[TURIN, ITALY - JANUARY 21: Players of Juventus pose for a team group photo prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - JANUARY 21: Players of Juventus pose for a team group photo prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)](https://football-italia.net/what-juventus-need-champions-league-top-eight/) Juventus gave themselves a big boost in the race to finish in the top eight of the Champions League table with their 2-0 victory over Benfica on Wednesday night, but the Bianconeri still need favours from several sides in the final round of league phase fixtures if they are to qualify directly for the round of 16.
Goals from Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie gave the Old Lady a 2-0 win against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica at the Allianz Stadium in the seventh round of league phase fixtures on Wednesday night.
This result puts Juventus into 15th place in the league table. They have collected 12 points from their first seven matches of the competition this season: Three wins, three draws and one loss.
TURIN, ITALY - JANUARY 21: Khephren Thuram of Juventus greets teammate Pierre Kalulu following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Khephren Thuram of Juventus greets teammate Pierre Kalulu following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Juventus currently find themselves behind Inter on goal difference and behind Atalanta by one point in a pile-up of Italian teams between 13th and 15th place in the table.
What Juventus need to qualify directly for Champions League round of 16
The final round of Champions League league phase fixtures will take place next week on Wednesday, January 28.
Juventus will face Monaco away from home and must beat Sebastian Pocognoli’s side if they are to finish in the Champions League top eight first and foremost.
TURIN, ITALY - JANUARY 21: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus is challenged by Amar Dedic of Benfica during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Juventus and SL Benfica at Juventus Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Kenan Yildiz is challenged by Amar Dedic of Benfica during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match against SL Benfica at Allianz Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
There are then 10 other fixtures that could impact Juventus’s chances of finishing in the top eight. The Bianconeri need at least six of these matches to go their way.
So, Juventus need a victory over Monaco and for at least six of the following 10 events to take place:
Liverpool lose to Qarabag
Tottenham fail to beat Eintracht Frankfurt
PSG vs. Newcastle ends in a draw
Chelsea fail to beat Napoli
Barcelona fail to beat Copenhagen
Sporting CP fail to beat Athletic Club
Manchester City fail to beat Galatasaray
Atletico Madrid fail to beat Bodo/Glimt
Atalanta fail to beat Union Saint-Gilloise
Inter fail to beat Borussia Dortmund
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