Arsenal, the only team with a 100% record, and Bayern Munich cannot finish outside the top eight and will therefore automatically advance to the last 16.
The bottom four – Kairat Almaty, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Eintracht Frankfurt – are all eliminated, while 13 clubs are assured of at least a place in the play-offs.
But the scenarios are complex, with some teams trying to avoid playoff threats by fighting for the top eight and others desperate for a lifeline by avoiding finishing below the knockout gates in 24th place.
Here are the main points of the meeting ahead of Wednesday:
THE BATTLE FOR THE BEST EIGHT
Six more automatic places are up for grabs on finals night with Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, holders Paris St Germain, Newcastle United and Chelsea with the fate of the top eight firmly in their hands. Wins for Real at Benfica, Liverpool at home to Qarabag and Spurs away to Eintracht Frankfurt would ensure progress to the knockout stages.
The special match of the evening sees sixth-placed Paris St Germain host seventh-placed Newcastle, both teams on 13 points and the same goal difference.
Whoever wins advances, while the loser is likely to drop into the playoffs. A draw would make both sides sweat.
Eighth-placed Chelsea (13 points) would likely go through with a win at a survival-fighting Napoli side, although they could still drop on goal difference with several clubs also on 13 points just below the line.
With one or both PSG and Newcastle definitely dropping points, Barcelona, Sporting, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Atalanta, all on 13 points, go into final night with a top eight finish in sight.
A fine win for Barca at home to Copenhagen would probably be enough, but a close win could leave them vulnerable on goal difference, even if Sporting end up with a tough test at Athletic Bilbao scrapping for a play-off spot.
City must beat visiting Galatasaray and hope for the best to avoid the play-offs where their hopes ended last season, while a win for the Turkish side guarantees a place in the play-offs.
A win for City could make it a remarkable six English teams to finish in the top eight.
Atletico could also reach the top eight with a big win at home to Norway’s Bodo/Glimt, while Atalanta would need to pile on the goals at Belgian side Union Saint Gilloise and hope to slip through.
SCRAP FOR A FUTURE PLAYOFF SPOT
While 14th-placed Inter Milan and 15th-placed Juventus (both with 12 points) are certain of the play-off spots, they will want to guarantee their seeding by finishing between ninth and 16th.
Last season’s finalists Inter finish behind 16th-placed Borussia Dortmund (11 points), while Juve travel to Monaco.
Several teams, including Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and PSV Eindhoven, could still finish in the top 16 or be eliminated when Marseille face Club Brugge, who must win to avoid relegation, in what is likely to be one of several tense encounters.
AVOID ELIMINATION
Former European champions Benfica and Ajax Amsterdam found themselves in the last chance and threatened with elimination.
Jose Mourinho’s Benfica (29th) must beat Real Madrid and hope for favorable results elsewhere, while four-time winners Ajax (32nd) must beat 24th Olympiacos and then pray for a miracle.
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