Champions League: 5 top teams in danger of slipping down into the Europa League

5 teams Champions League exit group stage 2017-18
Atletico Madrid are yet to win a game in the Champions League this season

We've reached the business end of the Champions League group stages and we have a brief idea of who could qualify from most of the eight groups. Some groups are pretty much done and dusted while others could go right down to the wire.

While most of the usual suspects are assured of reaching the Round of 16, there are a few heavyweights who are in real danger of missing out on a top-two finish. As we all know, the third-placed team drops down into the Europa League.

Here are five top teams who could end being demoted to the knockout stages of Europe's secondary competition.


#1 Atletico Madrid

Group C was always going to be the 'Group of Death' when the Champions League draw was made in August. Poor Qaraba? FK, the first team from Azerbaijan to qualify for the group stages, never stood a chance against the likes of Chelsea, AS Roma and Atletico Madrid.

Back in August, fans predicted the race for second spot to be between Roma and Chelsea given Atletico's recent record, the Italian team's struggles in the competition and Blues manager Antonio Conte's record in Europe.

However, Diego Simeone's men now face an uphill task. Their draw against Qaraba? has put their qualification hopes in jeopardy as they now face Roma and Chelsea in the final two games.

Atletico Madrid Champions League group table
Champions League - Group C

The Rojiblancos have scored just two goals in the competition so far - a penalty against Chelsea and one goal against Qaraba?. And the club's biggest problem is that they are too reliant on Antoine Griezmann.

“He is a player who has given us bad habits because he is the player who always solves the offensive problems of the team.
“When he scores goals, the team has a great chance of winning. But when he does not score, obviously it’s more difficult.” - Diego Simeone

Simeone's 4-4-2 formation has failed to work in Europe and the midfield has failed to create enough chances for the forwards. It is actually defender Filipe Luis who has created the most chances for the team in Europe this season.

And in front of goal, their conversion rate has been hopeless.

With Roma playing well and still undefeated, the Serie A side look most likely to top the group considering they are yet to play Qaraba? at home. Chelsea may just scrape through if they beat Qaraba? again - a team they thrashed 6-0 on Matchday 1.

Atletico's qualification is not in their hands anymore. A team that reached two finals in three years could now end up in the Europa League.

#2 Napoli

SSC Napoli v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League
Napoli are more focused on Serie A than Champions League

After four games, Napoli find themselves in third place in a group they were expected to qualify from. Eredivisie side Feyenoord were never going to be able to compete in such a competitive group while Shakhtar Donetsk were supposed to be the dark horses.

But one could get a sense that Maurizio Sarri is not taking this competition as seriously as he should. And that is because of one reason only - he is solely focused on the Italian Serie A.

Napoli group Champions League table Group F
Champions League - Group F

The Gli Azzurri are currently top of Serie A. After a number of seasons where they came close to toppling Juventus, this is their first real shot at league glory since their last title win in 1989/90.

The team selection in games, the Manchester City game at the Etihad for example, suggests Sarri does not have the squad to compete on two fronts. He chose to rest one of his key players in central midfielder Jorginho while Allan has also started just twice in Europe.

Pep Guardiola praised the side, saying: "They are one of the best teams I have ever faced in my career, no doubt about that. Maybe the best."

Napoli play a similar game with their high-pressing and relentless attacking football. But it is a strategy that sees the team tire towards the end of matches - especially in a congested schedule. It's one of the main reasons why they have conceded three goals in the last 20 minutes - two in stoppage time - in the group stages.

Their inability to draw games, narrowly losing twice by a one-goal margin, has also affected their chances. But neither the fans nor Sarri will care if they get the chance to lift the Scudetto trophy come May.

#3 Borussia Dortmund

Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Champions League
Borussia Dortmund have two draws and two losses from four games in Europe this season

Given Tottenham Hotspur's record in Europe in the past couple of seasons, many expected the Premier League side to struggle to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. But Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had other plans.

The north London side are the only undefeated team in the group and their 3-1 hammering of Real Madrid at Wembley confirmed their progress to the Round of 16. Real Madrid are second - just three points behind - but it is Borussia Dortmund who are all but out of the running with two games to go.

Borussia Dortmund Real Madrid Tottenham Hotspur Champions League group table
Champions League - Group H

If the Bundesliga side are to qualify, they not only need to beat Zinedine Zidane's side but also hope for a miracle and expect APOEL to beat Real Madrid first as Dortmund do not travel to the Santiago Bernabeu until the final matchday.

Peter Bosz led the charge well when the season got underway, taking Dortmund to the Bundesliga summit as Bayern Munich struggled under Carlo Ancelotti. But in Europe, things haven't gone according to plan.

His standard 4-3-3 formation has been overrun without a top quality defensive midfielder while the central defensive partnership of Sokratis and Omer Toprak is yet to convince. Midfield metronome Julian Weigl's lack of action in Europe has also been a liability.

With games against Tottenham and Real Madrid to come following a draw at home against APOEL, they may not even finish third if they see similar results.

#4 AS Monaco

Falcao Monaco Champions League
Falcao has scored just once in the Champions League this season

While Group C was billed the Group of Death, Group G was billed the most open group in the Champions League - devoid of any true heavyweights but rich in quality second-tier sides.

AS Monaco exceeded all expectations when they reached the semi-finals of the 2016/17 Champions League with a relatively young squad with little experience of the big stage. They bowed out to Juventus but Leonardo Jardim had started a revolution in France as they toppled PSG in Ligue 1.

It's been just half-a-year and Monaco are back to square one - mainly thanks to the departures of all their star players from the last campaign - Kylian Mbappe, Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Bernardo Silva.

Jardim has tried to make do with what he has at his disposal and, sadly, what is working for him in Ligue 1 isn't working in Europe. He has tried two formations in the Champions League to varying degrees of success (or failure).

Monaco Leipzig Porto Besiktas Champions League group table
Champions League - Group G

The 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 with Youri Tielemans, Fabinho and Joao Moutinho in midfield was deployed when they played away and Monaco drew twice.

On the other hand, they played a 4-4-2 and a 4-5-1 at home with either Radamel Falcao alone up front or paired with Keita Balde and it saw them overrun at the Stade Louis II by both Porto and Besiktas.

Falcao has been on fire in the league with 13 goals so far but he has managed to find the back of the net just once in Europe (in the 1-2 loss to Besiktas).

Mathematically, they still have a chance. But with games against RB Leipzig and Besiktas (who are almost assured of qualification) to come, the highest they could finish is third unless Porto mess up.

#5 Sporting Clube de Portugal (Lisbon)

Sporting CP
Sporting CP have been one of the unlucky teams in the Champions League this season

Group D was always going to be predictable from the start. The presence of two previous Champions League finalists in Barcelona and Juventus was always going to make this a lopsided group.

However, Sporting CP will count themselves very unlucky to not give The Old Lady a run for their money. Although they have been in fine form in Europe, results haven't gone their way.

A narrow 3-2 win over Olympiacos after leading 3-0 at half-time set the tone for their European campaign. They managed to prevent Barcelona from scoring, but lost 1-0 thanks to a Sebastian Coates own goal.

The Portuguese club then almost overcame Juventus at home before Gonzalo Higuain ensured the Serie A side came away with a point with a late strike.

Champions League Group Barcelona Juventus Sporting Lisbon Olympiakos table
Champions League - Group D

Mathematically, they could even topple Juventus. Sporting CP has the squad to finish second ahead of a Juventus side that has blown hot and cold this season.

But both sides play Barcelona in the remaining two games and it is the Spanish club that could eventually decide who finishes second and third unless Greek side Olympiakos spring a surprise.

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