Champions League: How can Liverpool & Tottenham join Man City & Man Utd in last 16?
- Published
Real Madrid have won the Champions League in four of the past five seasons - and each of the past three
There is still hope for Tottenham and Liverpool in the Champions League - but the picture is a little complicated.
Basically, it could all be about away goals.
Here's exactly how both teams can go through.
Tottenham
Final round of fixtures - Tuesday, 11 December: Barcelona v Tottenham (20:00 GMT), Inter Milan v PSV (20:00)
After beating Inter Milan 1-0 at Wembley on Wednesday, Mauricio Pochettino's side moved up to second in the Group B table.
They are ahead of Inter because they have a better head-to-head record in their two matches - they lead the Italians on away goals.
Spurs lost 2-1 to Inter in the San Siro in their first meeting in September. So that's 2-2 on aggregate, as it were.
This all means that if they finish level on points with Inter they will be the ones who go through.
So, Spurs will qualify if their result at Barcelona matches or betters Inter's result at home to PSV.
Liverpool
Final round of fixtures - Tuesday, 11 December: Liverpool v Napoli (20:00), Red Star Belgrade v PSG (20:00)
Liverpool's situation is slightly more complex.
They play at home to Napoli in their final group game on Tuesday, 11 December.
They have to win that match to have any hope of progress.
If they win and PSG are beaten at Red Star Belgrade, both Liverpool and Napoli will go through. Both teams will have nine points to PSG's eight, and who finishes top will depend on the result at Anfield.
There are two ways Liverpool can finish above Napoli - with a 1-0 win or with a victory by two goals or more.
A 1-0 win would edge them through on goals scored. That's the simple scenario. This next one is a little more complicated still.
If PSG draw at Red Star and Liverpool win, the Reds, PSG and Napoli will be level on nine points.
They would be separated by their record in matches against each other - essentially a mini three-team group, discounting results against Red Star.
A Liverpool victory on 11 December would see them top that on six points, with PSG and Napoli level on five points.
Who progresses out of those two would depend on Napoli's result at Anfield.
Group A
Final round of fixtures - Tuesday, 11 December: Club Brugge v Atletico Madrid (20:00), Monaco v Borussia Dortmund (20:00)
On Wednesday, Atletico Madrid beat Monaco 2-0 and Borussia Dortmund drew 0-0 with Club Brugge.
Both teams are now through to the last 16. If they finish level on points Dortmund have the better head-to-head record. They beat Atletico 4-0 at home, before losing 2-0 away.
Club Brugge have qualified for the Europa League knockout stage.
Group D
Final round of fixtures - Tuesday 11 December: Schalke v Lokomotiv Moscow (17:55), Galatasaray v FC Poro (17:55)
Galatasaray's 2-0 defeat at Lokomotiv Moscow in one of Wednesday's 17:55 kick-offs meant by the time Porto hosted Schalke both sides had already reached the last 16.
Porto sealed top spot with a 3-1 home victory over the Germans.
Group E
Final round of fixtures - Wednesday 12 December: Ajax v Bayern Munich (20:00), Benfica v AEK Athens (20:00).
On Tuesday, 27 November, Bayern Munich thrashed Benfica 5-1 and Ajax won 2-0 at AEK Athens as both winners advanced to the knockout stage.
Bundesliga champions Bayern will top the group if they avoid defeat at Ajax, while the Eredivisie side need a victory to overtake them into first place.
Benfica take the consolation prize of a Europa League place, while AEK Athens are without a point and will finish bottom of the group.
Group F
Final round of fixtures - Wednesday 12 December: Manchester City v Hoffenheim (20:00), Shakhtar Donetsk v Lyon (20:00)
Manchester City's 2-2 draw at Lyon allowed them to progress to the knockout stage and Pep Guardiola's side will finish top of the group if they avoid defeat against Hoffenheim in their final game.
Taison's injury-time winner for Shakhtar Donetsk at Hoffenheim put the cat amongst the pigeons for the second spot, as the Ukrainian side will go through if they beat Lyon next month.
Hoffenheim cannot progress, but will qualify for the Europa League if they beat City and Lyon beat Shakhtar.
Group G
Final round of fixtures - Wednesday 12 December: Real Madrid v CSKA Moscow (17:55), Viktoria Plzen v Roma (17:55)
Real Madrid's 2-0 win at Roma ensured they will top the group, but the Italians also progressed to the knockout phase after CSKA Moscow were beaten by Viktoria Plzen.
CSKA, bottom of the group as it stands, need to better third-placed Plzen's result in the final game to clinch a Europa League spot in their place.
Group H
Final round of fixtures - Wednesday 12 December: Valencia v Manchester United (20:00), Young Boys v Juventus (20:00)
Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic and Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini scored the winning goals to take their sides into the knockout stage.
United will top the group if they beat Valencia - who will enter the Europa League - in their final game AND Serie A champions Juve suffer a shock defeat at Young Boys, who are eliminated from Europa contention and will finish bottom.