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The inaugural League Phase of the Champions League will come to a thrilling climax tonight with all 36 teams in action at the same time.
The first season of the rebranded UEFA competition has proved to be a success, with only two teams currently guaranteed a top-eight finish.
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Liverpool and Barcelona are already through, with Arsenal and Aston Villa on the cusp of qualifying as well.
However, Manchester City are in danger of elimination following their 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week and still have work to do.
The top eight sides in the league table will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while the teams finishing between 9th to 24th place will compete in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off to join them in the last 16.
Teams that finish 25th or lower will be eliminated, with no access to the Europa League.
The play-off games are scheduled to take place in mid-February, with the round of 16 games being played in the first two weeks of March.
Which teams have qualified already?
Liverpool have avoided any possibility of navigating a play-off round, topping the League Phase as the only club with seven straight wins.
A point away at Arne Slot's former Eredivisie rivals PSV will be enough to guarantee first - with defeat also enough if Barcelona fail to win.
Arsenal have all but mathematically qualified for the last 16 - even a defeat to Girona likely to be enough for a spot in the top eight.
Aston Villa are guaranteed a play-off place but need results above them to go their way alongside a win over Celtic for the top-eight.
The Hoops are only a point behind Unai Emery's men, and can conceivably go straight to the last-16 with a win and favourable results elsewhere.
talkSPORT will have live coverage from Aston Villa against Celtic, with talkSPORT 2 on hand for Man City's do-or-die clash with club Brugge.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Top-eight guaranteed: Liverpool, BarcelonaTop-24 guaranteed (Play-off at least): Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille, Brest, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus, CelticIn the balance: PSV, Club Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting, Stuttgart, Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, Shakhtar DonetskEliminated: Bologna, Sparta Prague, Leipzig, Girona, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz, Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys
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What do Arsenal need to do to qualify?
Current position: 3rdWins: 5Draws: 1Defeats: 1Points: 16The Gunners are currently third in the table and can still finish second with a three-or-more goal-swing victory if Barcelona also fail to win.
Their spot in the top-eight, which guarantees that the club will avoid a two-legged playoff, is all-but assured regardless of their result.
The north Londoners side travel to Spain for their final league phase game in Girona, who lost 1-0 to Liverpool on matchday six.
Arsenal are three points clear of the play-offs as things stand, with over double the goal difference of any team on 13 points.
Only a defeat coupled with multiple victories elsewhere from teams below them, all with incredible goal swings, would somehow deny Arteta and co. from qualifying automatically.
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What do Aston Villa need to do to qualify?
Current position: 9thWins: 4Draws: 1Defeats: 2Points: 13Emery's side are guaranteed at least a play-off place but automatic qualification is out of their hands.
Victory in their final match at home to Celtic would stand the club in good stead, but Villa will still need a favour from one of five teams above them.
Beating the Hoops coupled with defeats for either Arsenal or Inter would put the west Midland outfit level on points with the losing team, but overhauling the goal difference is also a factor.
Instead, dispatching Celtic likely sees Villa fans keep an eye out for results from Atletico Madrid, Milan, Atalanta, and Bayer Leverkusen, who would all cede their top-eight spot to Emery's men if they then fail to win.
A draw could still be enough for Villa in the unlikely scenario that Bundesliga champions Leverkusen are beaten at home by already-eliminated Sparta Praha.
Defeat to Celtic confines them to the play-offs.
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What do Celtic need to do to qualify?
Current position: 18thWins: 3Draws: 3Defeats: 1Points: 12Brendan Rodgers' outfit are only one point adrift of their English opponents, and yet find themselves nine places behind them.
Such is the crazy expanded format, Celtic could also catapult themselves into automatic qualification contention with a win.
However, the Scottish giants are one of five clubs on 12 points, with another five, which include Villa, being outside the top eight on 13 - and Celtic have the worst goal difference of all of them.
This key factor, coupled with also needing a favourable result in the games involving one of Atleti, Milan, Atalanta, and Leverkusen means a lot of moving parts are needed for the Glaswegians.
Celtic have at least guaranteed a spot in the play-offs regardless of their result at Villa Park.
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What do Man City need to do to qualify?
Current position: 25thWins: 2Draws: 2Defeats: 3Points: 8Man City's task is simple - a top-eight finish is unattainable but beating Club Brugge at home will ensure they will be in the play-offs.
Pep Guardiola's side will be eliminated if they fail to beat the Belgians.
Brugge are currently in 20th on 11 points, which City would level with a victory.
Crucially, City have a four-goal superior goal difference, so any win will guarantee that the Premier League champions replace one of the top 24 regardless of any other result.
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Champions League Matchday 8: How to follow
All 18 games will be played on Wednesday, January 29.
Kick-off around Europe is simultaneously scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT will have live coverage from Aston Villa against Celtic, with Adrian Durham serving as your presenter from the Etihad Stadium.
Commentary will come from Jim Proudfoot and former England captain Andy Townsend.
Coverage of Man City vs Club Brugge is on talkSPORT 2, with Ian Danter and Stuart Pearce the team on the microphone.
talkSPORT.com will also have updates from ALL 18 matches in our dedicated live Champions League blog.
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Who plays who?
Under the new format, every finishing position matters in mapping out a team's road to Munich in May.
Liverpool for example have confirmed a top-two finish, which means they can't face whomever is the other to end either first or second until a potential final.
Knockout Play-offs Bracket:
17th or 18th vs 15th or 16th23rd or 24th vs 9th or 10th21st or 22nd vs 11th or 12th19th or 20th vs 13th or 14th20th or 19th vs 14th or 13th 22nd or 21st vs 12th or 11th 24th or 23rd vs 10th or 9th18th or 17th vs 16th or 15thRound of 16 Bracket:
17th, 18th, 15th or 16th vs 1st or 2nd23rd, 24th, 9th or 10th vs 7th or 8th21st, 22nd, 11th or 12th vs 5th or 6th19th, 20th, 13th or 14th vs 3rd or 4th 20th, 19th, 14th or 13th vs 4th or 3rd 22nd, 21st, 12th or 11th vs 6th or 5th24th, 23rd, 10th or 9th vs 8th or 7th18th, 17th, 16th or 15th vs 2nd or 1st
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Champions League Matchday 8 fixtures
All games taking place on Wednesday, January 29 and kick off at 8pm UK time.
Aston Villa (9th) v Celtic (18th) - LIVE on talkSPORTBarcelona (2nd) v Atalanta (7th)Bayer Leverkusen (8th) v Sparta Prague (29th)Bayern Munich (15th) v Slovan Bratislava (35th)Borussia Dortmund (14th) v Shakhtar Donetsk (27th)Brest (13th) v Real Madrid (16th)Dinamo Zagreb (26th) v AC Milan (6th)Girona (31st) v Arsenal (3rd)Inter Milan (4th) v Monaco (10th)Juventus (17th) v Benfica (21st)Lille (12th) v Feyenoord (11th)Man City (25th) v Brugge (20th) - LIVE on talkSPORT 2PSV (19th) v Liverpool (1st)RB Salzburg (34th) v Atletico Madrid (5th)Sporting Lisbon (23rd) v Bologna (28th)Sturm Graz (33rd) v RB Leipzig (30th)Stuttgart (24th) v PSG (22nd)Young Boys (36th) v Red Star Belgrade (32nd)See all tonight's Champions League betting odds over at talkSPORT BET.
Featured Bet Boost: Aston Villa, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City all to win - 17/2 (was 31/4) - bet here
*odds subject to change. 18+ gambleaware.org
