Champions League: Table, fixtures, results and which teams are on course for qualifying for the knockout phase
The Opta Supercomputer predicts the final Champions League table; Arsenal lead the way with three English clubs backed to finish in the top eight, qualifying automatically for the last 16; Sides ranked ninth to 24th go into a two-legged play-off to make the knockout rounds
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:35, UK
The Opta Supercomputer has predicted the final Champions League table with three games remaining - and some big clubs are set to face a play-off in order to reach the knockout stage.
Five matchdays have been played with only Arsenal holding a 100 per cent record after inflicting a first defeat on Bayern Munich, who are third behind holders Paris Saint-Germain.
Opta predicts Bayern and PSG will swap places with Arsenal topping the table, followed by Real Madrid and Inter Milan in fourth and fifth. The Supercomputer's predictions then become more interesting.
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Last year, in the first edition of this new format, you needed 16 points to make the top eight and 11 (with a handy goal difference) to make the top 24.
Manchester City are currently outside of the top eight after losing to Bayer Leverkusen in their last outing, but Opta has them set to finish in sixth on 15 points, a place above Chelsea.
Dortmund are predicted to claim the final spot in the top eight which means Liverpool, Barcelona, Tottenham and Newcastle would compete in the play-offs for a place in the knockout rounds.
See the full predicted table below...
Who qualifies for the knockouts?
The top eight sides at the end of the league phase qualify automatically for the last 16.
The next 16 sides - ranked ninth to 24th - go into a two-legged play-off against each other to make the knockout rounds.
The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated, with no access to the Europa League.
How have the English sides done so far - and what have they got coming up?
When are the 2025/26 Champions League knockout stages?
Play-off draw: January 30, 2026
Knockout play-offs: February 17-18 and 24-25, 2026
Round of 16: March 10-11 and 17-18, 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and 14-15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6, 2026
Final: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Where is the Champions League final being held in 2026?
The 2025/26 Champions League final will take place in Budapest at the Puskas Arena on Saturday May 30.
