PSG & Man City at risk 

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The final matchday of the Champions League league phase will be full of jeopardy with two major European clubs at risk of being eliminated. After PSG emerged victorious in a thrilling 4-2 encounter in Paris last week, Manchester City lie in the elimination zone in 25th place, with Pep Guardiola’s men facing an embarrassing exit.

City, however, will secure a play-off place for the last 16 if they beat Club Brugge to avoid that scenario. Despite their statement win against the English giants, PSG are still in danger of exiting the Champions League as they need to secure a draw to guarantee their progression to the play-offs. There was a major reformatting of the Champions League this season with the league phase replacing the group phase, but Man City or PSG would become the most valuable club to exit the competition before the knockout stages if either are to go out.

The most valuable clubs to exit Champions League at group stage

Manchester United fans have some painful recent memories in the Champions League after being knocked out at the group stages during the 2020/21 and 2023/24 season. The United squad that was eliminated last season under the guidance of Erik ten Hag was the most valuable in history at €877m. As the graphic below illustrates, United also rank second after exiting at the group stage during the 20/21 season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when they finished behind PSG and RB Leipzig.

Barcelona take third and fourth spot after being knocked out in consecutive seasons – 2021/22 and 2022/23. The Spanish giants squad was valued at €799.5m during the 22/23 season, but they finished behind Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Inter Milan (20/21) complete the top five and the Italian giants feature three times in the top ten. Perhaps surprisingly, Newcastle United feature after they were knocked out last season but they faced a group of death with Borussia Dortmund, PSG and AC Milan.