MADRID, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Spain's four clubs in this season's Champions League head into the final group-stage fixtures with different targets.

FC Barcelona sits second in the 36-team group, and with 18 points from seven matches, Hansi Flick's side has already secured a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the knockout stage.

Flick remains without the injured Dani Olmo as his team welcomes Atalanta to the Lluis Companys Stadium. The Italians must win to ensure they finish in the top-eight, thereby avoiding a grueling two-leg play-off in February.

Barca thrashed Valencia 7-1 on Sunday, despite Flick resting Robert Lewandowski and Gavi. He may choose to bring Inaki Pena back in goal on Wednesday, after hints that Wojciech Szczesny has moved up the pecking order to become Flick's first-choice goalkeeper.

Atletico Madrid's dramatic 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen last week lifted the side to fifth in the group on 15 points, putting Diego Simeone's men on track for a top-eight finish as they visit RB Salzburg.

Salzburg, with six defeats in seven outings, has little left to play for other than pride, particularly after its 5-1 thrashing away to Real Madrid last week. Simeone is likely to recall Antoine Griezmann, Rodrigo de Paul, and Javi Galan to his starting 11, with Griezmann and De Paul rested and Galan suspended for Saturday's 1-1 league draw at home to Villarreal.

That 5-1 home win against Salzburg puts Real Madrid in 16th place on 12 points - enough to ensure a play-off berth, but still requiring a series of favorable results to break into the top-eight.

Carlo Ancelotti's team, missing the suspended Vinicius Jr, faces Brest - one point ahead of Real Madrid in the table - as both sides chase a win to stay in contention for a top-eight spot. Without Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe becomes the key figure for Real Madrid, with a flourishing partnership alongside Jude Bellingham, as evidenced by Mbappe's hat-trick away to Valladolid at the weekend.

Expect Real Madrid to adopt an attacking mindset in France, aiming to boost their goal difference in hopes of overtaking others for a top-eight finish.

Girona, meanwhile, has little at stake in this final round, though the Champions League format this season leaves few dead rubbers. Michel Sanchez's team hosts Arsenal, currently third in the group on 16 points and needing a draw at the Montilivi Stadium to book its place in the top-eight. Arsenal remains without Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, and must tread carefully against a Girona side that narrowly lost to Liverpool on a Mohamed Salah penalty in its last European home game. Enditem

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