Things are delicately poised heading into what promises to be a blockbuster final day of the Champions League league phase with 30 teams still waiting to decide their fate, six English clubs eyeing a top-eight spot and old foes looking to down former employers.
While Arsenal are safely through to the last 16, where they will be joined by Bayern Munich, everybody else still has work to do in a congested 36-team table.
Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle United and Chelsea are the other Premier League sides occupying a top-eight spot that would mean they avoid the play-offs and go straight into the last 16.
Manchester City – currently in a play-off spot – are behind Newcastle and Chelsea only on goal difference as part of a group of eight teams on 13 points heading into next Wednesday’s final round.
There have never been six clubs from one country in the competition before, never mind in the knockout stages.
Who is through to the last 16?
Leaders Arsenal have won all seven of their matches and just a point at home to Kairat Almaty would be enough to clinch top spot ahead of Bayern.
In terms of seedings for the last 16, it makes no difference, with the top two paired in the draw and facing the winners of the play-off game between 15th and 18th or 16th and 17th respectively.
Bayern need a point at PSV Eindhoven to secure a top-two finish.
The top two are guaranteed to play the second leg at home in every round until the final.
