Champions League 2017: Which Teams Have Already Qualified For Knockout Stage?

Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho in Basel, Switzerland, November 22. FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty

After Wednesday night's round of games wrapped up the Champions League for the week, most teams already know their future.

Many have already qualified for the knockout stages, and many have already been demoted to the Europa League. But some are still relying on getting a result in game week six, which will take place in the first week of December.

Newsweek gives you a rundown of which teams will be in need of a win, which games will be meaningless, allowing teams to play reserve players.

Group A

Despite defeat to FC Basel this week, Manchester United is all but officially confirmed in the knockout stages. CSKA Moscow, currently third in the group on nine points, would have to beat Jose Mourinho's team by five goals to advance and see United eliminated. Basel is second, also with nine points, and plays Benfica which has already been eliminated with zero points.

Group B

It's all over here. Paris Saint-Germain has stormed the group with a 100 percent record, while Bayern Munich's only defeat came against the French team, which sees the Bundesliga outfit progress as well. Celtic and Anderlecht are both out of the competition.

Group C

Chelsea's victory over Qarabag on Wednesday saw Antonio Conte's team qualify for the knockout stages of the competition. Chelsea will want to win the group, though, and it plays Atletico Madrid in the final game, with the Spanish club needing a win at Stamford Bridge to progress. Atletico is two points behind Roma in second, which plays eliminated Qarabag.

Group D

Wednesday's goalless stalemate between Barcelona and Juventus confirmed the Catalans' place in the knockout stages but leaves the Italians needing a result in the final game. Juventus' chances of progressing are good considering the team travels to already eliminated Olympiakos while Sporting Lisbon needs to get at least a point at the Nou Camp to have a chance of playing in the knockout stages.

Group E

Just like Manchester United, Liverpool squandered an opportunity to confirm its place in the next round this week. From 3-0 up at half-time, Jurgen Klopp's team drew 3-3 with Sevilla, meaning both teams could still end up finishing third. Spartak Moscow currently sits third and has an inferior goal difference to Liverpool, which is where it plays on the final group game while Sevilla travels to Maribor.

Group F

Manchester City has torn through this group with a perfect record of five wins from five and conceding just three goals, seeing Pep Guardiola's team go through as one of the favorites. Feyenoord, meanwhile, has been unable to even take a point. It is now left to Shakhtar Donetsk and Napoli to fight for second place. Shakhtar is in the stronger position with three more points, but travels to the Etihad Stadium for the final game while Napoli heads to Holland in need of all three points and Shakhtar to lose.

Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, north west England, November 21. PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty

Group G

Having been one of the most impressive teams in the competition last season, Monaco is already out after taking just two points from five games. Besiktas is through leaving Porto and RB Leipzig to battle for the final place to progress from Group G. The teams are level on points but Porto has the better goal difference, and the Portuguese team hosts Monaco for the final game while Besiktas goes to Leipzig.

Group H

The Group of Death ended with Borussia Dortmund as the fallen giant, while Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid progress to the knockout stages. Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs will go through as group winners if they take at least a point at Wembley against Apoel Nicosia. Dortmund travels to Madrid where the holder needs to win to stand a chance of overtaking Tottenham.

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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