Champions League State of Play: What Arsenal and Aston Villa need to seal an automatic spot in the last-16... WITH Man City and PSG at risk of elimination
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There is just one matchday remaining in the inaugural league phase of the revamped Champions League. And as promised the new format has provided plenty of entertainment and will continue to do so heading into the final round as 25 of the 36 teams involved are still waiting to learn their fate.
![[Manchester City are in serious risk of being dumped from the competition]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/12/94431823-14316845-image-a-7_1737636079103.jpg)
Manchester City are in serious risk of being dumped from the competition following their 4-2 defeat to PSG on Wednesday and currently lie in the elimination zone. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are on the cusp of guaranteeing automatic qualification, with Liverpool already securing their spot in the last-16.
![[Liverpool have won seven out of their seven games in the league phase and have secured a spot in the last-16]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/12/94431673-14316845-image-a-5_1737635739468.jpg)
Whilst Aston Villa and Celtic head into the final game fighting for a spot for automatic qualification. Here is the current state-of-play in the Champions League heading into matchday eight plus what is required from the British clubs involved to advance to the next stage of the competition.
![[Barcelona have also guaranteed their place in the last-16 following their 5-4 over Benfica]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/12/94431725-14316845-image-a-6_1737635802500.jpg)
Liverpool have booked their spot in the last-16 of the Champions League. Manchester City are in serious risk of being dumped from the competition. Out of the 36 teams involved in the league phase of the Champions League, those who finish in the top eight of the table will automatically progress to the last-16 of the tournament.
![[Only a wild sequence of results in matchday eight would deny Arsenal a spot in the top eight and force them into the knockout play-offs stage]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/12/94431883-14316845-image-a-11_1737636308001.jpg)
Team's who placed between ninth and 16th will be seeded and drawn against one of the club's who finished 17th to 24th, where they will play a two-legged knockout play-off. The winners of the eight play-off games will then progress to the round of 16 where they will come up against those who finished in the top eight.
![[Aston Villa are guaranteed at least a spot in the knockout play-off stage]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/12/94431917-14316845-image-a-12_1737636363504.jpg)
