Teams with the highest stakes as UCL League Phase comes to a close

Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich find themselves scattered throughout the table with much to play for as the “league phase” comes to an end. What’s on the line for each squad in Europe’s premier soccer competition?

Can Liverpool stay on top?

The English club, top of both the UCL and Premier League table, are one of only two teams guaranteed a top-24 spot.

It leads the UCL in clean sheets with five, remaining the strongest-performing defense in Europe. Following a last-minute Premier League win against Brentford last Saturday, opposing manager Thomas Frank lauded Liverpool’s dominance.

Coach Arne Slot has orchestrated one of the more impressive takeovers in world soccer. Despite the success of his first year with the club, the Dutchman cautioned the praise.

”You cannot judge the table and say who is the best right now, we haven’t [played] the same teams,” he told reporters Monday.

Liverpool ends league phase with Lille on Tuesday and PSV next Wednesday. Lille is on an impressive 21-game unbeaten run, drawing with powerhouse Juventus and beating Spanish royalty Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Liverpool superstars Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are all out of contract at the end of the season. This could be the last run for the legendary trio.

Will Real Madrid defend its title?

Last year’s UCL champions are on the brink of elimination come the end of league phase.

Ranked 20th with nine points through six games, the Spanish heavyweight is two games away from following its triumphant return to the mountain top with a disappointing European exit.

Real Madrid is experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. French forward Kylian Mbappe, signed last summer, is finding his form in La Liga after only scoring two goals in the previous six UCL games.

The striker, top 10 in goals scored in UCL history, will hope to rediscover his European magic against RB Salzburg and Brest and keep the champions safe from elimination.

The club’s manager Carlo Ancelotti, who led the squad to three UCL titles, is reportedly leaving Madrid after this season. This uncertainty could provide the club with the spark it needs or further bury its chances of staying alive.

Can Bayern Munich push for top eight?

The Bundesliga leaders are on the cusp of avoiding the dreaded knockout playoff. One point out of the top eight, the German club can be two wins away from real breathing room.

It has two great chances to end league phase strong with matches against 18th-ranked Feyenoord and already-eliminated S Bratislava.

Bayern is third in goals scored with the attacking talent of Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise on full display.

If the side can sure up its defense in the next two matches, it will avoid a two-legged playoff and rest its stars. The Bundesliga race is tight between Bayern and Leverkusen, so the squad doesn’t want to play more games if possible.