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Where are we in the Champions League so far? Major contenders assessed heading into Matchday 7
The Champions League's group phase resumes this week with a number of mouthwatering fixtures which will again play a big part in determining which teams automatically qualify for the last 16 and who misses out.
Matchday 7 is the penultimate round of games before the final league table is decided on Matchday 8 next week as the bid for Champions League glory intensifies.
Here, DAZN News assesses which teams are well placed to make the top eight, make the play-offs, and miss out altogether.
How does the Champions League work?
Six rounds of Champions League action have been played so far by the 36 teams and two more rounds will take place in January.
The last two rounds in the league phase will determine which teams finish in the top eight to automatically qualify for the last 16.
Meanwhile, those placing ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.
Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated, with no access to the UEFA Europa League.
DAZN News has all the information heading into Matchday 7.
Who looks set to finish in the top eight?
Arsenal are near certainties to automatically qualify for the last 16 as they currently top the table with six straight wins.
Mikel Arteta’s side are the only team to boast a 100% record and that has left them on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages.
That is testament to their outstanding first half of the season, which has seen the Gunners emerge as Premier League title favourites and serious Champions League contenders.
Beneath Arsenal, Bayern Munich are second in the table on 15 points, with reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and surprise package Atalanta all level on 13 points.
Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid make up the rest of the top eight, with six-time European champions Liverpool in ninth.
Who is pushing for a top-eight finish?
Liverpool are pushing to jump into the top eight, but next up for them is a tricky encounter away to Marseille before their final league games at home to Qarabag.
The likes of Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Sporting CP, Barcelona, Marseille, Juventus, Galatasaray, Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen are also vying for contention to automatically reach the last 16.
There are some mouthwatering ties in Matchday 7 with Tottenham hosting Borussia Dortmund, Monaco travelling to Real Madrid and Marseille hosting Liverpool.
What are the benefits of finishing in the top eight?
Teams who finished in the top four positions in the Champions League table will be given home second legs for the last 16 and quarter-final rounds.
And the top two teams in the Champions League table will also be given second-leg home advantages in the semi-final stage.
For teams who finish outside the top eight, how important is league position heading into the play-offs?
For teams ranked ninth to 24th, the exact league position matters because ties are drawn based on league phase placings.
In the play-off round, 9th will play 24th, 10th will play 23rd and so on.
Which teams look set to miss out altogether?
There are some big clubs that currently lie in the bottom 12 of the table heading into the final two rounds.
They include Jose Mourinho's Benfica, who have won just two of their first six games, Greek giants Olympiakos, and perhaps most surprisingly of all, Ajax.
The Dutch giants' hopes of even making the play-offs look slim at best after they won just one of their opening six games.
Ajax, who have been crowned European champions four times, lie 34th out of the 36 teams.
Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday 7
Tuesday, 20 January
- Kairat Almaty vs. Club Brugge
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Manchester City
- Copenhagen vs. Napoli
- Inter vs. Arsenal
- Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
- Real Madrid vs. Monaco
- Sporting vs. PSG
- Tottenham vs. Borussia Dortmund
- Villarreal vs. Ajax
Wednesday, 21 January
- Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid
- Qarabag vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
- Atalanta vs. Athletic Club
- Bayern Munich vs. Union Saint-Gilloise
- Chelsea vs. Pafos
- Juventus vs. Benfica
- Marseille vs. Liverpool
- Newcastle United vs. PSV
- Slavia Prague vs. Barcelona
How to watch Sporting vs. PSG in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch Sporting vs. PSG in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
