All to Play for in Champions League as Top Fan Tokens Do Battle

The final matchday of this season’s Champions League group phase is almost here, and with a dozen Fan Token teams in action, there will be plenty of opportunities for traders to ride the highs and lows as clubs fight for qualification.

As a reminder, there are 36 teams in the revamped group stage, with the top eight gaining automatic qualification to the last 16 and those ranked 9-24 entering the playoffs. Incredibly, the fate of 30 teams is still to be decided with all games taking place on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham Hotspur ($SPURS)

Currently occupying fifth place, Tottenham Hotspur have been one of the surprise packages of this year’s competition, losing just one of their opening seven games with four wins and two draws. Quite a contrast to their Premier League form, where they lie 14th with seven wins from 23 matches.

Despite their strong European form, there is work to be done: Spurs must beat Eintracht Frankfurt, who are 33rd and have no prospect of making the playoffs, to guarantee automatic qualification. 

Ahead of Spurs’ 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Jan. 20, traders piled in and caused the price of the Tottenham Hotspur Fan Token ($SPURS) to jump 34.2%. With the token having fallen 21.5% over the last week, might it be primed to climb as traders bank on automatic qualification?

Paris Saint-Germain ($PSG) vs Newcastle United

Another team vying for automatic qualification is sixth-placed Paris Saint-Germain, who host seventh-placed Newcastle United. The reigning champions have had a disappointing group stage by their standards, and have only won one of their last four UCL matches. 

Of course, Newcastle United also need a win to finish in the top eight so it’s likely to be a hard-fought match.

The Paris Saint-Germain Fan Token ($PSG) has mostly trended downward since Jan. 18, a period in which they lost 2-1 to Sporting CP. But a commanding win over Newcastle United could certainly flip the sentiment, which may be starting to turn positive: $PSG gained 3.1% between Jan. 25 and Jan. 27.

Arsenal ($AFC) vs Kairat Almaty

Arsenal have won seven from seven in the UCL, including resounding wins over Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. Consequently, they are guaranteed automatic qualification and need just a point at home to bottom-placed Kairat Almaty to clinch top spot ahead of Bayern Munich.

Defeat to Manchester United coupled with wins for Aston Villa and Manchester City saw the Arsenal Fan Token ($AFC) lose value at the weekend, but it’s started a gradual climb since bottoming at $0.372 on Jan. 26 and 24hr trade volumes are still north of $2.5m. Finishing their group campaign unbeaten could provide traders with a major psychological boost ahead of this weekend’s league match against Leeds United.

Barcelona ($BAR) vs Copenhagen

Barcelona currently sit just outside the automatic qualification spots in ninth, one of eight teams on 13 points. A win over Copenhagen will likely ensure passage to the last 16, though results elsewhere could throw a spanner in the works. 

Copenhagen, for their part, are 26th and fighting for a playoff spot. They’re also unbeaten in their last three European ties.

The Barcelona Fan Token ($BAR) had a great start to the year, gaining 8.3% between Jan. 1 and Jan. 17, though a subsequent league defeat to Real Sociedad dented confidence and preceded a 9.2% drop.

Trade volumes are likely to soar ahead of this clutch tie. Currently $1.79m, they rose as high as $20m before the Eintracht Frankfurt match on Dec. 9. Might an impressive win put wind in the sails of $BAR?

Manchester City ($CITY) vs Galatasaray ($GAL)

Currently sitting 11th, Manchester City know only a win will get them into automatic qualification contention. Galatasaray are 17th and competing to secure a playoff spot. The stage is set for a fascinating Fan Token face-off.

The value of the Manchester City Fan Token ($CITY) has increased 2.7% in the last two days, and with City narrowing the gap on Arsenal at the weekend, a win over the Turkish champions would see them end January on a high. 

As for the Galatasaray Fan Token ($GAL), it’s up 8.9% since the start of the month and 3.3% over the last two days. In other words, both Fan Tokens are building momentum ahead of this blockbuster showdown.

Atletico Madrid ($ATM) vs Bodø / Glimt

Like Barcelona and Manchester City, 12th-placed Atletico Madrid have four wins, two defeats and one draw from their first seven, putting them on 13 points. Unlike those two, they’re unbeaten in their last four UCL games. 

Although Diego Simeone’s men are favourites to dispatch 28th-placed Bodø / Glimt, they will have to be wary given Bodø’s impressive win over Manchester City last time out. The Norwegians are also battling to make the playoffs.

The Atletico Madrid Fan Token ($ATM) has had a topsy-turvy month, hitting $1.08 on Jan. 15 but currently valued at $0.93. Its price has been climbing since a 3-0 win over Mallorca two days ago, however, and qualification for the last 16 could turbocharge the feel-good factor.

Borussia Dortmund vs Inter Milan ($INTER)

Currently 14th, Serie A leaders Inter Milan must beat 16th-placed Borussia Dortmund in Germany to be in with a chance of automatic qualification. They also need results elsewhere to go in their favour. 

The Inter Milan Fan Token ($INTER) has been on a steep upward trajectory this month (+24.1%) and 24hr trade volumes have climbed as high as $7m. At the time of writing, more than 24 hours before kickoff, they’re just a snip under $4m. If Inter can seal an important away win and qualify for the last 16, $INTER will be one to watch.

AS Monaco ($ASM) vs Juventus ($JUV)

15th-placed Juventus have an outside chance of making the top eight, but Monaco, who are 21st, simply want to make the playoffs. With so much on the line, expect this one to be extremely competitive.

As far as $JUV and $ASM are concerned, both could use a boost: the former is down 7.2% in the last seven days and $ASM has slipped 1%. Given Juventus look all but out of the Italian title race, an improbable top eight finish could dramatically alter the mood music.

Napoli ($NAP) vs Chelsea

Like Juventus, Napoli have slipped down the Serie A table, causing the Napoli Fan Token ($NAP) to shed 10.3% over the last week. In Europe, the best they can hope for is to make the playoffs. To do that, they have to beat eighth-placed Chelsea, who are battling to gain automatic qualification.

Although things look slightly grim for Napoli, there is an argument to be made that $NAP is undervalued given they can qualify for the next round – and they’re not completely out of the running domestically.

Benfica ($BENFICA) vs Real Madrid

With just two wins against five defeats, Benfica must beat Real Madrid at home to have any hopes of climbing into a playoff spot. Domestically, they’re also ten points behind a mighty Porto side who are unbeaten in 19 league fixtures.

Despite their struggles, the Benfica Fan Token ($BENFICA) rose 25.2% between Jan. 1 and Jan. 17, before shedding 21.9%. An upset win over the mighty Real Madrid in Lisbon, coupled with playoff qualification, might just be the tonic that turns red to green.

Ronnie McCluskey: Fan Tokens Market Reporter