If you’re not yet sold on this brand new league stage lark, the final two matchdays could take you to the other side of the divide.
The Champions League extension means we get continental games in January, but we will know by the end of the month who has secured a place in the round of 16 and who will play in the home-and-away play-offs.
The 36-team table remains compact, which only adds to the intrigue, and we can’t say for sure whether it will take shape after the conclusion of the penultimate matchday.
Here’s how 90min predicts that the seventh matchday of the 2024/25 Champions League will take place.
As usual, there will be two early kick-offs on each Champions League matchday. Tuesday starts with the top eight Aston Villa travel to Monaco, And Atalanta greeting Storm Graz to Bergamo.
Defending Europa League champions Atalanta have suffered a lull in recent weeks but are expected to play on home soil to boost their chances of a place in the top eight before traveling to Barcelona next week. Villa are now in fifth place, having won four of their six games. Monaco were once in a strong position but have since lost two games in a row and are now out.
Atletico Madrid Their remarkable form has taken them to the top of La Liga and three wins in a row in the league stage means another win should see them move above the top eight Bayer Leverkusen. Fourth-placed Leverkusen has recovered after the heavy defeat at Anfield Road on matchday four.
Liverpool And Barcelona Both are close to securing their respective places in the round of 16. They face each other Lille And Benfica every Tuesday evening.
Slovak Bratislava are one of three pointless teams and face a team that is in form Stuttgart Team that has hopes of making it to the knockout play-offs. Compatriots from the Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund take one Bologna Team that found itself under Vincenzo Italiano. Dortmund are in ninth place in the league table, but the Italians have only picked up two points so far.
Juventus Surprisingly, they have won more than they have drawn in the league phase and they will be looking to build on the momentum gained with a 2-0 home win over AC Milan at the weekend Club Brugge. The Belgians have a good chance of securing a place in the play-offs, having drawn level with Juve’s three wins.
PSV are a few points behind and are in a pretty precarious position. They are in 23rd place and currently make the play-offs, but they should benefit from having to play against one Red Star Belgrade Team that has lost five of its six Champions League games so far.
Kick-off time (GMT) | device | forecast |
|---|---|---|
5:45 p.m | Atalanta against Sturm Graz | 4:0 |
5:45 p.m | Monaco vs Aston Villa | 1-3 |
8:00 p.m | Atletico Madrid vs. Bayer Leverkusen | 1:0 |
8:00 p.m | Benfica vs Barcelona | 2-2 |
8:00 p.m | Bologna vs Borussia Dortmund | 1-1 |
8:00 p.m | Club Brugge vs Juventus | 0-1 |
8:00 p.m | Liverpool vs Lille | 2-1 |
8:00 p.m | Red Star Belgrade vs PSV | 1-1 |
8:00 p.m | Slovan Bratislava vs Stuttgart | 0-3 |
The deciding game of the matchday takes place on Wednesday evening, but before we head to Paris, RB Leipzig Welcome Sporty CPstill uncertain in a world without Ruben Amorim, to Saxony, while Brest visit Shakhtar Donetsk.
Leipzig have already been eliminated from the competition and are only playing for pride, while Sporting have fallen to 17th after two consecutive defeats. Brest has had a remarkable season so far, winning four games. If they win their penultimate game they will have one foot in the round of 16.
PSG And Manchester City met in the semi-finals of this competition less than four years ago, and now the two are fighting for a place in the knockout rounds. PSG has suffered from a tough schedule and goes into this clash 25th in the table. City are now in 22nd place and are only one point ahead.
Pep Guardiola’s all-time national champions have shown signs of returning to their strongest form in recent weeks, while PSG have opened up a nine-point lead at the top of Ligue 1.
Bayern Munich are expected to reclaim the Bundesliga title this season and three consecutive wins in the league phase have put them in a threatening position. Their goal is to win their fourth European Cup game in a row Feyenoord on Wednesday.
The owners, real MadridHaven’t had everything to their liking this season and there is still a lot of work for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to do if they are to secure a place in the play-offs. You shouldn’t have any problems against it RB Salzburg on home soil, however arsenal And Inter They are also expected to consolidate their position in the top eight when they face each other Dinamo Zagreb And Sparta Prague respectively.
Celtic have fought hard in the league stage after years of struggling in Europe, and their Champions League campaign looks set to last remarkably well into February with a win over the bottom side Young boys at Celtic Park.
Gironas The first adventure in this competition appears to be coming to an end, but they will undoubtedly enjoy another big away day AC Milan in San Siro. The Rossoneri could be a difficult opponent in the knockout rounds with former Inter winger Sergio Conceicao at the helm.
Kick-off time (GMT) | device | forecast |
|---|---|---|
5:45 p.m | RB Leipzig vs Sporting CP | 2-2 |
5:45 p.m | Shakhtar Donetsk vs Brest | 1:0 |
8:00 p.m | Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb | 2:0 |
8:00 p.m | Celtic v Young Boys | 3-1 |
8:00 p.m | Feyenoord vs Bayern Munich | 0-2 |
8:00 p.m | Milan vs Girona | 3-1 |
8:00 p.m | PSG vs Man City | 1-2 |
8:00 p.m | Real Madrid vs RB Salzburg | 5-1 |
8:00 p.m | Sparta Prague vs Inter | 0-3 |