Scenarios for knockout phase qualification with leaders Liverpool on the verge of round of 16 spot along with Barcelona

Which teams are in the hunt for automatic qualification for the last 16? Who's on the brink of elimination? What about the playoffs?

Liverpool could seal their place in the top eight but the picture is lot less rosy for Manchester City, Real Madrid and PSG

The UEFA Champions League returns from its winter break this week, earlier than usual ahead of a consequential round of fixtures to close out the competition's first edition of the league phase. Several continental heavyweights will take part in must-win games on Matchday 7 after struggling over the course of the season,

Barcelona are set to resume their UCL campaign on Tuesday as they take on SL Benfica at the Estádio da Luz in their seventh league game of the season. The Blaugrana have been in formidable form,

Premier League leaders Liverpool are also leading the charts of the Champions League this season with an unbeaten run so far in the competition

With the teams placed from ninth to 24th securing a spot in the playoff round, it means those places between 25th and 33rd are still in with a fighting chance. Bologna, for example, have just two points from six games but two wins now could propel them to the top 24 (if results go in their favour).

A year of unprecedented pressures on the global football calendar begins with a Champions League first, as two rounds of matches in Europe's elite club competition take place in January and some of the continent's biggest names face a scrap to avoid a humiliating exit.