English sides Chelsea and Arsenal are both on course to reach the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals as group winners. Who could they face in knockouts?
With two rounds of group matches to come, former winners Barcelona and Lyon also look set to book their places in the next round.
Wolfsburg are already in the quarter-finals, but will they be joined by Group A Paris St-Germain or Real Madrid?
Will Bayern Munich edge Benfica in Group D to reach the quarter-finals? Here’s everything you need to know about who needs what in the final group matches.
group A
Group A looked complicated for Women’s Super League winners Chelsea on paper, but Emma Hayes’ side top the table and are unbeaten after four matches.
On Friday, the Blues will face already eliminated Albanian side Vllaznia, who need a point to qualify before hosting two-time runners-up PSG in their final group match on December 22.
If Real Madrid fail to beat PSG on Friday, Chelsea will reach the last eight even if they are beaten by Vllaznia.
If Chelsea win or draw and PSG fail to beat Las Blancas, the English team will advance as group winners.
Group B
Wolfsburg were the first side to reach the quarter-finals, with arch-rivals Roma and St Polten yet to meet in the penultimate round of matches.
This game is likely to decide who will join the German team in the Round of 16. Wolfsburg will top Group B if they improve Roma’s result against Slavia Prague on December 16.
The Czechs are already eliminated.
Group C
Arsenal, winner in 2007, Stunned starters and eight-time winner Lyon 5-1 in their opening Group C fixture and have gone unbeaten in the competition ever since.
The Gunners face Lyon at home on Thursday needing just one point to secure their place in the last eight.
Lyon and Juventus are set to play the winners’ tie in the final round of Group C fixtures on December 21, although Juventus will miss out if Lyon beat Arsenal and the Italian giants lose to winless Zurich on Thursday .
If Arsenal lose to Lyon, they will progress further with a win over Zurich on December 21.
Group D
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Benfica are still in the race to qualify from Group D.
Barcelona’s 9-0 win over Benfica on Matchday 1 means they will qualify if they avoid defeat to the Portuguese side in Thursday’s encounter.
Bayern Munich could join the 2021 winners if they improve Benfica’s result against Rosengard on the same day.
Should Bayern fail to improve on Benfica’s result on Thursday, they would continue to advance provided they lose by less than two goals to the Portuguese champions in their last Group D game on December 21.
