To ask this question at this stage of the season seems a bit adventurous. However, this season the top European continental trophy at team level in football has some dynamism compared to previous seasons.
Although there are ten teams out of the 16 that aspire to qualify with one date to go before the end of the group stage, there are some resounding disappointments. And there are also some pleasant surprises.
In Zone A, for example, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are undisputed qualifiers, but they are four points clear of each other. The Citizens have remained true to their competitive style and have qualified without a hitch. But super PSG, with Messi and stars such as Neymar and Mbappé among others, have only picked up eight points out of 15. Barely more than half. Winning just two games so far, drawing two and losing the remaining one. Pochettino's team seems not to have found the right balance yet and in many games, in Ligue and Champions League, they have struggled to win. Lipsia PR have lost their former strength and Brugge are strong only in Belgium.
In Zone B, Liverpool, one of the few teams that have so far scored 100 per cent of their points in points, leads and qualifies without any problems. Fifteen points from five matches. The second place to qualify is an unknown quantity, with Porto (5 pts), Milan (4 pts) and Atlético Madrid (4 pts) all playing for it. A total surprise, not so much for the leader who shows his offensive and defensive solidity but for the abysmal difference with his followers: 10 points to the second and 11 to the third and fourth respectively. Football from another galaxy.
Ajax in Zone C is a faithful expression of the transformation that Dutch football has undergone in recent years. Not only do they qualify comfortably, but they are just behind Bayern as an attacking powerhouse, with sixteen goals scored and only three goals conceded. Who should follow him is still an unknown quantity. His companion will have to choose between Sporting Lisbona, who are having a good season, and Borussia Dortmund, who have dropped crucial points. Both have nine and six points respectively.
Real Madrid and Inter qualify in zone D with 12 and 10 points respectively based on the efficiency of their play rather than the quality of their play. Sheriff, the surprise of the first matches, and Shakthar Donesk could not resist the final offensive of the Spanish and Italians and they say goodbye to the Champions League.
Bayern Munich remain a formidable force: they lead Zone E with 15 points from five games, top efficiency, top scorer with nineteen goals scored and only three conceded. Barring the normal defections of any match, they are obviously one of the candidates for the final. Who will be in contention is yet to be determined. Barcelona, in one of its worst seasons in the Champions League, has managed to recover and position itself in second place with a two-goal lead over Benfica, its main rival, which it failed to beat on the last matchday and thus secure its place in the round of 16. In this way, it is up to them. Xavi's team must not lose away against the powerful Bayern Munich and Benfica must not beat Dinamo, with the aggravating factor that they have the same goal difference. If Benfica win and the Catalans do not, the Portuguese will be the ones to join the Germans. A Catalan victory on German soil seems rather unlikely. But football is, in some cases, unpredictable.
Manchester United, with Ronaldo's footballing and mental strength after a good start, have not been able to exploit the situations they have been presented with properly, but they have nevertheless managed to qualify from Group F with 10 points. Atalanta and Villarreal, who play each other on the last matchday, will have to determine who is the runner-up.
Group G is the most evenly matched of all. With one team left to dominate, the top three all have a chance to qualify. Lilla (with 8 points), RB Salzburg (with 7 points) and Sevilla (with 6 points) will have to play for their chances until the last minute.
Finally, Group H shows the dominance of Chelsea and Juventus, who with 12 points each have already qualified. The only doubt is who will finish first and who will finish second.
Who will be the remaining six teams? We will find out on 7 and 8 December when the final matchday is played.
