THREE ELITE TEAMS COULD BOW OUT OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE

January 28, 2026January 28, 2026

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By: Fasasi Hammad

Several major clubs face the risk of seeing their Champions League campaigns end when the group stage concludes on Wednesday night.

Ajax are among the most vulnerable, sitting 32nd out of 36 teams with just six points, leaving them with only a slim chance of advancing. The Dutch side must secure a crucial home victory against Olympiakos to keep their hopes alive.

Napoli are also in a precarious position. With eight points, they currently sit 25th, just outside the qualification spots, ahead of a decisive home clash with Chelsea.

Benfica, led by Jose Mourinho, are 29th and must overcome a tough challenge against Real Madrid. A win would greatly improve their chances of advancing to the knockout stages.

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Under the current competition format, the top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams ranked ninth to 24th enter two-legged play-offs to compete for the remaining spots, while the bottom 12 are eliminated from the tournament.

So far, Kairat Almaty, Eintracht Frankfurt, Villarreal, and Slavia Prague have already been confirmed as out of the competition.