Real Madrid and Bayern: Possible Rivals of FC Barcelona in the Round of 16 of the UCL

On Wednesday, January 29, the eighth and final matchday of the group stage of the new Champions 2024-2025 will be played, and so far, the provisional lineup of the competition anticipates absolutely unexpected and spectacular matchups. Many teams still have their work to do, including some of the most powerful in the continent, such as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, who are looking to climb the standings, or PSG and Manchester City, who must win in the last matchday if they want to stay alive in the competition.

Once the last matchday is completed, the top 8 teams will qualify directly for the Round of 16, and those ranked 9th to 24th will have to play a preliminary round of the knockout stage with two-legged ties, with the teams finishing from 9th to 16th as seeded in the draw with the advantage of playing the second leg at home.

Possible Rivals for Barça in the Round of 16

With one match left to define the final lineup of the competition, the current standings suggest surprising and exciting matchups. For example, if at the end of the group stage FC Barcelona maintains its current second position, it could face top-level rivals: Bayern Munich (15th), Real Madrid (16th), Juventus (17th), and Celtic (18th). Fortunately, Flick's team would have the home advantage and would always play the second and decisive match at home.

However, the current picture could change radically depending on the results of the last matchday, as the point difference between most teams is minimal. To give you an idea, if Barça were to lose its match against Atalanta, it could drop to positions that would match it with other teams. Thus, if they finish 3rd or 4th, they would find themselves in the Round of 16 against the winners of the knockout stage that will face the 13th and 14th versus the 19th and 20th.

Format of the Champions knockout stage: The last 18 matches of the group stage yet to be played can alter the standings, but with the current classification, the matchups would be as follows:

1. 1st/2nd vs. winner 15th/17th - Liverpool/Barcelona vs. Bayern/Juventus
2. 1st/2nd vs. winner 15th/18th - Liverpool/Barcelona vs. Bayern/Celtic
3. 1st/2nd vs. winner 16th/17th - Liverpool/Barcelona vs. Real Madrid/Juventus
4. 1st/2nd vs. winner 16th/18th - Liverpool/Barcelona vs. Real Madrid/Celtic

With this new format of the Champions, a classic between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid would be possible in the Round of 16, as, unlike before, there are no restrictions on facing teams from the same country in the knockout stages.

Champions Standings after Matchday 7 

1.  Liverpool, 21 points (+13 GD) - qualified for the Round of 16
2. FC Barcelona, 18 points (+15 GD) - qualified for the Round of 16
3. Arsenal, 16 points (+12 GD)
4. Inter Milan, 16 points (+7 GD)
5. Atletico Madrid, 15 points (+5 GD)
6. AC Milan, 15 points (+4 GD)
7. Atalanta, 14 points (+14 GD)
8. Bayer Leverkusen, 13 points (+6 GD)
9. Aston Villa, 13 points (+5 GD) - playoff zone
10. AS Monaco, 13 points (+3 GD) 
11. Feyenoord, 13 points (+2 GD)
12. LOSC Lille, 13 points (+2 GD)
13. Stade Brest, 13 points (+2 GD)
14. Borussia Dortmund, 12 points (+8 GD)
15. Bayern Munich, 12 points (+6 GD)
16. Real Madrid, 12 points (+5 GD)
17. Juventus, 12 points (+4 GD)
18. Celtic Glasgow, 12 points (+1 GD)
19. PSV Eindhoven, 11 points (+3 GD)
20. Bruges, 11 points (-2 GD)
21. Benfica, 10 points (+2 GD)
22. Paris Saint-Germain, 10 points (+2 GD)
23. Sporting CP, 10 points (+1 GD)
24. Stuttgart, 10 points (-1)
25. Manchester City, 8 points (´+2 GD) - elimination zone
26. Dinamo Zagreb, 8 points (-8 GD)
27. Shakhtar Donetsk, 7 points (-6 GD)
28. Bologna, 5 points (-5 GD) - eliminated from the competition
29. Sparta Prague, 4 points (-12 GD) - eliminated from the competition
30. RB Leipzig, 3 points (-6 GD) - eliminated from the competition
31. Girona, 3 points (-7 GD) - eliminated from the competition
32. Red Star, 3 points (-10 GD) - eliminated from the competition
33. Sturm Graz, 3 points (-10 GD) - eliminated from the competition
34. RB Salzburg, 3 points (-19 GD) - eliminated from the competition
35. Slovan Bratislava, 0 points (-18 GD) - eliminated from the competition
36. Young Boys, 0 points (-24 GD) - eliminated from the competition