One team on the brink of elimination: Spanish clubs' Champions League qualification scenarios
As the fifth round of the group stage in the Champions League approaches its end, qualification scenarios are starting to become clearer for the Spanish teams involved.
Barcelona lost yesterday against Chelsea, as did Villarreal against Borussia Dortmund, while Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will play today against Olympiacos and Inter Milan respectively.
Each team faces a different reality in their quest to qualify for the Round of 16 of the Champions League, whether through direct advancement or by competing in the playoff for the knockout stages.
Barcelona
The heavy defeat against Chelsea has made the Blaugrana's task of direct qualification very difficult, as the team has 7 points out of a possible 15 and needs 9 points from their remaining three matches to secure 16 points.
Achieving 16 points does not guarantee direct qualification, but it would bring Barcelona closer in the event of any of the top eight contenders faltering.
The Blaugrana's remaining home matches against Eintracht Frankfurt and Copenhagen, and an away visit to Slavia Prague, offer them a good chance, but any further slip-up could definitively end their hopes of direct qualification.
Real Madrid
Los Blancos are enjoying a relatively stable period in the Champions League, having secured 9 points out of a possible 12. Real Madrid needs two wins and a draw from their next four matches to guarantee direct qualification to the Round of 16.
The upcoming fixtures include an away trip to Olympiacos this evening, followed by hosting Manchester City and Monaco at the Santiago Bernabéu, and a visit to Benfica at the Estádio da Luz. Los Blancos appear to be the closest to direct qualification among the Spanish clubs.
Atletico Madrid
Los Rojiblancos are struggling after two painful defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal, but they still have a chance to secure a place in the top eight of the Champions League.
The team has collected 6 points out of 12, but they need to win most of their remaining matches, especially the crucial encounter against Inter Milan at the Metropolitano stadium this evening.
With other fixtures against PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray, and Bodo/Glimt, Los Rojiblancos will be in a stable position if they achieve victory this evening.
Athletic Bilbao
Los Leones are on the verge of an early exit, having gathered 4 points from a possible 15, and face a daunting schedule ahead in the Champions League.
The first match is against Paris Saint-Germain, followed by Atalanta and Sporting CP, making the task almost impossible.
The team needs 7 points from their remaining three matches to stay in contention, meaning two wins and a draw, but this seems difficult given the upcoming fixtures.
Villarreal
El Submarino Amarillo are in a disastrous position, having secured only one point out of a possible 15, and qualification even through the playoffs is impossible.
Even winning all their remaining matches will not enable them to reach the minimum qualification threshold, which was 11 points last season.
The upcoming fixtures are against Copenhagen, followed by Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen. Even if they manage to secure 9 points from three victories, their total would only be 10 points.
