With the league stage of the Champions League drawing to a close for the winter at least, thoughts start to turn to next year and the start of the knockout phase of the competition with everything still to play for. Football fans worldwide will already be aware of the prestige Spanish clubs hold in this competition and clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona go into each new edition amongst the favourites to lift the trophy.

So far this season, the two Madrid clubs sit nicely in the top eight positions that guarantee a passage to the knockout stage. However, for Barcelona, there is a bit more work to do to force their way into the automatic qualification positions. And for the other two Spanish teams in the competition, Athletic Club are still in with a chance to make the playoff stage, while Villarreal are left to concentrate on their domestic season after a disappointing Champions League campaign.

But for the four teams that are still in with a chance of progressing, what comes between them and the knockout stages and what is required to make it a success?

Busy Fixture Schedule

With the expanded format of the revamped Champions League, teams are required to play two extra matches compared to the six previously contested in the past group stage model. Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona will all be confident of securing their pathway to the knockout stage with favourable ties for each. And if Athletic are to play more Champions League football in 2026, they will have to win at least one of the matches against high-flying Atalanta (A) and Sporting Lisbon (H).

However, with the final two league stages matches not taking place until the end of January, momentum generated in La Liga and cup competitions will be crucial in making that final Champions League push in the new year. Ironically, all four teams also feature in the Supercopa de Espana set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The draw is as follows:

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid 

With the final taking place on the 11th of January, one team has the opportunity to give their prospects for the second half of the season a major boost and one that could have an immediate impact on the remaining Champions League matches.

La Liga Bragging Rights

While teams are having to focus on four competitions, the league campaign remains incredibly important to the future success of the five teams competing in the Champions League this season. Once again, all five teams feature towards the top of the La Liga table with Villarreal once again proving the surprise package. Marcelino’s side are currently mixing it with Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Despite a disappointing Champions League campaign, with only one draw against Juventus (2-2) to show for their efforts so far, The Yellow Submarine are pushing to secure top level European football for next season. And in a strange way, elimination from the Champions League could well aid their Spain La Liga betting odds and their chances of re-entering the competition next season with sole focus now being applied to the league and the Copa del Rey.

Athletic are slightly adrift in terms of Champions League football with Atletico holding the final qualification spot, but Ernesto Valverde’s men are in the mix for Europa League or Europa Conference League places. And as for the big two, they are duking it out as usual at the top with Barcelona holding a slight advantage going into the final matches before a mini winter break.

Pivotal Month Ahead

For the four teams that are still mathematically in the Champions League, the next month will prove pivotal for their campaigns this season. The emphasis from a Spanish perspective will be on those four but with the Champions League only resuming on 20th January, attention turns to getting results in the league. One match that could shake up the La Liga table is the clash between Villarreal and Barcelona on Sunday the 21st of December but regardless, all five teams know they will need to build as much positive momentum in the next month to make the final push or get over the line in the league stage of the Champions League.