UEFA Champions League clinching scenarios for knockout round entering Matchday 6

The final matchday of the group stage in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League is here, with plenty of teams still looking to qualify for the knockout round. While most of the groups have been sorted out, there are still some key matches to watch in Matchday 6. Here’s how each of the groups are shaping up, with qualification scenarios for the teams still in play.

Group A

Manchester City and PSG have already qualified as the two teams from this group. City has the top spot, while PSG will be the second team from Group A.

Group B

Update: Liverpool and Atletico Madrid have qualified for the knockout stage. Atletico Madrid won its match while AC Milan lost to Liverpool, sending the Spanish side into the knockout round.

This is the group where most of the action will be. Liverpool has already qualified as the top team in the group, but Porto, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid are all in contention for the second spot.

Porto plays Atletico Madrid in Matchday 6. If Porto wins, it’ll be the second team through. If Atletico Madrid win, it’ll need AC Milan to either lose or draw to clinch a spot. If the two teams draw, Porto would need AC Milan to either lose or draw. If AC Milan wins, it needs Porto to either lose or draw to qualify. If AC Milan draws, it can still inch ahead of Porto on goal differential assuming Porto loses.

Group C

Update: Ajax and Sporting CP have clinched spots in the knockout stage. Sporting CP lost and Dortmund won, but Dortmund did not get a higher goal differential.

Ajax has clinched the top spot in Group C. Sporting CP is currently three points ahead of Borussia Dortmund and is 10 goals ahead on goal differential. For Dortmund to clinch, it would have to beat Besiktas and hope Sporting loses to Ajax, with the combined goal differential resulting in Dortmund surpassing Sporting. Sporting CP just needs a draw to clinch with no tiebreakers, but can also clinch with a loss and a higher goal differential.

Group D

Update: Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan, so the Spanish giants have the top spot in Group D with Inter taking second place.

Real Madrid and Inter Milan are the two teams coming out of this group, but the top spot is still up for grabs. These two play each other in Matchday 6. If Inter wins, it’ll take the top spot. If Real Madrid wins or draws, it’ll have the top spot in the group.

Group E

Update: Benfica won and Barcelona lost, so Benfica has qualified for the knockout stage in the Champions League.

Bayern Munich has the top spot in this group. Barcelona and Benfica are fighting for the second spot. If Barcelona wins, it’ll be in. If it draws, it needs Benfica to draw or lose. If Barcelona loses, a Benfica draw or loss would put the Catalan club in. For Benfica to get in, it’ll need a win with a Barcelona draw or loss.

Group F

Update: Villarreal advances to the knockout round with a win Thursday.

Update: The Atlanta-Villarreal match has been postponed until Thursday due to snow.

Manchester United is in and Young Boys is out. The key match here is Villarreal vs. Atalanta. The winner would go through, while Villarreal would be in with a draw.

Group G

Update: Lille and RB Salzburg won their matches in the final group stage round, so they have qualified for the knockout round.

This is the group where there’s truly madness. Lille plays Wolfsburg and RB Salzburg plays Sevilla. If Wolfsburg wins, it’ll come down to goal differential between Lille, Wolfsburg and Salzburg as long as the Salzburg/Sevilla game ends in a draw.

Group H

Chelsea and Juventus have qualified for the knockout round, but the top spot has not been decided yet. Chelsea has the superior goal differential, so a tie goes to the Blues.