5 top teams that might not make it to the knockout stages of the Champions League

Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez of Atletico Madrid and Memphis Depay of Barcelona (right)
Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez of Atletico Madrid and Memphis Depay of Barcelona (right)

#3 AC Milan

Atletico Madrid v AC Milan: Group B - UEFA Champions League
Atletico Madrid v AC Milan: Group B - UEFA Champions League

AC Milan are currently league leaders in Serie A. But they could be dealt a heavy heartbreak on Tuesday night as Liverpool come to visit in their final group stage game of the Champions League.

Milan are third in Group B with just four points after five games. They beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano in November and that is their only win in the Champions League this season.

Porto are currently second in Group B with five points. They sit behind Liverpool, who have already qualified for the Round of 16. Porto and Atletico Madrid will clash tonight as well. If that game ends in a stalemate or Porto loses, then AC Milan can progress with a win.

Liverpool might not field their best XI here as there's nothing at stake for them and Klopp will want to give his main players a rest. So it's still very doable for the Rossoneri and there is no better time to register their first home win of the 2021-22 Champions League than tonight.

#2 Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid v AC Milan: Group B - UEFA Champions League
Atletico Madrid v AC Milan: Group B - UEFA Champions League

Atletico Madrid are bottom of Group B. Diego Simeone's side have looked vulnerable at the back and have been nowhere near their best in the 2021-22 season. They have lost all of their last three Champions League matches.

The Rojiblancos will square off against Porto at the Estadio do Dragao in Portugal. Porto have five points while AC Milan and Atletico Madrid have four points each. Sergio Conceicao's men will fancy themselves against an inconsistent Atletico Madrid side.

If Porto can register a win, they will qualify. If they can draw the game against Atletico Madrid and if AC Milan don't win their tie against Liverpool, they will still qualify. As you can see, the odds are stacked against Atletico Madrid.

#1 Barcelona

FC Barcelona v Bayern München: Group E - UEFA Champions League
FC Barcelona v Bayern München: Group E - UEFA Champions League

Barcelona shot themselves in the foot by settling for a 0-0 draw with Benfica in their latest Champions League game. The Catalans could have sealed qualification to the knockout stages with a win at home against the Portuguese outfit.

For now, Barcelona sit second in Group E. However, they will be going up against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night. It is not a fixture that the Catalans have found much joy in of late.

Meanwhile, Benfica take on Dynamo Kyiv at home. The Ukrainian side are yet to win a single Champions League game this term. Barcelona have seven points while Benfica have five.

Benfica won their first match against Barcelona 3-0. So if Barcelona end up drawing with Bayern Munich and Benfica win their game, the latter will progress. So as long as Benfica win their game against Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona need to get all three points against Bayern Munich.

Bayern Munich have won all three of their previous meetings with Barcelona in the Champions League. It is the longest run of wins by any team against Barcelona in the history of Europe's most elite competition.

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