Barcelona's accounts to enter the Champions League TOP-8

The qualification for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League saw significant changes on matchday 7 after several surprising results. The defeats of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, added to the stumbles of Atalanta and Atlético de Madrid on Wednesday, left FC Barcelona in a very strong position to advance directly to the round of 16 as a member of the TOP-8.

Hansi Flick's team climbed from 15th to 9th place thanks to their victory against Slavia Prague (2-4). Barça came from behind with a brace from Fermín López, a great goal from Dani Olmo, and another from Robert Lewandowski to reach 13 points, the same as seven other teams, three of them currently within the TOP-8 (PSG, Newcastle, and Chelsea).

Luis Enrique's team, despite falling on Tuesday to **Sporting** (2-1), remain sixth, while Newcastle and Chelsea climbed into the direct qualification zone thanks to their victories against **PSV Eindhoven** (3-0) and **Pafos** (1-0), respectively. **City, Atlético de Madrid**, and **Atalanta**, on the other hand, dropped out of the TOP-8 due to their stumbles in the matchday.

Pep Guardiola's team was thrashed by **Bodo/Glimt** in Norway (3-1), while the 'Colchoneros' could only manage a draw in Turkey against **Galatasaray** (1-1). Atalanta, on the other hand, lost at home to **Athletic** (2-3). If all three had won on this matchday, they would have practically had one foot in the round of 16, especially the English and Italian teams.

Barça must beat Copenhagen to have a chance

All these results left Barcelona very well positioned to advance directly to the round of 16 with 16 points, provided the Blaugrana team defeats Copenhagen (26th) at Spotify Camp Nou next Wednesday (9:00 PM CEST)

The Catalans, thanks to their victory against Slavia Prague, have accumulated 13 points, 18 goals for and 13 against, with a difference of +5. A comfortable win will be key to improving their qualification chances, but the schedule and the results that may occur on the next matchday could allow Barça to secure seventh or eighth place even with a narrow win against the Danish team

Copenhagen is coming off a 1-1 draw at home against Napoli and only won two matches in the group stage, one of them in Spain against Villarreal (2-3). The Danes have scored 11 goals and conceded 17, making them one of the teams with the worst defense in the tournament.

Goal difference, key to entering the Champions TOP-8

Kasper Hogh celebrating one of his goals against Manchester City

Currently, there are eight teams tied with 13 points, all with mathematical chances of avoiding the playoff if they manage to win their last league match. **Paris Saint-Germain**, **Newcastle**, and **Chelsea** occupy the last three spots in the TOP-8, with the French and the 'magpies' having the better goal difference (+10).

However, both teams will face each other next Wednesday at the Parc des Princes in a duel where the winner will advance directly to the round of 16. A draw, on the other hand, could force both to play in the playoffs. Chelsea, for now, has a +6 goal average, but on the last matchday they visit **Napoli**, who must win at all costs to return to the TOP-24.

Barça (9th) and Sporting CP (10th), for now, are the closest clubs to the TOP-8 **with a +5 goal difference**. However, the Catalans will play at home against Copenhagen (26th) who need to win at Camp Nou to play in the playoff, while the Lisbon team visits Athletic (23rd) at San Mamés.

The Basques came back to life after defeating Atalanta in Bergamo (2-3) and are now in control of their own destiny to remain in the play-off zone. The other three teams with 13 points are Manchester City (11th), Atlético (12th), and Atalanta (13th). The English team has a +4 goal difference and, by winning at home against Galatasaray, they can also break into the TOP-8 if Newcastle, Chelsea, and Sporting do not win their matches.

The same happens with Atlético (+3), which **needs to thrash Bodo/Glimt** at the Metropolitano to have any hope of avoiding the playoff. Atalanta (+1), after falling to Athletic, got into serious trouble and now must go and get three points in Belgium against Union Saint-Gilloise to hope for a miracle

This is the outlook for advancing directly to the round of 16

1. Arsenal (1st) and Bayern (2nd) are the only teams qualified with 21 and 18 points, respectively.

2. Real Madrid (3rd) and Liverpool (4th) have 15 points and only need to win their last match to secure qualification. Madrid would even be content with a draw against Benfica, thanks to their goal difference (+11).

3. Tottenham (5th) has 14 points and depends on themselves to qualify, but they must beat Eintracht in Germany.

4. PSG (6th) and Newcastle (7th) have 13 points, but thanks to their goal difference (+10) they also depend on themselves to stay in the TOP-8. However, Paris will host Newcastle on matchday 8 and a draw would force both to play in the repechage.

5. Chelsea (8th) also has good chances of staying in the TOP-8, as long as they manage to defeat Napoli in Italy. The 'blues', for now, have +6 in goal difference.

6. Barcelona (9th) can also secure their presence in the TOP-8 with a win at home against Copenhagen, taking advantage of the direct duel between PSG and Newcastle. The Catalans have +5 goal difference, one less than Chelsea.

7. Sporting (10th), City (11th), Atlético (12th) and Atalanta (13th) will also reach 16 points if they win on J8. However, they need to win by a wide margin to have chances. The Portuguese, like Barça, have +5 in goal difference, but they visit Athletic in San Mamés. City and Atlético, on the other hand, will play at home against Galatasaray and Bodo/Glimt, respectively.

 All matches of matchday 8 of the Champions League 25/26 league phase

• All matches of matchday 8 will be played simultaneously.