Europe’s elite clubs face a nervy Wednesday night as the UEFA Champions League league phase draws to a close, with several traditional heavyweights battling to avoid an early exit from the competition.
Ajax are among the most vulnerable. The Dutch giants sit 32nd in the 36-team table with just six points and virtually no margin for error. Anything short of victory at home against Olympiakos would all but end their European campaign, a stark contrast to the club’s storied Champions League pedigree.
Napoli are also walking a tightrope. The Italian side occupy 25th place on eight points, narrowly outside the qualification zone, ahead of a high-stakes home encounter with Chelsea. Defeat could spell disaster, while a win may yet revive their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
Further down the table, Benfica, managed by Jose Mourinho, find themselves 29th and under pressure. The Portuguese club face arguably the toughest test of the night against Real Madrid, knowing that three points could dramatically reshape their Champions League destiny.
Under the revamped competition format, the top eight teams qualify automatically for the round of 16, while clubs placed ninth to 24th must navigate a two-legged playoff to secure the remaining spots. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated outright.
So far, only Kairat Almaty, Eintracht Frankfurt, Villarreal and Slavia Prague have been mathematically ruled out of the competition, leaving the final night poised for late drama, shattered dreams and last-gasp qualification twists.
