Champions League group stage week 6 preview

It felt like only yesterday that we were getting ready for the first round of games for the 19/20 Champions League group stage, but here we are, getting ready for gameweek 6 and just a couple of days from knowing which teams have qualified for the round of 16, and which teams have dropped down to the Europa League. It’s been a couple of weeks since the Champions League was in action so we thought we’d do a short preview regarding how each Champions League group could finish ahead of the final game.

There isn’t much to talk about regarding group A as PSG are the guaranteed winners of the group with Real Madrid also guaranteed qualification to the next round in second place. As it stands, Club Brugge will be heading to the Europa League with Galatasaray finishing fourth. However, if Galatasaary want to qualify for the Europa League, they will need to beat PSG in Paris and hope that Club Brugge drop points at home to Real Madrid.

1. PSG - 13
2. Real Madrid - 8
3. Club Brugge - 3
4. Galatasaray - 2

Just like group A, we know who will be going through to the round of 16 as Bayern Munich’s perfect record means they have guaranteed top spot of group B with Tottenham sealing second place, so Tottenham’s trip to the Allianz Arena doesn’t hold much importance for their season. Olympiacos’ game with Crvena Zvezda will determine who goes through to the Europa League. A Crvena Zvezda victory or a draw will mean the Serbian side will go through, an Olympiacos victory, however, will mean that the Greek side will go through.

1. Bayern Munich - 15
2. Tottenham - 10
3. Crvena Zvezda - 3
4. Olympiacos - 1

Group C is much more open going into the final game as: Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb and Atalanta can all still qualify. Manchester City will travel to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb knowing that they are guaranteed first place in group C. A victory for Shakhtar Donetsk over Atalanta will mean that they will qualify for the next round with Dinamo Zagreb finishing third. If Atalanta beat Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb don’t beat Manchester City, they will finish second. Dinamo Zagreb can finish second if they beat Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk drops points against Atalanta.

1. Manchester City - 11
2. Shakhtar Donetsk - 6
3. Dinamo Zagreb - 5
4. Atalanta - 4

After their 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid during gameweek 5, Juventus guaranteed top spot of group D. The defeat for Atletico however means they haven’t guaranteed qualification to the round of 16 just yet, however, a victory over Lokomotiv Moscow will advance them to the next round, and if Bayer Leverkusen lose to Juventus, they will qualify regardless of their result against Lokomotiv Moscow. If Bayer Leverkusen can cause a shock and beat Juventus and Atletico fail to beat Lokomotiv Moscow, Bayer Leverkusen will qualify and Atletico Madrid will drop down to the Europa League.

1. Juventus - 13
2. Atletico Madrid - 7
3. Bayer Leverkusen - 6
4. Lokomotiv Moscow - 3

Liverpool go into their game against RB Salzburg top of group E and only needing a point to guarantee qualification and a win to guarantee top spot. A victory for Napoli will seal their place in the round of 16 and will finish top if Liverpool fail to beat RB Salzburg. However, if Liverpool lose to RB Salzburg and Napoli avoid defeat against Genk, they will finish third and drop down to the Europa League.

1. Liverpool - 10
2. Napoli - 9
3. RB Salzburg - 7
4. Genk - 1

Barcelona’s victory over Borussia Dortmund in their last Champions League game means they are guaranteed to finish top of Group F regardless of their result against Inter this week. As it stands, Borussia Dortmund and Inter are level on points going into the final game, a victory over Barcelona will mean that Inter will qualify to the round of 16 with Borussia Dortmund going to the Europa League. However, should Inter drop points against Barcelona, a victory over Slavia Praha will mean that Borussia Dortmund will finish second, and should Inter lose to Barcelona, Dortmund will only need a point.

1. Barcelona - 11
2. Inter - 7
3. Borussia Dortmund - 7
4. Slavia Praha - 2

RB Leipzig go into their game against Lyon knowing that they are guaranteed a spot in the round of 16 regardless of the result. If Zenit beat Benfica in Portugal they will join RB Leipzig, but if Zenit drop points and Benfica beat RB Leipzig, they will finish second. Should Zenit lose to Benfica, Lyon will only need a point against RB Leipzig to qualify, and should Lyon lose to RB Leipzig, Zenit will only need a point to qualify.

1. RB Leipzig - 10
2. Zenit - 7
3. Lyon - 7
4. Benfica - 4

Chelsea go into their game against Lille knowing their fate is in their own hands, as a victory will guarantee them a place in the round of 16. Ajax’s fate is also in their own hands and just need to avoid defeat to join Chelsea. Chelsea can qualify through a draw as long as Valencia don’t pick up any points against Ajax.

1. Ajax - 10
2. Valencia - 8
3. Chelsea - 8
4. Lille - 4