What Tottenham need to qualify for Champions League knockout stage | OneFootball

Spurs are all but certain of a play-off spot but direct qualification cannot be ruled out

However, in the Champions League, there remains the slimmest glimmer of hope for the north London club.

Spurs have lost just one of their six league phase games, and find themselves a point outside the automatic qualification places.

The top eight teams in the Champions League’s revamped league phase table will automatically qualify for the knockouts, while teams from ninth to 24th place will each contest a play-off game to try to secure their place in the knockouts.

What Tottenham need to qualify for Champions League knockout stage

Spurs have 11 points from six games, and know that they need just two points from their final two games to secure a place in the play-offs, with 25th-placed team Benfica capable of securing a maximum of 12 points.

That means a victory tonight against Dortmund, albeit with a heavily depleted squad, would ensure Spurs’ place in the play-offs.

Automatic qualification is, however, still a very real possibility, and if Spurs were to beat Dortmund, they would move above the Bundesliga side in the race to finish inside the top eight.

Liverpool, who face Marseille and Qarabag in their final two games, are the other side currently outside the top eight, but above Spurs in the standings.

Arne Slot’s men are level on 12 points with Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, all three of whom are currently inside the top eight.

Thomas Frank is under serious pressure as Spurs boss, having lost eight of his last 14 games in all competitions.

Tonight’s game against Dortmund is seen as potentially the last chance to save his job, and with just 11 senior outfield players to pick from, he faces a huge task against a Dortmund side that has lost just once in their last 12 games in all competitions.