Daijiworld Media Network - Manchester
Manchester, Jan 22: Premier League sides are powering ahead in the UEFA Champions League, with five English clubs well placed to qualify for the round of 16 as the league phase heads into a dramatic final round.
Arsenal have already sealed their spot in the knockout stage, sitting comfortably at the top of the standings. Liverpool, Newcastle United and Chelsea strengthened their positions on Wednesday with crucial victories, moving into the top eight automatic qualification places with one match remaining. Tottenham Hotspur are placed fifth, while Manchester City are the only English side currently occupying the playoff positions.
“Let’s make sure we’re in the top eight. We’ve put ourselves in a good position, but that’s for next week,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool climbed to fourth after a 3-0 win over Marseille, with goals coming via Dominik Szoboszlai, a Geronimo Rulli own goal and Cody Gakpo. Newcastle recorded an identical 3-0 victory against PSV Eindhoven, while Chelsea edged past Pafos 1-0 thanks to a Moises Caicedo header.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich joined Arsenal in confirming qualification for the round of 16, as Harry Kane scored twice in a 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise. Kane’s tally rose to 36 goals this season, though he narrowly missed a hat-trick after hitting the crossbar from the penalty spot.
Barcelona, currently ninth, remain at risk of being forced into the playoffs despite a thrilling 4-2 comeback win over Slavia Prague, highlighted by two goals from Fermin Lopez. With just three points separating third-placed Real Madrid and 15th-placed Juventus, the final round promises intense drama.
Under the competition format, the top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16, while sides placed ninth to 24th enter a two-legged playoff.
Among the standout final-day fixtures, Napoli host Chelsea in a high-stakes encounter, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face Newcastle. Manchester City’s home clash against Galatasaray is also crucial as they look to avoid the playoffs.
With qualification hopes hanging by a thread for several clubs, the last round of league-phase matches is set to deliver high drama across Europe.