Barcelona might crash out of the Champions League today, while Erling Haalands Borussia Dortmund currently have, and 40-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic could inspire a remarkable round-of-16 certification for air conditioner Milan. If you still needed convincing that the Champions League is simply fine as it is, the next 2 days should use unquestionable evidence.2 RelatedIt is not simply some of the huge names who go into Matchday Six with their fate yet to be decided. In Group G, all 4 teams– Lille, FC Salzburg, Sevilla and Wolfsburg– can still make it through.There are, obviously, plenty of groups who have already reserved their passage to the knockout stage. Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United are all protected as group winners, while Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Juventus are likewise ensured of a location in the round-of-16 draw on Dec. 13. With memories still fresh of the failed attempt by 12 clubs to form a breakaway European Super League (ESL) in April– when some of the most powerful teams in the game unveiled propositions to create an exclusive brand-new competitors that would have killed the Champions League as we know it– there is possibly a sweet irony that Barcelona, one of greatest chauffeurs of the ESL plan, are now desperately trying to remain in a competitors they were so eager to get out of.- When is the UCL round-of-16 draw?- What every team needs to get out of their UCL groupIf Barca fail to beat Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, they will be depending on Group E bottom club Dynamo Kiev to reject Benfica victory in Lisbon in order for Xavi Hernandezs group to have a hope of making the round of 16. So there you have it, mighty Barcelona, a club that has actually dominated the Champions League for the very best part of 20 years, may wind up needing a favour from one of those groups whose European future would have become so much bleaker had the ESL rebels had the ability to push through their hugely lucrative breakaway competition.The last time Barcelona were absent from the knockout phases was the 2003-04 season, so their battle for Champions League survival is the headline-grabber of Matchday Six, but the competitors has actually thrown up a variety of other captivating storylines throughout the group stages that have teed up an interesting last round of fixtures.- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)- Dont have ESPN? Get immediate accessAlready this season, we have actually seen the amazing story of Sheriff Tiraspol, the champs of Moldova, who beat Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu to go top of Group D after two wins in two games in their first-ever appearance in the group stage.Swiss champions Young Boys opened Group F with a win in the house to Manchester United, while Benficas 3-0 win against Barcelona at Estadio da Luz in September rocked the Spanish giants, leaving them needing a win versus in-form Bayern to ensure themselves progress (though they likewise go through if Benfica stop working to beat Dynamo.) And in Group C, in spite of Dortmund appearing to be strong favourites to top the group, Erik 10 Hags remarkable young Ajax group sealed leading area with 5 wins from five so far, while Sporting Lisbon, thanks to last months 3-1 house win against Dortmund, declared 2nd place to drop Haaland and co. into the Europa League.play1:11 Janusz Michallik asks why Borussia Dortmund battle to beat Bayern Munich, after the Bundesliga champions secured their seventh straight win versus them.Liverpool have also won 5 out of five in Group B, however Jurgen Klopps group travel to Italy to deal with air conditioning Milan on Tuesday with the Rossoneri back in with an opportunity of credentials, regardless of losing their very first 3 games in the competition. A 1-1 draw against Porto at San Siro last month stopped Milans losing streak, but a 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid in Spain on Matchday Five offered Stefano Piolis group a possibility if they beat Liverpool and Porto fail to win against Atletico at Estadio do Dragao.Even in Group H, where Chelsea and Juventus have actually dominated, the final round of video games still matter, with both clubs– locked on 12 points after five video games– identified to declare leading area and a place amongst the seeds in the draw.But maybe all of this final-game jeopardy is specifically why the ESL clubs wished to break away from the competitive component of the Champions League. With a lot cash and prestige at stake if they fail to reach the knockout stage, the prospect of a closed store competitors, in which the big financial resources are shared in between the most significant clubs, has clear attract those executives and owners who dont want their piece of the pie threatened by a resourceful Ajax or a resurgent Benfica.The club owners behind the ESL task had actually pointed out the need for football and the Champions League to alter in order for the game to remain relevant among the sporting public. Yes, the Champions League can be foreseeable sometimes, however this seasons group stage has revealed why it is the very best competition in the game. It does not need altering to make it appropriate. We are seeing huge clubs fall, star players drop into the Europa League and some famous old groups revealing signs of a return to their previous glories.Its not what the owners and executives want, but simply when the Champions League needed to remind us why it is the finest of the very best, it delivered a group phase that still has plenty of stories to inform today.
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There you have it, mighty Barcelona, a club that has controlled the Champions League for the finest part of 20 years, may end up needing a favour from one of those groups whose European future would have become so much bleaker had the ESL rebels been able to press through their extremely profitable breakaway competition.The last time Barcelona were missing from the knockout phases was the 2003-04 season, so their fight for Champions League survival is the headline-grabber of Matchday Six, however the competitors has tossed up a number of other attractive storylines throughout the group phases that have actually teed up a fascinating final round of fixtures. And in Group C, regardless of Dortmund appearing to be strong favourites to top the group, Erik 10 Hags outstanding young Ajax team sealed leading spot with five wins from 5 so far, while Sporting Lisbon, thanks to last months 3-1 home win against Dortmund, declared 2nd place to drop Haaland and co. into the Europa League.play1:11 Janusz Michallik asks why Borussia Dortmund battle to beat Bayern Munich, after the Bundesliga champs protected their seventh straight win versus them.Liverpool have actually likewise won 5 out of 5 in Group B, however Jurgen Klopps group travel to Italy to deal with A/c Milan on Tuesday with the Rossoneri back in with a possibility of credentials, in spite of losing their very first 3 video games in the competitors. A 1-1 draw against Porto at San Siro last month stopped Milans losing streak, but a 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid in Spain on Matchday Five offered Stefano Piolis group a possibility if they beat Liverpool and Porto fail to win versus Atletico at Estadio do Dragao.Even in Group H, where Chelsea and Juventus have actually dominated, the last round of video games still matter, with both clubs– locked on 12 points after five games– identified to claim top area and a location amongst the seeds in the draw.But maybe all of this final-game jeopardy is precisely why the ESL clubs desired to break away from the competitive aspect of the Champions League. We are seeing big clubs fall, star gamers drop into the Europa League and some popular old groups showing signs of a return to their previous glories.Its not what the owners and executives desire, however just when the Champions League needed to advise us why it is the best of the best, it provided a group phase that still has plenty of stories to tell this week.
