Supporters were greeted with some rare January Champions League action as the revamped competition nears the conclusion of its league phase.

The penultimate round of fixtures leaves Matchday 8 – which sees all 18 fixtures taking place at the same time next Wednesday – finely poised as European heavyweights battle for their place in the knockout phase.

For some, their spot in the last 16 is secure, while others are wrestling for a top-eight finish that would see them avoid a nerve-inducing play-off in February. Beggars can’t be choosers, however, with several of the continent’s elite still scrapping for any route into the knockout rounds.

Much remains up in the air but stat experts Opta have predicted how the final Champions League table may look.

Liverpool and Barcelona are the only two teams guaranteed to finish in the top eight and automatically make the last 16, but Arsenal are almost certain to join them barring a freak implosion against Girona. The Premier League leaders are also given an 89.1% chance of finishing first come the end of Matchday 8, with Barca the only other side capable of stealing top spot.

Inter are similarly likely to finish in the top eight and have been given a 97.7% chance of avoiding the play-offs. Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Milan are all favourites to make the last 16, too, while Aston Villa have been predicted eighth and are expected to leapfrog Europa League champions Atalanta.

The Bergamo side and Lille are both given approximately a one-in-three chance of making the top eight, with Feyenoord and Borussia Dortmund handed outside shots of dragging themselves directly into the last 16.

Things look less optimistic for European giants Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, both of whom are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs but appear increasingly unlikely to make the top eight. The German side are given just a 7.9% chance of finishing eighth or higher – only 0.6% higher than impressive debutants Brest – while the reigning champions have a mere 2.9% chance of avoiding an unwanted play-off.

Celtic have guaranteed their play-off berth despite being unlikely to make the top eight, but the Bhoys are in a stronger position than Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City. The French giants reside in the top 24 after their 4-2 win over the Cityzens on Wednesday, but still have a 14% chance of being eliminated. They visit Stuttgart in their final outing.

Man City are in genuine jeopardy after an immensely disappointing campaign. They host Club Brugge on Matchday 8 and will be favourites to taste victory in that encounter. A win would guarantee qualification to the play-offs but Opta give them a 36.2% chance of missing out. Nervous times for Pep Guardiola and his players.

Predicted Champions League table after Matchday 8

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