Almost four months from now, the league champions will be crowned. In a league with only 23 teams, there is a decent chance that two or more clubs will share the spoils at the end of the group stage. The big question is, who will get to play in the Champions League next year? There are a couple of contenders, including Liverpool and Manchester City, which both stand a good chance of claiming the title in the end.
The Champions League is a league with no shortage of excitement. In the past, close games have often made for dramatic finales. While we are likely to see a lot of tight matches in the coming weeks, we can't discount the possibility that two clubs will finish on the same number of points at the end of the group stage. Certainly, that could be a good or bad thing, depending on the outcome.
The league isn't without its shortcomings, however. For example, Manchester City hasn't beaten Liverpool in four years. Moreover, there are a number of teams below them in the league. Some of these are in the bottom half of the table, while others are well above them. In fact, Tottenham Hotspur are currently in fifth place, a position they will be aiming to get back to if they can beat Manchester City in the final round. The Spurs have a shaky record in recent years, but could be rejuvenated by a win over City.
In short, the Champions League is a league where the best team isn't necessarily the most successful. Even if Manchester City can take the top spot in the group, there is no guarantee they will play in the Champions League next year. There are a handful of teams who are close to Manchester City in the table, and could end up in the same echelon. Similarly, Ajax and Bayern Munich are well placed to fend off the challengers. In fact, we could be looking at an all-German top four in the next few months. Despite the fact that Ajax and Bayern have beaten Real Madrid, there is no guarantee that either team will go through.
The league also features a number of other notable players, including Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. While all three clubs are likely to compete for the title in the upcoming campaign, Manchester City has a significant edge over the other two in the current standings. This could mean the difference between a top-tier team and a mid-table one. It could also mean the difference between a team that wins the Champions League and one that doesn't.
Similarly, we could be looking at an all-German title fight between Ajax and Bayern, and a potential battle royale in the last group stage game. For now, however, the lion's share of the limelight is being taken by Liverpool, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund. In fact, the top two clubs in the league are within three points of each other.