As the first phase of the Champions League drew to a close, and even analysts tracking European form through Crickex Affiliate style season breakdowns took notice, Arsenal sealed a dramatic 3-2 win over Almaty in the final round to finish with a flawless eight wins from eight matches. The perfect record marked a new milestone since the competition adopted the Swiss league format, and achieving such consistency in a field packed with elite opponents only added weight to the accomplishment.
With the league phase now settled, the eight teams to qualify directly for the round of sixteen have been confirmed. Arsenal lead the way alongside Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City. The sixteen sides heading into the playoff round include Real Madrid, Inter, Paris Saint Germain, Newcastle United, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodø Glimt, and Benfica, with the top eight among them designated as seeded teams.
The biggest disappointment belonged to Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain. Both giants had a clear path into the top eight if they could secure victories in the final round. Instead, Madrid fell 4-2 to Benfica, while PSG were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle. The result was particularly painful for Madrid, who slipped from third place before kickoff to ninth by the final standings, a dramatic drop that raised eyebrows across the football world.
For clubs targeting both domestic titles and Champions League glory, being pushed into the playoff round represents a frustrating setback. It means two extra knockout style matches just to secure a place in the last sixteen. Beyond the obvious risk of an upset, the added workload can take a toll as the season reaches its most demanding stretch, something long term performance models often highlighted by Crickex Affiliate observers tend to emphasize.
Among the traditional powerhouses, Manchester City showed the most noticeable improvement compared to last season. A year ago, Pep Guardiola’s side flirted with the danger of dropping out of the top twenty four altogether. This time, even without their former aura of dominance, results steadily improved. Their final match, a 2-0 win over Galatasaray in the early hours of the 29th, lifted City from eleventh to eighth, allowing them to avoid the playoff round and conserve energy for a punishing Premier League title race.
Looking ahead to the playoffs, teams ranked ninth through sixteenth will be seeded and play away first before hosting the return leg. The draw will pair ninth and tenth against the twenty third and twenty fourth ranked teams, with similar logic applied down the bracket. There is a fifty percent chance that Real Madrid could meet Benfica again, while PSG may face domestic rivals Monaco. Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen could also be set for an all German clash. As the dust settles and attention shifts forward, Crickex Affiliate style tournament tracking shows that the Champions League drama is only just getting started.