Napoli manager Allegri is always known for his ability to calculate points, but he appears to have miscalculated at the pre-match press conference ahead of the first matchday of the new Champions League league phase at home against Arsenal.

Allegri said at the press conference: "This is a mini league of eight matches, and we need to get enough points, perhaps 12 points, to secure direct qualification to the next round."

However, since the Champions League was reformed into a league phase format, 16 points has proven to be the strict cutoff for finishing in the top eight of the league phase and advancing directly to the knockout stage.

The 2024/25 season was the first season of the new format, and Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Aston Villa all finished in the top eight with 16 points, while Atalanta, the highest-ranked team with 15 points, finished in ninth place.

In the 2025/26 season, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City all finished in the top eight with 16 points, while Real Madrid, the highest-ranked team with 15 points, finished in ninth place.

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