Top 24 teams will be decided today: Will we see Khusanov in the Champions League playoffs?
Sport
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29 January
16766The European Champions League is far from reaching its peak, with several big clubs at risk of missing out on the quarter-finals. Among them are teams such as Manchester City and PSG. On January 30, the top 24 teams in the Champions League will be determined.
Khusanov’s participation in the next round hinges on "Manchester City"’s performance against club "Brugge"
First, let’s review Manchester City’s results and their current position in the Champions League. This season, Guardiola’s team has not performed as expected. With 8 points from 7 matches, including 2 wins, 2 draws, and 5 losses, the club currently sits in 25th place in the tournament standings. City will face Club Brugge at home on the night of January 30. It may seem surprising, but for Manchester City, this is their last chance to secure a spot in the top 24. A draw or a loss would see them eliminated from the competition, marking the worst result in the club’s Champions League history.
Now, let’s discuss the absence of Uzbek player Abdukodir Khusanov. Under UEFA rules, Khusanov is eligible to join the club's roster for the tournament starting from the play-off stage. If Manchester City fails to win today, one of the biggest clubs in the competition will be eliminated, and Khusanov will miss out on the opportunity to feature in this prestigious tournament. Therefore, today’s match is a make-or-break situation for Manchester City. Only a victory will ensure their progress.
PSG also finds itself in danger
Like Manchester City, PSG is enduring a difficult season. With 10 points from 7 rounds—3 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses—the Parisian club is currently in 22nd place in the standings. While PSG remains in the top 24 for now, a loss to Stuttgart today could see them drop out of the competition. Stuttgart is currently in the final spot in the top 24, and they will also fight tooth and nail to secure a place in the next round. On January 30, one of these two clubs will be eliminated from the Champions League quarter-finals.
8 teams to advance to the quarter-finals will also be determined
Under the new Champions League format, Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot, leads the standings with a perfect record after 7 rounds and has secured direct advancement to the quarter-finals. Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Bayer Leverkusen currently make up the top 8 teams. Today, these teams will play their respective matches, and following the results, we will know which teams will advance to the next round and in what positions. It’s important to note that all matches will kick off at the same time—00:55.