Liverpool, having amassed a perfect 18 points from 18 available, are all but certain of a spot in the last 16. They hold a six - point lead over Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and AC Milan, the four teams just below the top - eight threshold.

Consequently, Arne Slot's Liverpool side need only draw against Lille on Tuesday to secure a last - 16 berth without the need for a knockout - round playoff. Even if they lose, they will still progress provided that Bayern, Dortmund, Atletico, and Milan all fail to win.

This scenario is feasible as, on the penultimate matchday, all the teams ranked ninth to 16th do not play each other. This means that any of the eight teams in that group could either win or lose, as could nearly all the teams in the top eight.

The Liverpool (1) vs. Lille (8) fixture on matchday seven is the only encounter between two teams within the last - 16 positions. Therefore, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, and Brest could all register victories.

Barcelona have 15 points after six matchdays and will, at worst, drop into the playoffs (unseeded). However, a win against Benfica, combined with Dortmund, Bayern, Atletico, and Milan all failing to win, would see them through to the last 16.

Arsenal, Villa, Inter, Leverkusen, and Brest currently have 13 points each. On matchday seven, there are two games between teams ranked 9 - 24: Feyenoord vs. Bayern Munich and Club Brugge vs. Juventus. All these teams are in the 10 - 12 - point range.

Regardless of the outcome this week, at least one of Bayern (12 points) or Feyenoord (10 points) will still be close to Arsenal, Villa, Inter, Leverkusen, and Brest. So, the fates of these teams will remain undecided until the final matchday.

Possible outcomes on matchday seven:

• Liverpool will reach the last 16 if they beat or draw with Lille, or if they lose and Bayern, Dortmund, Atletico, and Milan all fail to win.
• Barcelona will reach the last 16 if they beat Benfica and Dortmund, Bayern, Atletico, and Milan all fail to win.

Can Man City, Real Madrid, Celtic seal a playoff place?

Lower down the table, we find the two previous Champions League winners, Manchester City and defending champions Real Madrid, both on track for an unseeded playoff spot.

Both sides still have a slim chance of breaking into the top eight, but this would require a series of favorable results. For Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, the primary objective this week should be securing a playoff position.

Real Madrid currently have nine points, while Man City have eight. If they win their respective matches against Red Bull Salzburg and Paris Saint - Germain, a top - 24 finish will be guaranteed, especially if there are some unexpected results.

PSG have seven points and are 25th in the standings. A win for Man City would guarantee they finish above the French champions. The only other team with seven points is Stuttgart, who are 26th.

Stuttgart face already - eliminated Slovan Bratislava on matchday seven and are expected to win. But if they are somehow defeated, Man City will, at worst, reach the knockout playoffs with a victory.

Celtic are in the same situation as Real Madrid, with both teams having nine points. Celtic should be confident of avoiding elimination as their next game is at home against bottom - placed Young Boys.

Possible outcomes:

• Real Madrid will be guaranteed a playoff spot if they beat Salzburg and PSG and Stuttgart fail to win.
• Celtic will be guaranteed a playoff spot if they beat Young Boys and PSG and Stuttgart fail to win.
• Man City will be guaranteed a playoff spot if they beat PSG and Stuttgart lose.