Group stage conclusions loom as Champions League 2023/24 approaches its final day
The Champions League group stage wraps up this week with the sixth and decisive matchday still to be played. On Tuesday, December 12, groups A through D will complete their rounds, while Wednesday, December 13, will see groups E through H finish their campaigns. What unfolds in these final fixtures could reshape who advances to the knockout rounds and who contends in Europe’s secondary competition, the Europa League.
Several Spanish clubs have already secured their place in the next stage. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad enter the final day with their round of 16 spots assured. Across Europe, eight more teams already hold their passports to the knockout rounds, bringing the total to twelve: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Inter Milan, Lazio, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and RB Leipzig. With such qualification success, the stakes remain high for a handful of other teams hoping to seal their progress or, at least, secure a meaningful pathway into Europe’s other competition.
Several giants still have work to do to guarantee advancement. Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United both need to win their groups or hope for favorable results to secure a late charge into the round of 16. There is also keen interest in the Europa League race, where teams fight to avoid or claim a slot. Sevilla stands out as the sole top-tier Spanish team not yet assured of a place in Europe after this phase. The drama plays out across each group, with all to play for in the final fixtures.
Group A
To advance, Manchester United currently on four points must beat Bayern Munich who lead the group with thirteen points. Copenhagen and Galatasaray sit on five points each and a draw could be enough to push one of them toward qualification, depending on the other results.
Group B
Arsenal on twelve points and PSV Eindhoven on eight have completed their group campaigns and will move on to the next phase. Sevilla on two points remains in contention for a spot in the Europa League, with Lens on five points and the home match against the remaining opponent shaping their route to Europe or a different competition.
Group C
Real Madrid sit top with fifteen points and will advance in first place unless they suffer a heavy defeat. Napoli holds seven points and would accompany Madrid if they lose by a margin of two or more goals. Union Berlin currently has two points and faces continued chances to reach the Europa League depending on outcomes in the final matches.
Group D
Real Sociedad and Inter Milan both sit on eleven points, vying for first place in a tightly contested group at the San Siro. Their matchup promises intrigue, with the Basque side holding the tiebreaker scenarios if the result ends all square. Salzburg sits on four points and, regardless of their result against eliminated teams, is positioned to finish third behind the group leaders, Benfica who sit on one point.
Group E
Athletic Bilbao on eleven and Lazio on ten arrive on the final day already qualified and will face each other at the Metropolitano stadium. Feyenoord on six points cannot overhaul the teams above them, and Celtic on one point remains excluded from direct progression, eyeing the Europa League as an alternative.
Group F
Group F stands out as the most open scenario. Borussia Dortmund on ten points hold a decisive position yet the door remains ajar for others. PSG on seven points must prevail against Dortmund to avoid entering a situation where a draw could drop them into theEuropa League chase linked to Newcastle United and AC Milan, both on five points. A draw could still push English sides into the Europa League, underscoring the group’s volatility.
Group G
Group G presents a straightforward table: Manchester City leads on fifteen, Leipzig on nine, followed by Young Boys on four and Red Star Belgrade on one. There is little on the line in this final set, as the order of finish seems already settled.
Group H
Only a heavy loss by Antwerp on home soil could disrupt Barcelona’s quest to finish first with twelve points. Porto, on nine, will battle for second place, while Shakhtar Donetsk on nine points keeps a theoretical path into the mix should results align unfavorably for the Portuguese side.
In sum, the final matchday promises drama across every group as teams weigh qualification, knockout rounds, and European competition futures. The outcomes will shape not only the immediate next phase but also the broader narrative of the season in both the Champions League and the Europa League.