The penultimate round of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League league phase gets underway on Tuesday, January 20, and Wednesday, January 21, with several clubs having the chance to lock up a place in the round of 16 with one match still to play.
With the revamped format entering a decisive stretch, Matchday 7 could go a long way toward clarifying which teams are headed straight into the knockout rounds and which will need to take the longer road.
Teams already qualified for the round of 16
As Matchday 7 begins, no team has mathematically secured a place in the Champions League round of 16, but several clubs are extremely close.
Arsenal (18 points) are leading the way after winning all six of their opening matches. One more point from their final two games would be enough to confirm a top-eight finish and direct qualification.
Bayern Munich (15 points), Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Atalanta (all 13 points) are already guaranteed at least a spot in the knockout phase playoffs. All four, however, will be aiming to finish in the top eight and avoid the extra playoff round.
Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Atlético and Liverpool (all 12 points) are also within touching distance of a last-16 berth.
Champions League fixtures: Matchday 7
Tuesday, January 20
Wednesday, January 21
How qualification works in the new Champions League format
This season marks the second year of the Champions League’s revamped league phase, which replaced the traditional group stage with a Swiss-style system.
Each team plays eight matches instead of six, facing eight different opponents. Once all games are completed, the 36 clubs are ranked together in a single league table.
The top eight teams advance directly to the two-leg round of 16, scheduled for March 10-11 and March 17-18. The draw for the round of 16 will take place on February 27.
Teams finishing from ninth through 24th place move on to the knockout phase playoffs, an extra two-leg round introduced under the new format. Those matches will be played February 17-18 and February 24-25 and will determine the final eight spots in the round of 16.
Clubs finishing between ninth and 16th will be seeded for the playoffs and will host the first leg at home, giving them a potential edge as the Champions League moves closer to its business end.