Champions League

[Brazilian Villain]

Barcelona v Atalanta  looks pretty key to me

I've always liked Barca, Més que un club and all that.

[Toronto Villa]

seeing as Barcelona need money you'd think they want to get another win under their belt in this competiton. Each win is worth around 2MM euros

[Grande Pablo]

Mings picks ball up vs Bruges, & the disallowed goal vs Juventus.  That's 3 points better off we'd be - but you can't change the past.

[Brazilian Villain]

seeing as Barcelona need money you'd think they want to get another win under their belt in this competiton. Each win is worth around 2MM euros

Very good point, I'd overlooked that.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Barcelona v Atalanta  looks pretty key to me

Hard to see Atalanta winning in Barcelona.

However.....

Barcelona have already qualified, will they play a weakened team ?

This Sunday they have Valencia at home.
Then on the Wednesday, it's Atalanta.
The Sunday after they have Alaves at home.

The Barcelona game could be any score, Barca have +15 goal difference and are top scorers in the competition with 26 goals conceding 11 Atalanta have a +14 gd conceding only 4.

[The Man With A Stick]

seeing as Barcelona need money you'd think they want to get another win under their belt in this competiton. Each win is worth around 2MM euros

Top 2 teams in the league are seeded as well, so they'll want to finish above Arsenal.

[Richard]

I'm sure I read there's some advantage, to do with seeding for the whole knockout phase, if you finish in the top 2 of the league stage.

[RamboandBruno]

Let's be positive, this is a good day for us.

We've a better chance than we otherwise may have and a winnable game next week.

Will we go for steady control or just throw everything at a big big win....

Don’t think we need to win big and it may not make a y difference if we do. However, I do hope we set out to win big in terms of tempo from the off. Can’t wait to be there really, going to be a huge atmosphere

[Somniloquism]

I'm sure I read there's some advantage, to do with seeding for the whole knockout phase, if you finish in the top 2 of the league stage.

Not that I'm aware of. 1st and 2nd can't play each other until the final* but after the R16, home advantage second leg is random.

* Although that is the same for each pairing of two all the way down to 24. Ie, if 23rd and 24th won all their matches, they wouldn't meet until the final.

[VillaTim]

I'm sure I read there's some advantage, to do with seeding for the whole knockout phase, if you finish in the top 2 of the league stage.

Not that I'm aware of. 1st and 2nd can't play each other until the final* but after the R16, home advantage second leg is random.

* Although that is the same for each pairing of two all the way down to 24. Ie, if 23rd and 24th won all their matches, they wouldn't meet until the final.

Why do UEFA have to over complicate everything. Just throw the balls in a hat . (Heat a couple up if you need to).

[Somniloquism]

Not too complicated unless someone is as dim as Coopers Injury, and as you aren't him you should be fine.

[Nii Lamptey]

We need one of the catchable teams to falter next week, most obvious one is Atalanta away at Barca, but lets not forget that we need to WIN our game comfortably to give us the best possible chance.

There are 5 other teams on the same points as us, so goal difference could also play a huge part next week.

[Mellin]

Have to say, after the Monaco game...I'd have taken ninth all day long. It's a bit of a minor miracle considering how many could've taken us. Need to take advantage now.

[Grande Pablo]

City very fortunate to have a winner takes all game vs Bruges to scrap into the knockout round.  Just our luck we draw them.

[Martyn Smith]

If me auntie had you know what's...

...in actuality, tonight's results have been very good to us. Celtic cannot drop or rise from the play off positions. And if we win we just need one of the teams above us to not do so and we are in the 8. And frankly if we can't beat a Celtic team with little else than pride to play for then we don't deserve anything more than the playoffs