The revamped Uefa Champions League reaches a critical moment on Wednesday when the final round of group-stage matches take place.
All 36 teams are in action, with 18 games kicking-off at midnight UAE and all but two of them involving clubs who could make it through to the last 16.
The stage is set for an exciting finale to the inaugural expanded group section with a huge amount still to play for.
How many teams can still qualify for last-16?
Heading into Matchday 8, here is a quick refresher on how the new group-stage format works.
For those that finish in the top eight, it is mission accomplished, a place in the knockout stage is safely in the bag and the next round of last-16 matches will not take place until March 4-5. Those teams will also be seeded, which should, in theory, mean an easier draw. The draw takes place on February 21.
Taking on those eight teams will be the winners of eight two-legged knockout play-off ties, which involve the clubs who finish ninth to 24th in the table.
Those finishing between ninth and 16th will take on a club placed 17th to 24th and have the advantage of playing the second leg at home in front of their own supporters.
Alas, for those that find themselves 25th to 36th, their Champions League dream is over for this season.
There also is no consolation of parachuting down to the second-tier Europa League, as was the case for teams that finished third in the previous group-stage format.
The play-off clashes are scheduled for February 11-12 and 18-19 with the last-16 draw set for two days later.
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot and Conor Bradley celebrates their Champions League win over Real Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. AFP -
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher saves a penalty from Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe. AP -
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe look after the defeat at Anfield. Reuters -
Liverpool registered their first win over Real Madrid in 15 years. EPA -
Cody Gakpo, centre, celebrates with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate after scoring against Real Madrid. EPA -
Cody Gakpo scores the second goal for Liverpool. EPA -
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates with Luis Diaz after scoring his sides first goal. AP
Which teams have already qualified?
Two teams have safely secured their last-16 spot with a game still to play.
Liverpool top the table with a perfect record of seven wins from seven games, defeating the likes of reigning European champions Real Madrid (2-0) and Bundesliga title-holders Bayer Leverkusen (4-0) along the way.
Arne Slot's side – who also top the English Premier League table by six points with a game in hand – have scored 15 goals, conceding a miserly two. A draw against PSV Eindhoven in their final game will seal them top spot in the inaugural group stage.
Barcelona are also through having won six and lost one of their matches, the last of which saw the Spanish giants twice fight back from two-goals down to beat Benfica 5-4 in Portugal. Victory in their last game at home to Atalanta will guarantee second place.
Barca also have the two top scorers so far in this season's competition in nine-goal Robert Lewandowski and teammate Raphinha, who has eight.
Top-eight spot sealed: Liverpool and Barcelona.
Who are next favourites to seal top-eight spots?
There are five teams currently in the top eight who will remain there if they win their final game.
Arsenal (third place) and Inter Milan (fourth place) both have 16 points and will be safely through if they defeat respective opponents Girona (away) and Monaco (home) on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid (fifth) and AC Milan (sixth) are on 15 points and face Red Bull Salzburg (away) and Dinamo Zagreb (away). Seventh-place Atalanta are a point and place behind and tackle already-qualified Barca in Spain last up.
Top-eight spot sealed if they win: Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Atalanta.
What about the best of the rest?
Some of European football's big guns look set for a play-off battle if they are to make the last-16.
Six-time European Cup winners Bayern Munich and 15-time winners Real Madrid – currently 15th and 16th, respectively, on 12 points – take on Slavan Bratislava (home) and Brest (away) in their final games.
Borussia Dortmund – last year's runners-up – are also on 12 points with Shakhtar Donetsk next up, while Paris Saint-Germain – beaten finalists in 2020 – are 22nd on 10 points and travel to Stuttgart needing a win.
At least play-off spot sealed: Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord, Lille, Brest, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus, Celtic.
Any big clubs under threat of early knockout?
There is one team more than any other currently outside the top 24 that stands out from the rest.
Manchester City were Champions League winners for the first time only two year ago when they defeated Inter Milan in Istanbul.
But this season has proven to be comfortably the toughest of Pep Guardiola's City reign and Spaniard's managerial career as a whole.
An unprecedented run of one win in 13 games across competitions saw City drop off the pace domestically and in Europe.
An undefeated six-game run has propelled them back up to fourth in the Premier League but they currently sit 25th in the Champions League on eight points.
City's situation is simple going into their home game against Club Brugge: Win, and they are through to the play-offs, lose, and they are out.
Progression unclear: PSV, Club Brugge, Benfica, PSG, Sporting, Stuttgart, Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb, Shakhtar Donetsk
Already out: Bologna, Sparta Prague, Leipzig, Girona, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz, Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys.
