Champions League Predictions: Matchday 7

If you’re not yet sold on this brand-new pit of the league stage, these last two games might just put you on the other side of the divide.

The extension of the Champions League means we get continental fixtures in January, but we will know who has secured their place in the last 16 and who will compete in the two-legged play-off by the end of the month.

The 36-team table remains condensed, it only adds to the intrigue and we cannot say for sure whether it will be formed after the conclusion of the penultimate matchday.

Here’s how 90 minutes predicts the seventh matchday of 2024/25 Champions League will unfold.

As usual, there will be two early kick-offs on each Champions League matchday. Tuesday begins with the top eight Aston Villa traveling to Monaco, and Atalanta reception Storm Graz to Bergamo.

Europa League holders Atalanta have suffered a dip in recent weeks but are expected to cruise at home to boost their chances of a top-eight finish before traveling to Barcelona next week. Villameanwhile they are fifth, having won four of their six games. Monaco were once in a strong position but have since lost back-to-back games and are now on the outside looking in.

of Atletico Madrid Their remarkable run has taken them to the top of La Liga and three straight wins in the league stage means they should move into the top eight with another win over Bayer Leverkusen. Fourth-placed Leverkusen have bounced back after succumbing to a heavy defeat at Anfield in matchday four.

Liverpool and Barcelona are both on the verge of securing their respective places in the round of 16. They face Lil and Benfica respectively on Tuesday night.

Slavic Bratislava they are one of three teams without points and face a run of form Stuttgart team that has hopes of sneaking into the playoffs. Bundesliga compatriots Borussia Dortmund undertake a Bologna sides that have been found under Vincenzo Italiano. Dortmund are ninth in the league stage table, but the Italians have collected just two points so far.

Juventus have surprisingly won more than drawn in the league stage, and will aim to build on the momentum gained from a 2-0 home win over AC Milan at the weekend, vs Club Brugge. The Belgians are looking for a good place in the play-offs, having matched Juve’s three wins.

PSV they are two points behind and in quite a precarious position. They are 23rd and currently entering the playoffs, but they should benefit from facing a Red Star Belgrade an outfit who have lost five of their six Champions League outings so far.

The crucial matchday schedule arrives on Wednesday night, but before we head to Paris, RB Leipzig welcome Sporting CPstill unsure of themselves in a world without Reuben Amorim, in Saxony, while Brest visit Shakhtar Donetsk.

Leipzig have already crashed out of the competition and are just playing for pride, while Sporting have dropped to 17th after back-to-back defeats. Brest have started a remarkable campaign to this point, winning four matches and will have one foot in the last 16 if they win their penultimate matchday.

PSG and Manchester City they met in the semi-finals of this competition less than four years ago, now the pair are fighting just to progress to the knockout stages. PSG have struggled through a tough schedule and come into this clash in 25th place in the standings. City, meanwhile, are 22nd and just one point ahead.

Pep Guardiola’s perennial domestic champions have shown signs of rediscovering their strongest form in recent weeks, while PSG have opened up a nine-point advantage at the top of Ligue 1.

Bayern Munich they look set to reclaim the Bundesliga title this season and three successive league stage wins have put them in an ominous position. They are looking to win their fourth European match on the bounce Feyenoord on Wednesday.

The holders, Real Madridthey haven’t had it all their own way this term and there is still work to be done for Carlo Ancelotti’s men to ensure they even challenge for a place in the play offs. They shouldn’t have any problems RB Salzburg on the ground, however, Arsenal and Entomb are also expected to cement their place in the top eight as they face Dinamo Zagreb and Sparta Prague respectively.

Celtic have fought hard in the league stage after competing in Europe for years, and their Champions League campaign will extend significantly into February with a win against the bottom of the table Young Boys at Celtic Park.

of Girona The maiden run in this competition looks to be coming to an end but they will no doubt enjoy another big away day as they face Milan at San Siro. The Rossoneri could be a tough opponent in the knockouts with former Inter Milan winger Sergio Conceicao at the helm.

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