What Chelsea need to qualify for Champions League last 16 | OneFootball

Blues’ hopes of automatic qualification to knockout stage hanging in balance

Chelsea face Napoli in their final Champions League league stage match

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

All 36 teams will play in 18 games kicking off simultaneously and Chelsea are among 30 teams still waiting for their fate to be decided on what is sure to be a dramatic night.

What Chelsea need to qualify for Champions League last 16

Chelsea go into the final round of matches sitting in eighth place in a congested 36-team table.

But they are one of eight teams, starting with holders Paris Saint-Germain in sixth down to Atalanta in 13th, on 13 points - so it is still all to play for.

The top eight teams get automatic qualification for the last 16, while teams who finish between ninth place and 24th enter the play-offs, which take place on February 17-18 and 24-25.

Victory tonight could be enough for Chelsea to secure a top-eight spot - but it might not be.

PSG and Newcastle directly above Chelsea are playing each other and at least one will drop points, so the Blues would move above them with a win.

But Barcelona, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid below them have winnable home games and could climb above Chelsea on goal difference even if the Blues win in Naples.

A draw is unlikely to be enough for Chelsea.

It is unlikely to be a straightforward night against a Napoli who are managed by Antonio Conte and sit outside the play-off spots on goal difference and needing a positive result.