The deciding factors

Knockout round
The eight group winners and eight runners-up of the group stage will progress to the first knockout round, to be played in February and March. The clubs finishing in third position will enter the third round of the UEFA Cup, while those in fourth place are eliminated.

Equal on points
In three of the four sections which will conclude tonight there are teams tied on the same points going into their final matches. If two or more teams finish equal on points after these final group matches have been played, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings:

a) Higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question.
b) Superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question.
c) Higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question.
d) Superior goal difference from all group matches played.
e) Higher number of goals scored.
f) Coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as its association, over the previous five seasons.

Draws on Friday
The draws for both the Champions League first knockout round and UEFA Cup third round will be held at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday.