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The battle to pin down places in the top eight could be enthralling, given how tightly packed the standings are.<\/p>\n
Let’s start with the easy bit. For Real Madrid and Liverpool, both on 15 points, and Tottenham, on 14, a victory on matchday eight would secure direct entry into the last 16.<\/p>\n
Spurs face eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, where the north London outfit won last year on the way to a Europa League triumph that secured them Champions League football this season.<\/p>\n
Arne Slot’s Liverpool side are at home to Qarabag, who have a slim chance of still making the top eight.<\/p>\n
“It’s all down to us again. Let’s make sure we’re in the top eight,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk after last week’s win in Marseille.<\/p>\n
“It’s very important as you miss the play-offs, and it helps with the intense programme that we’re having. We’ve put ourselves in a good position.”<\/p>\n
Real Madrid are away to their former manager Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.<\/p>\n
Mourinho reached three Champions League semi-finals in a row with Real before leaving in 2013, but Benfica – with only two wins in their first seven games – will need to beat Real to have a chance of sneaking into the play-offs.<\/p>\n
Behind Spurs come the group of eight teams, starting with holders Paris St-Germain in sixth down to Atalanta in 13th, on 13 points.<\/p>\n
Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester City are all in that group and looking for a priceless win – and even then knowing their fate could come down to goal difference.<\/p>\n
Chelsea are also up against a familiar face in their former head coach Antonio Conte, who won Serie A with Napoli last season.<\/p>\n
Conte welcomes the Blues to Naples with his side sitting outside the play-off spots on goal difference and needing a positive result.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n