Impressive Inter and Atalanta close to qualification after MD5

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Impressive Inter and Atalanta close to qualification after MD5

epa11742455 Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi catches the ball during the UEFA Champions League match between Inter Milan and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, November 26, 2024. EPA-EFE/Daniel Dal Zennaro


Liverpool remain the only team with a 100 per cent record in the Champions League after five rounds, but Inter and Atalanta are very close to securing qualification, while Milan leapfrog Juventus.

The new format was introduced this season where all the results enter a single table.

The top eight go directly into the round of 16, while the teams from ninth to 24thth must meet each other in a playoff phase.

As for the bottom sector sides, they are simply eliminated from Europe at the end of this phase.

Liverpool beat Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid 2-0 tonight and are on 15 points, so in reality at least a play-off place is already secured.

Inter are in second place with 13 points and one more win would virtually lock in a top eight spot.

Atalanta is not far behind in fifth place with 11 points.

epa11742487 Mateo Retegui (ATA) scores his team's fourth goal alongside Mohamed Ali Camara (YB), right, and Sandro Lauper (YB) during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Switzerland's BSC Young Boys and Italy's Atalanta Bergamo at the Wankdorf stadium in Bern, Switzerland, 26 November 2024. EPA-EFE/PETER KLAUNZER
epa11742487 Mateo Retegui (ATA) scores his team’s fourth goal alongside Mohamed Ali Camara (YB), right, and Sandro Lauper (YB) during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Switzerland’s BSC Young Boys and Italy’s Atalanta Bergamo at the Wankdorf stadium in Bern, Switzerland, 26 November 2024. EPA-EFE/PETER KLAUNZER

Milan have now leapfrogged Juventus in the standings on nine points, leaving the Bianconeri behind on eight.

Bologna are by all accounts doomed for an early exit, having scored just one point and one goal in five Champions League games.

The biggest surprises are Real Madrid on six points and Paris Saint-Germain with just four, on the brink of elimination in January.

There are three more matches to be played in this Champions League phase.

Champions League table