The reformatted first phase of the 2024/25 Champions League is nearing its conclusion after the seventh round of fixtures were contested across Tuesday and Wednesday.

For Liverpool and Barcelona, it’s job done and safe passage through to the knockout rounds, which will eventually see the competition whittled down to 16 teams.

Arne Slot’s Reds have won a perfect seven out of seven matches – Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava the unfortunate teams at the other end of the 32-team table with the exact opposite record – while Barcelona have notched an impressive six wins from their seven outings, including the barnstorming 5-4 win away from home at Benfica.

For Arsenal, things are looking good after their 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, and they are assured of a place in the top eight providing they don’t endure a catastrophic final matchday against lowly Girona. They will also need a host of results to go against them to fall out of contention.

Real Madrid‘s situation noticeably improved on matchday seven, putting five goals past the helpless RB Salzburg, and they could work their way into the top eight if things go to plan in the final round of fixtures.

For Manchester City, though, things are looking desperate. Pep Guardiola’s charges were 2-0 up and cruising at Paris Saint-Germain but yet again found a way to wrestle defeat from the jaws of victory.

A monumental collapse saw the Premier League champions fold to a 4-2 defeat, and they now inconceivably sit 25th in the table, staring complete elimination from the competition in the face unless they beat Club Brugge on matchday eight – not a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination given how they are playing.

It was also a good week for Inter, Milan and Atletico Madrid, who are up into the top eight and could skip the playoff round that will see teams who finish between 9th and 24th go head-to-head in a two-legged tie to reach the last 16.

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