With Matchday 5 completed in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, the table is tightening as all 36 teams enter their final three matches. The top eight teams are currently on course for direct qualification to the Round of 16, with Arsenal leading the pack on 15 points.
Paris, Bayern Munich, Inter, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Chelsea also look strong, while Sporting CP, sitting 8th with only 6 points, are in a vulnerable position and could easily slip into the play-off zone.
The teams placed 9th to 24th occupy the knockout play-off spots, and many of them look safe for now. Manchester City, Atalanta, Newcastle, Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, Galatasaray, PSV, and Tottenham are in good shape, though they still need to secure a few more points. Below them, teams like Leverkusen, Barcelona, Qarabağ, Napoli, Marseille, Juventus, Monaco, and Pafos face a tight battle, as their positions can change quickly with any slip in form.
The elimination zone currently includes Union SG, Club Brugge, Athletic Club, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Benfica, Slavia Praha, Bodø/Glimt, Olympiacos, Villarreal, Kairat Almaty, and Ajax. Several of these teams are close enough to fight their way into the top 24, especially Frankfurt, Club Brugge, and Copenhagen. However, Benfica and Villarreal are in serious trouble, while Kairat Almaty and Ajax, both winless, are virtually guaranteed to go out.
With only three games left, the competition is wide open. Giants like Barcelona, Juventus, and Napoli are fighting for survival, while the top sides aim to secure early qualification. Every match from here on will be decisive in determining who progresses and who faces elimination.