Even before the last matchday of the Champions League league phase, three clubs from the Bundesliga are certain of progressing.
For double winners Bayer Leverkusen, FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, next Wednesday (9 p.m./DAZN) it will be a question of whether they will make it directly to the round of 16 or whether they will have to take the detour via the playoffs. Resignation is no longer possible.
From a German perspective, champions Leverkusen, who will face Sparta Prague on the last matchday, have the best chance of being among the top eight teams. While RB Leipzig has already been eliminated, VfB Stuttgart is fighting for one of the last playoff places next week in a duel with Paris Saint-Germain.
The best eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16, the teams in places nine to 24 take part in a play-off round with home and away games in mid-February.