What Chelsea need to qualify for Champions League last 16

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·22 de enero de 2026

What Chelsea need to qualify for Champions League last 16

Blues have taken 13 points from seven games in the league phase

Work to do: Chelsea

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Chelsea have qualified for the Champions League knockout stages, but face a fight to avoid the play-offs.

The Blues have climbed up to eighth in the League Phase standings following their 1-0 win over Pafos on Wednesday night.

As things stand, Chelsea are on course to bypass the play-off round which would mean avoiding two extra matches next month.

Chelsea travel to Napoli next week in their final match of the League Phase knowing victory over Antonio Conte’s side should seal a place in the Champions League last-16.

What Chelsea need to qualify for Champions League last 16

Beating Napoli in their final League Phase game will leave Chelsea on 16 points and history suggests that will be enough to avoid the play-offs.

Last season, the number of points needed to qualify directly for the round of 16 by finishing in top eight last season was 16.

With that said, given the Blues are locked on the same number of points as seven other teams, it could come down to goal difference or goals scored to determine who finishes in the top eight.

Currently, Chelsea’s goal difference of +6 has them above Barcelona and Sporting (both +5), Manchester City (+4), Atletico Madrid (+3) and Atalanta (+1) in the 36-team table.

Meanwhile, they have scored fewer goals than four of the seven other teams locked on 13 points.