How European play-offs could dramatically change Dream Team landscape in February
How European play-offs could dramatically change Dream Team landscape in February
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THE league phases of the Champions League and Europa League will reach a dramatic conclusion this week. Amid all the excitement, Dream Team managers should pay careful attention to how it all plays out as the results could have a dramatic impact on the game's landscape.
![[Illustration of a dream team featuring two soccer players and the UEFA Champions League trophy.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RB-29-01-DREAM-TEAM_OP_ec50f3.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Liverpool are one of only two teams (alongside Barcelona) to have already secured automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16. Only a disaster for Arsenal away to Girona (combined with unfortunate results elsewhere) will prevent the Gunners from joining Arne Slot's side in the last 16.
![[Aston Villa manager Unai Emery with arms crossed.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/120-images-no-video-emulation-959900787.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
However, Aston Villa's fate is less certain ahead of their clash with Celtic at Villa Park. A win over the Scottish giants will give them every chance of an automatic spot but they'll also need at least one of Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta, Milan, Atletico Madrid or Inter to falter to a certain degree.
![[Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, at a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/pep-guardiola-manager-manchester-city-956023581.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
As for Manchester City, the 2023 winners of the competition are at risk of elimination following defeat to PSG last week. Pep Guardiola's troops are currently 25th in the table but will earn a play-off spot with a win over Club Brugge at the Etihad this evening.
![[Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/bruno-fernandes-manchester-united-celebrates-966131855.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Hypothetically, let's say both Villa and Man City end up finishing between 9th-24th in the table and progress to the play-off round. The first legs of the Champions League play-offs are schedule for February 11th/12th and the second legs for February 18th/19th.
This would mean double headers for Villa and Man City in Gameweeks 23 and 24. At present, Liverpool and Everton are the only teams set to pull double duty in Gameweek 23 (due to the rescheduled Merseyside derby) but additional fixtures for the likes of Erling Haaland (£7.9m), Phil Foden (£6.6m), Morgan Rogers (£3.5m), Ollie Watkins (£5.2m) and others would change the outlook considerably.
