Even if FC Bayern win their fourth Champions League match, their early entry into the last 16 depends on the parallel match. The starting position in Group C.
Alongside SSC Napoli (13:2 goals), Manchester City (11:1), Club Brugge (7:0) and Real Madrid (7:1), FC Bayern (9:0) is one of five clubs with a perfect haul of nine points after three games in the Champions League group stage. Nevertheless, the German record champions still do not have their place in the last 16 in their own hands on matchday four.
With another win at Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday, the Munich side can only advance to the knockout round if FC Barcelona draw with Inter Milan in the parallel match. If, on the other hand, Barça also win, a constellation would theoretically still be possible after six matchdays in which the Catalans, just like Bayern and Inter, would have twelve points on their account.
If Inter win at Barça, Bayern would need just a draw
At the same time, a draw in Plzen could be enough for Bayern to book their place in the last 16 this week, if Inter win at Barcelona at the same time. In that case, Robert Lewandowski, Marc-André ter Stegen & Co. would have an uncatchable seven-point gap to Julian Nagelsmann’s team.
It would be the first draw in Group C, by the way; in Group A with Napoli, Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers, as well as in Group B with Bruges, Bayer Leverkusen, Porto and Atletico, there has also been a winner in each of the six games so far. In 2013/14, Napoli were the only club in the history of the Champions League to fail to progress on twelve points.
The eight pairings for the Champions League round of 16 will be drawn before the start of the World Cup. On Monday, 7 November, the 16 group winners and runners-up will find out in Nyon against whom they will play for a quarter-final ticket in February (first legs) and March 2023 (second legs).
