2025/26 Champions League Seating: Provisional Qualifiers, Playoff Contenders, Eliminated Teams
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is reaching a critical stage with key matchups influencing team standings. Arsenal continues to lead the group after a crucial win against Inter Milan. Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured a victory over Monaco, positioning itself firmly in the top three.
Current Standings and Key Qualifiers
This season, the tournament features an intense competition among Europe’s elite clubs. The current standings highlight the teams with direct qualifications and those in contention for playoffs.
Teams Directly Qualifying for the Round of 16
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Real Madrid
- Liverpool
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Newcastle United
- Chelsea
Teams in Playoff Contention
- Barcelona
- Sporting CP
- Manchester City
- Atlético Madrid
- Atalanta
- Inter Milan
- Juventus
- Borussia Dortmund
- Galatasaray
- Qarabag
- Olympique de Marseille
- Bayer Leverkusen
- Monaco
- PSV Eindhoven
- Athletic Bilbao
- Olympiacos
Eliminated Teams
- Napoli
- Copenhagen
- Club Brugge
- Bodø/Glimt
- Benfica
- Pafos
- Union Saint-Gilloise
- Ajax
- Eintracht Frankfurt
- Slavia Prague
- Villarreal
- Kairat Almaty
Competition Format and Tie-Breaking Criteria
The Champions League format allows the top eight teams to advance directly to the Round of 16. An additional advantage is granted: these teams will enjoy home-field advantage throughout their knockout matches.
Teams ranked ninth to 24th will participate in a preliminary playoff to secure places in the knockout stage. Teams ranked from 25th to 36th face elimination from the tournament.
Important Tie-Breaking Criteria
- Goal difference in the group stage
- Number of goals scored
- Number of away goals scored
- Number of wins
- Points accumulated by opponents
- Aggregate goal difference
- Overall goals scored collectively by opponents
- Disciplinary points based on yellow and red cards
Upcoming Matches
As the tournament progresses, here are the key upcoming dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Matchday 7 | January 21 |
| Matchday 8 | January 28 |
| Playoff Round | February 17/18 & 24/25 |
| Round of 16 | March 10/11 & 17/18 |
| Quarter-finals | April 7/8 & 14/15 |
| Semi-finals | April 28/29 & May 5/6 |
| Final | May 30 (Budapest) |
Stay tuned to El-Balad for more updates on the Champions League as teams navigate their paths toward glory.
