Champions League: Man City, Real Madrid and PSG all in danger of dropping out with three league-phase games remaining

With two rounds to go in the inaugural Champions League league phase, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are in genuine jeopardy.

Teams must finish in the top eight to achieve automatic qualification into the round of 16, while those in ninth to 24th enter a round of two-legged play-offs in February, with the winners taking the other eight spots.

Teams who finish anywhere from 25th to 36th will be eliminated from the competition - with no access to the Europa League.

As it stands, three heavyweights of European football are in danger. Paris Saint-Germain are facing full elimination, and sit 25th despite a much-needed win at Red Bull Salzburg this week.

Manchester City are also struggling. Pep Guardiola's side are 22nd, far away from a coveted top-eight spot. Real Madrid are faring little better in 20th, and picked up a first win in three by edging past Atalanta on Tuesday.

A big gun, it seems increasingly likely, will fall.

Two big names continue to flounder in the lower levels of the table: Man City and PSG.

City, the 2022/23 champions, have suffered an alarming drop-off in Europe - potentially worse than their current Premier League woes - having failed to win any of their last three Champions League matches after picking up seven points from their first three games.

Defeat to Juventus, who had previously also looked in trouble, further worsened their hopes of progression and leaves their showdown with PSG on January 22 as a likely must-win game.

Luis Enrique's PSG side are finding life hard in Europe themselves, and their win in Salzburg was only their second from their six matches so far, having already lost to Bayern, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal.

They are in a state of rebuilding after losing Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the summer, and named their youngest-ever starting XI in Ligue 1 earlier this season as they enact president Nasser Al-Khelaifi's wishes to turn to youth over big-money signings.

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season will take place in Munich at the Allianz Arena on May 31, 2025.