester City |
- Bayern Munich will qualify for the last 16 with a victory or a draw on matchday five. They will be guaranteed as group winners if they beat Villarreal and Manchester City fail to match their result.
- Manchester City can only qualify for the last 16 on matchday five with a win over Napoli. Victory will also ensure they stay in the race to finish as group winners.
- Napoli will not progress ay further if they lose to Manchester City. A win will not only keep them in contention for a last 16 berth but will guarantee them a place in the Europa League round of 32.
- Villarreal cannot advance any further in the Champions League. They can only stay in the race for a Europa League spot if they beat Bayern Munich and Napoli fail to win against Manchester City.
| MATCHDAY FIVE: |
| CSKA Moscow v Lille |
| Trabzonspor v Inter |
- Inter will qualify for the last 16 as long as they avoid defeat to Trabzonspor. A victory will ensure they win the group with one matchday to spare. A draw will be enough provided CSKA Moscow do not beat Lille.
- CSKA Moscow will qualify for the last 16 as group runners-up if they win on matchday five and Trabzonspor lose.
- Trabzonspor cannot guarantee last 16 qualification on matchday five even with a victory and a CSKA Moscow defeat. However, they will be out of contention if they lose to Inter and CSKA win. They will ensure a Europa League spot as long as Lille fail to at least equal their result on matchday five.
- Lille need a win to stay in the race for a last 16 berth. A draw against CSKA Moscow with a 2-2 score or higher will keep them in contention, provided Trabzonspor lose on matchday five.
| MATCHDAY FIVE: |
| Manchester United v Benfica |
| Otelul Galati v Basel |
- Manchester United will qualify for the last 16 as long as they avoid defeat on matchday five and Basel lose to Otelul Galati. They will be guaranteed as group winners if they beat Benfica and Basel fail to win.
- Benfica will qualify for the last 16 as long as they avoid defeat on matchday five and Basel lose to Otelul Galati. They will be guaranteed as group winners if they beat Manchester United, regardless of Basel’s result.
- Basel must avoid defeat on matchday five and hope Benfica do not win to stay in contention for a last 16 place. They will, however, be guaranteed a place in the Europa League round of 32 as long as they do not lose to Otelul Galati.
- Otelul Galati cannot advance any further in the Champions League. They will be eliminated from European competition altogether if they fail to win against Basel.
| MATCHDAY FIVE: |
| Lyon v Ajax |
| Real Madrid v Dinamo Zagreb |
- Real Madrid have qualified for the last 16. They will win the group on matchday five if they beat Dinamo Zagreb. A draw will be enough provided Ajax fail to defeat Lyon.
- Ajax will be assured of a last 16 spot with a win at Lyon. A score draw will be sufficient as they drew 0-0 at home in the reverse fixture.
- Lyon must win on matchday five to stay in the hunt for a last 16 berth. However, they will secure a place in the Europa League provided Dinamo Zagreb do not better their result.
- Dinamo Zagreb cannot advance any further in the Champions League. They will be eliminated from European competition altogether if they lose at Real Madrid. However, a victory will not be enough if Lyon win against Ajax.