How can Chelsea qualify for the Champions League last-16?
A draw or better will see Chelsea safely through to the knockout stages, but defeat leaves them open to falling down to the Europa League
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea can reach the last-16 of the Champions League with a draw in their final group game against Porto on Wednesday, but a defeat would open the door to dropping down to the Europa League.
The Blues are top of Group G on 10 points alongside the Portuguese club, but Dynamo Kiev sit in third on eight points and will have hopes of progressing to the knockout stages given that then face group whipping boys Maccabi Tel-Aviv, who are yet to register a single point.
It’s very possible that the top three teams will finish the group level on points, which would see things boil down to a three-way mini-league.
But how could Chelsea’s Champions League hopes play out? We take a look at the different permutations.
If Chelsea beat Porto…
They’re through to the last-16 and as group winners. Dynamo Kiev would join them with a victory over Maccabi, although failure to beat the Israeli’s would see Porto progress.
If Chelsea lose to Porto…
The opposite would happen. Porto would go through as group winners, and Chelsea would finish third if Kiev beat Maccabi.
If Chelsea and Porto draw…
Here is where it gets tricky. Both Porto and Chelsea would finish level on 11 points, with the Portuguese side ahead as they won the reverse fixture in Portugal. However, if Kiev beat Maccabi, they would also have 11 points, and qualification would go to a mini-league format with results against Maccabi removed.
That would mean all three would sit on five points, and remarkably Kiev would lead the way with a goal difference of plus one. Chelsea would follow in second with a goal difference of 0, while Porto would be heading to the Europa League due to a minus one goal difference.
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