Surprise attack on the Champions League: Who can conquer 4th place?

Surprise attack on the Champions League: Who can conquer 4th place?

On February 21, 2025, the Champions League entered a decisive phase. After the third round of the group phase, some teams face major challenges. FC Bayern Munich leads the Bundesliga table, but fights with difficulties in the European premier class. After two defeats, the team only took 23th place and has to compete against Benfica on Wednesday to keep the chances of progressing. This situation raises the question of whether Bayern can take back their usual place in the Champions League.

The location is particularly tense for RB Leipzig, which stuck in 31, after a pointless course. VfB Stuttgart also does not have it any easier: After a victory against Juventus, the team is currently in 18th place. The pressure to qualify for the Champions League is growing significantly for both clubs.

surprise teams on the upswing

Despite the difficulties of the big teams, teams such as Freiburg, Mainz, Gladbach and Wolfsburg are surprising. VfL Wolfsburg in particular, which is currently in 9th place, has realistic chances of a starting place in the next Champions League. The team is closely followed by Freiburg, Mainz and Gladbach, all of which rank in the table in front of Wolfsburg.

The fourth week of the game is imminent, and the new league mode with 36 teams in a common table brings a breath of fresh air to the competition. This new structure is likely to make the struggle for the coveted Champions League places even more intensely. Experts of 90min and other analysts have already made predictions for the upcoming games, which will be important for both the big clubs and the outsiders.

struggle for the top

Bayer Leverkusen, currently in 6th place, is also strong and is among the first eight in a balanced table. They are faced with a challenging game against Liverpool, which are currently in charge of the Premier League. Borussia Dortmund has to cope with a mandatory task against Sturm Graz after a defeat in Madrid, which she threw back to 11th.

It will be crucial for all teams to collect points in the coming games to secure the qualification for the Champions League. While the established teams are fighting challenges, the surprise teams could conquer the space in the sun with determined performance, which the fans and experts keep in suspense. Further information on the current developments in the Champions League can be found on Kicker .