Champions League returns with automatic qualification slots up for grabs
By Joel Masibo, January 28, 2026The race for the final places in this season’s UEFA Champions League top eight promises to be gripping, with the table so congested that only small margins separate the contenders.
At the top end, the situation is more straightforward as action resumes on Wednesday, January 28 and Thursday, January 29, 2026. Already qualified Arsenal welcome Kairat at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Action at the top end
Real Madrid and Liverpool, both sitting on 15 points, along with Tottenham Hotspur on 14, will all guarantee automatic qualification for the round of 16 if they collect three points on matchday eight.
Tottenham travel to Germany on Wednesday to face already-eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt, a venue where the London club recorded a victory last season during their Europa League-winning campaign that booked them a Champions League return this term.
Liverpool, coached by Arne Slot, will host Qarabag, a side that still holds a faint hope of breaking into the top eight. After last week’s triumph in Marseille, Reds captain Virgil van Dijk stressed the importance of finishing strongly.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, head to Portugal to take on Benfica, which is managed by their former coach, José Mourinho. The Portuguese tactician guided Madrid to three successive Champions League semi-finals before departing in 2013. However, Benfica, who have managed just two victories in seven outings, must defeat the Spanish giants to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Tottenham are followed by a tightly packed cluster of eight clubs, ranging from defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in sixth place to Atalanta in 13th, all on 13 points.
Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester City are part of this chasing pack, all desperate for a vital win, though even that may not be enough if goal difference ultimately decides who progresses.
Chelsea and City on the hunt
Chelsea are set to meet a familiar opponent in former manager Antonio Conte, now in charge of Napoli after leading them to the Serie A title last season. Conte’s side sit just outside the play-off positions on goal difference and require a favourable result when they host the Blues in Naples.
Manchester City welcome Galatasaray, while Newcastle face a stern test away to PSG. Incredibly, every team down to Qarabag in 18th position still retains a theoretical chance of finishing in the top eight.
This unusual scenario is partly due to the fixture list: although 16 clubs remain in the hunt for the six remaining automatic qualification places, only two matches pit those contenders directly against one another, Newcastle versus PSG in Paris, and Borussia Dortmund hosting Inter Milan.