2025/26 Champions League: Provisional Qualifiers, Play-offs, and Eliminations

As the group stage of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League unfolds, only three teams remain at the top with perfect records. Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Inter Milan have all secured 12 points each. In contrast, Manchester City, previously unbeaten, has faced a defeat.

The situation worsens for clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, who have dropped out of the top eight and now face the prospect of playing in the preliminary rounds. Villarreal and Athletic Club also find themselves struggling for survival in the tournament.

2025/26 Champions League: Current Standings

Qualified Teams for Round of 16

• Bayern Munich
• Arsenal
• Inter Milan
• Chelsea
• Borussia Dortmund
• Manchester City
• Paris Saint-Germain
• Newcastle United

Teams in Preliminary Play-offs

• Real Madrid
• Liverpool
• Galatasaray
• Tottenham
• Bayer Leverkusen
• Sporting CP
• FC Barcelona
• Qarabag
• Atalanta
• Napoli
• Olympique de Marseille
• Atlético Madrid
• Juventus
• Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
• PSV Eindhoven
• AS Monaco

Direct Eliminations

• Pafos
• Brugge
• Eintracht Frankfurt
• Athletic Club
• Benfica
• Slavia Prague
• Bodo/Glimt
• Olympiacos
• Villarreal
• Copenhagen
• Kairat Almaty
• Ajax

Understanding the Tournament Format

The top eight teams will advance directly to the Round of 16, gaining the advantage of home ground in all subsequent knockout rounds. Teams ranked from ninth to twenty-fourth will also progress, but they must compete in preliminary rounds to determine the additional eight opponents for those qualified directly. Clubs ranked from twenty-fifth to thirty-sixth have been eliminated.

Upcoming UEFA Champions League Dates

Stay informed and engaged by subscribing to our newsletter and receiving updates through the El-Balad app or WhatsApp channel.