sport news Champions League state of play: Key clashes ahead for Barcelona, Chelsea, ...

sport news Champions League state of play: Key clashes ahead for Barcelona, Chelsea, ...
sport news Champions League state of play: Key clashes ahead for Barcelona, Chelsea, ...

The Champions League group stage has now reached its business end, with just one round of fixtures remaining for Europe's big guns to seal a place in the knockouts. 

All four Premier League teams have already safely secured their spots in the last-16, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United confirmed as group winners, but there's still work to do yet for Chelsea.   

Thomas Tuchel's side, who narrowly overcame City to lift the Champions League trophy last season, qualified last time out with an emphatic 4-0 win over Juventus, but face a tricky trip to Zenit St Petersburg as they look to win the group. 

Meanwhile, Ralf Rangnick will get a taste of European action for the first time as Manchester United boss as they play Young Boys on Wednesday night.     

While the Premier League quartet have navigated their way through the group stage, the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan still have it all to do.  

With just the one set of fixtures remaining in this year's Champions League group stage, Sportsmail takes you through the state of play. 

The Champions League group stage is at its business end with the knockouts now in sight

The Champions League group stage is at its business end with the knockouts now in sight

Group A

Manchester City confirmed their progression to the last-16 last time out with an all-important 2-1 win over Mauricio Pochettino's Paris Saint-Germain.    

The Premier League leaders also confirmed their status as group winners, with PSG four points behind and unable to catch Pep Guardiola's side. 

While PSG fell to a bitterly disappointing defeat, their progression to the last-16 was also confirmed as Club Brugge fell to defeat against RB Leipzig. 

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have already confirmed their places in the last-16

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have already confirmed their places in the last-16 

Raheem Sterling celebrated a goal as City beat PSG 2-1 to qualify as Group A winners

Raheem Sterling celebrated a goal as City beat PSG 2-1 to qualify as Group A winners 

While the top two - and therefore last-16 qualification - has already been decided, a place in the Europa League is still up for grabs.   

RB Leipzig are currently in third place by virtue of a better head-to-head record. The pair have one win apiece against each other, but Leipzig bounced back from their 2-1 home defeat to win the away clash 5-0.    

The German outfit now simply need to match Club Brugge's result to qualify for the Europa League. They welcome City to the Red Bull Arena on Tuesday night, while Club Brugge face a tricky trip to PSG, albeit against a side lacking in confidence.  

Remaining fixtures:

December 7: Paris Saint-Germain vs Club Brugge December 7: RB Leipzig vs Manchester City  Group B

Group B is set for an enticing finale, with three teams of huge historical significance still fighting for a runner-up spot. 

Liverpool have already secured the title of group winner and will be seeded going into the round of 16 draw. 

Jurgen Klopp's side have won all five of their matches to date and can safely rotate in their final outing at AC Milan as they focus on the Premier League.    

Liverpool have already wrapped up Group B with a perfect record of five wins in five games

Liverpool have already wrapped up Group B with a perfect record of five wins in five games

Thiago Alcantara scored a brilliant long-range goal as Liverpool beat Porto last time out

Thiago Alcantara scored a brilliant long-range goal as Liverpool beat Porto last time out

Despite defeat to Liverpool last time out, Porto still have last-16 qualification in their own hands heading into their final game at home to Atletico Madrid. 

Any win will be enough to seal their progression - as would a draw, so long as Milan don't beat Liverpool. 

Their opponents Atletico fell to a bitterly disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Milan last time out and now have it all to do on the final day. 

They sit bottom of the group and can only progress to the last-16 with a win. A draw could also be enough to leapfrog Milan into the Europa League spot.  

Milan, meanwhile, can only finish in the top two if Porto don't beat Atletico.   

If Milan and Atletico both win, it will come down to goal difference. This is because they have the exact same head-to-head record. 

Currently, it's Milan who have the higher goal difference, but that could of course change by the end of the evening.

Remaining fixtures:

December 7: AC Milan vs Liverpool  December 7: Porto vs Atletico Madrid  Group C

Group C has already been decided, with Ajax confirmed as group winners with five wins from as many outings. 

The Dutch side have conceded just three goals in the competition to date and have been one of the most impressive sides so far. 

Meanwhile, having secured a better aggregate score in their two outings against Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon have also booked their spot in the knockouts.  

Group C is already wrapped up, with Ajax and Sporting Lisbon progressing to the knockouts

Group C is already wrapped up, with Ajax and Sporting Lisbon progressing to the knockouts 

Dutch giants Ajax confirmed their spot in the round of 16 after just four rounds of fixtures

Dutch giants Ajax confirmed their spot in the round of 16 after just four rounds of fixtures

That leaves Dortmund in third and dropping to the Europa League, with Besiktas still to gain a point and already out. 

The German outfit take on Besiktas on Tuesday, while Ajax look to finish the group in style against runners-up Sporting. 

Remaining fixtures:

December 7: Borussia Dortmund vs Besiktas December 7: Ajax vs Sporting Lisbon Group D

Group D is set for an enticing finale, with Real Madrid and Inter Milan going head-to-head for top spot.  

An under pressure Madrid side sealed their spot in the knockouts with a crucial 3-0 away win at Sheriff last time out, while Inter breezed past Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0.  

Madrid welcome Inter to the Bernabeu on Tuesday and simply have to avoid defeat to be crowned group winners. For Inter only a win will see them leapfrog the Spaniards.  

Real Madrid and Inter Milan will go head-to-head on Tuesday to determine the Group D winner

Real Madrid and Inter Milan will go head-to-head on Tuesday to determine the Group D winner 

Madrid sealed their round of 16 qualification with a 3-0 away win over Sheriff last time out

Madrid sealed their round of 16 qualification with a 3-0 away win over Sheriff last time out 

The rest of the group is already decided, with Shakhtar Donetsk sat on just one point and out. 

As for Sheriff, they have enjoyed a stunning debut campaign in the Champions League, with their European adventures to continue in the Europa League. 

Remaining fixtures:

December 7: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan December 7: Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sheriff Group E

Bayern Munich have comfortably made the knockouts once more, scoring a whopping 19 goals in their five victories to date.  

All eyes are on Barcelona, however, who are at genuine risk of missing out on a Champions League knockout place. 

New manager Xavi took charge of their crunch clash at home to Benfica last time out, but the Catalan outfit could only muster a 0-0

read more from dailymail.....

PREV sport news Haatem set to join stable star Rosallion in the 2000 Guineas next month after ... trends now
NEXT ‘He’s a bit of a villain’: Short confident he can beat Sun Yang in Paris ... mogaznewsen