Football
Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FC 3y

Champions League: How teams can qualify for round of 16

We're onto Matchday 6, and the Champions League group stage is falling into shape. Twelve teams have booked their places in the round of 16. Here's how all teams are positioned to reach the knockouts. 

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GROUP TIEBREAKERS

If two or more teams are level on points, they will be separated in the following order:
1) Points in games between the sides, AKA head-to-head
2) Goal difference in head-to-head
3) Goals scored in head-to-head
4) Away goals in head to head
5) Goal difference
6) Goals scored

Qualified for round of 16: Atalanta, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, FC Porto, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, RB Leipzig, Sevilla

Qualified for Europa League round of 32: Ajax, Club Brugge, Dynamo Kiev, Krasnodar, Manchester United

GROUP A

Remaining games
Dec. 9: Bayern vs. Lokomotiv, FC Salzburg vs. Atletico

How is the group shaping up?

Bayern Munich eased through as group winners with two matches in hand.

Second place will be between Atletico Madrid and FC Salzburg, and it comes down to a head-to-head meeting in Austria. Salzburg must win to oust Atletico from second place. 

Lokomotiv Moscow cannot go through in the Champions League, but can qualify for the Europa League if they win away to Bayern and Salzburg lose or draw.

GROUP B

Remaining games
Dec. 9: Real Madrid vs. Gladbach, Inter vs. Shakhtar

How is the group shaping up?

Gladbach are top of the table, and will be through if they avoid defeat away to Real Madrid. If they lose, they can only go through if Inter vs. Shakhtar is a draw.

Shakhtar started the group in fine form with a win at the Bernabeu, and followed that up with victory at home against Zinedine Zidane's men. They now know they will be through if they can win at Inter on Dec. 9. A draw will also put them through as long as Madrid do not beat Gladbach. Shakhtar cannot go through with a defeat.

Real Madrid still have their fate in their own hands, aware that a win at home to Gladbach will secure safe passage. A draw is also enough if Inter beat Shakhtar. 

Inter must win at home to Shakhtar and hope there is a winner between Gladbach and Real Madrid. A draw in the other game would see them miss out on the head-to-head with Real Madrid.

GROUP C

Remaining games
Dec. 9: Man City vs. Marseille, Olympiakos vs. FC Porto

How is the group shaping up?

Manchester City won the group by drawing 0-0 at FC Porto, and while the Portuguese are also through they can only finish second due to the head-to-head rule.

Olympiakos are third, ahead of Marseille in the battle for a place in the Europa League. Marseille, who go to Man City, must better Olympiakos' result to avoid being eliminated from Europe altogether. 

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