Following their Champions League game on December 10 in Bergamo in Italy, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was seen sighing with relief as he headed to the locker rooms. Los Blancos had just defeated Atalanta (3-2), setting their Champions League round-of-16 journey back on track with two games remaining: against Salzburg and the French side Brest, one of the standout teams in this year’s European competition.

What Real Madrid must do to qualify for the UCL round of 16

As it stands, Real Madrid have nine points, from three wins and three losses, two of which were particularly painful: a 1-0 defeat to Lille at Stade Pierre Mauroy Stadium and a 3-1 loss to Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu. These defeats were especially tough to take due to the team’s poor performances.

The upcoming games against Salzburg on Wednesday (January 22) could give Madrid a positive European record for the first time this season before they travel to France on matchday eight next week (January 29). Winning these last two matches would improve their current standing of 22nd out of 36 teams.

If they finish with back-to-back victories, Real Madrid would end up with 15 points, but they would need to wait for the results of other teams to determine their final position.

Ancelotti has already suggested Real Madrid might not finish in the top eight to qualify directly for the round of 16, which was a given at the start of the competition. If that fails to happen, they will need to need to navigate a two-legged playoff in the middle of February to qualify for the round of 16, provided they don’t drop out of the top 24 and crash out of the competition altogether. That really would be a shock.

Tuesday’s results have dropped Real Madrid to 22nd (out of 36), but a win against Salzburg would move them up to 12 points, level with Bayern Munich and Milan (who have still to play this week), as well as Borussia Dortmund and Juventus (who have already completed their matchday seven fixtures). Those four teams currently occupy positions 12 to 15. The final matchday, to be played next week, will see Los Merengues face Brest to determine their final standing.

Real Madrid’s Champions League earnings in 2024/25

So far, Real Madrid have earned around €66 million ($68.65 million) from this season’s Champions League, with potential for more revenue from the points they could earn in these last two matches and their final position.

UEFA rewards €275,000 (just over $286,000) for each position climbed in the league phase, which concludes next week. The team finishing first (currently led by Liverpool) will receive nearly €9.9 million ($10.3 million), while the eighth-placed team, which just avoids the playoffs, will earn €6.875 million ($7.15 million).

The team finishing 36th (last) gets €275,000 (a little more than $286,000, as mentioned). Additionally, the top eight teams will receive a €2 million ($2.08 million) bonus for qualifying for the round of 16, and clubs from 9th to 24th, who feature in the playoffs, will collect €1 million ($1.04 million).

The eight teams that advance from the playoff round will earn another €1 million ($1.04 million) to match the rest of the round of 16 participants, giving Real Madrid a significant opportunity to boost their earnings.

Real Madrid must to secure a win against Salzburg to climb the standings, which is essential before they face Brest in the final match of this new Champions League group stage format. The outcome of other matches will then play a crucial role in determining their final position, and which stage of the competition they qualify for.