The Champions League is set to resume this week, bringing back some of Europe's most prestigious clubs earlier than anticipated. With 24 teams still vying for the coveted trophy, the competition is heating up as the knockout stages approach.

Play-Offs for the Middle Pack

From September to January, 36 teams competed, each facing eight different opponents. The top eight teams advanced directly to the last 16, while the bottom 12 were eliminated. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th now face a two-legged knockout play-off, with the eight winners moving on to the next round.

Among those returning for the play-offs are reigning champions Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan, the latter of whom they defeated in the 2025 final. Notably, fifteen-time champions Real Madrid also found themselves outside the top eight, alongside other former winners like Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and Benfica. Benfica's qualification was particularly dramatic, as they were seconds away from elimination before goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time, sealing a 4-2 victory over Real Madrid.

English Clubs' Performance

In the English Premier League, five out of six clubs finished in the top eight. Arsenal led the way with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches, followed by Liverpool in third, Tottenham in fourth, Chelsea in sixth, and Manchester City in eighth. This leaves Newcastle United as the sole English representative in the upcoming play-offs, where they will face Azerbaijani club Qarabag, who suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Liverpool in January.

PSG's Path to Glory

For teams like PSG, finishing outside the top eight does not necessarily diminish their chances of success. Last season, PSG faced elimination when they were down 2-0 at home to Manchester City but managed to turn the match around, winning 4-2. They continued their impressive run by defeating Stuttgart 4-1, finishing 15th in the league, and then dominating Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the knockout play-offs. They went on to eliminate Liverpool on penalties in the last 16, and overcame Aston Villa and Arsenal in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively, before triumphing over Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.

As PSG prepares to take on Monaco in this season's play-offs, manager Luis Enrique expressed confidence in his team's ability to navigate the additional matches, stating, "If any team is ready for the play-offs, it is us." He acknowledged the possibility of entering the play-offs but remains optimistic about their chances of back-to-back Champions League titles.