It is time for the chaos to erupt in the UEFA Champions League. Matchday 8 is here, and with it brings several fascinating storylines, incredible drama, and a feeling that almost anything could happen.
All 18 matches for the round will kick off simultaneously as 14 teams try to lock up the final six places in the knockout rounds. In the top half of the tables, there are 13 teams battling it out for six direct spots in the round of 16. Only nine teams know their situation going into this enthralling matchday.
Here is The Deck’s preview heading into matchday 8 of the Champions League.
UEFA Champions League: Matchday 8
Top Half Carnage for Dozen Plus
Perhaps the biggest game among the matches in the top half is between Paris Saint-Germain (13 points, 6th spot) and Newcastle (13, 7th). While both teams currently occupy a place in the top eight, failure to win will almost surely see them drop to the knockout round playoffs. This is the second time in three seasons where the pair will face off, with PSG failing to beat the Magpies (0-1-1). Les Parisiens have only won once in their last four in the UCL. For Newcastle, they have already lost to Marseille during the league phase, a seventh defeat against French opposition (3-3-7).
The only English team not currently in the top eight, Manchester City (13, 11th) faces Galatasaray (10, 17th), looking to make a last-gasp jump up. It has not been a smooth ride for the Cityzens, who were stunned in Norway last week. A first victory over Turkish opposition at the third time of asking would certainly see them move up the rankings, but it would be a question of whether it will be enough. Galatasaray has all but locked down a berth in the knockout playoffs, and it will just be a matter of finishing as high as possible. They already beat Liverpool on matchday 2, something for City to be weary about.
Speaking of Liverpool (15, 4th), they host the biggest surprise package of the league phase, Qarabağ (10, 18th). It is likely the Reds will need three points from this one, as even a draw might not suffice. After all, their goal difference is not as strong as those around them. This will be their first test against a team from Azerbaijan. While they may be struggling domestically, Qarabağ has made some more history in Europe. Atlılar are set to be the first side from their nation to successfully negotiate the UCL group phase. This comes eight years on from their only other appearance in the competition proper.
A league phase which has seen up-and-down results for both teams, Borussia Dortmund (11, 16th) plays host to Internazionale (12, 14th). Die Schwarzgelben only managed to pick up a point from their last two games. Due in large part to that, they no longer have any realistic hopes of making the top eight. They did draw their other league phase clash with Italian opposition, playing to that incredible 4-4 draw with Juventus. As for Inter, they also imploded over their last few games, losing three in a row after starting with four victories. The Nerazzurri must prevail here and get some help in order to avoid the knockout playoffs for the second year running.
Barcelona (13, 9th) has a glorious chance at qualifying for the last 16, but will have to get past FC København (8, 26th) first. Having come out on top in their last two, the Catalans sit outside of the top eight on goal difference. With their strong 6-2-0 record versus Danish clubs, they will be expected to win at home, which would almost surely put them into February’s round of 16 draw. København made it past this stage in their last appearance two years ago. However, if the Danes are to repeat that trick, they will have to win in Spain for the second time this term. Victory over Villarreal on matchday 6 was their first ever success against LaLiga opposition.
In a similar boat to that of their fellow Spaniards, Atlético Madrid (13, 12th) welcomes Bodø/Glimt (6, 28th) in what is a crucial contest for both sides. Of the 16 teams currently occupying knockout playoff spots, only two have scored more than Atleti’s 16 goals. A win, plus other results going their way, will be the only path forward to making it directly to the round of 16. Norway’s Bodø/Glimt pulled off one of the biggest upsets this season on matchday 7. Their only hope of remaining in the Champions League is to produce that same magic on the road. This is their first shot at a Spanish team, which could make things interesting.
A repeat of the 1961/62 European Cup final pits together Benfica (6, 29th) and Real Madrid (15, 3rd). As Águias have no room for error, as anything less than three points at home will see them be eliminated. Remarkably, they do have a winning record against Real (2-0-1), with the aforementioned final resulting in them lifting their first-ever UCL trophy. Real is in a better spot here, and could get away with a draw. With that said, a win will guarantee them a place in the round of 16. While Los Blancos have just one win in three against Benfica, they do have an impressive record against Portuguese opposition (16-2-5).
Already out of the competition, Eintracht Frankfurt (4, 33rd) will have the chance to play spoiler against Tottenham (14, 5th). It has been a disappointing run for Die Adler, who will not repeat their showing from 2022/23 when they reached the last 16. They do face the side who knocked them out of the Europa League last term, giving them a shot at revenge. Spurs will have reason to be confident of grabbing the three points required to skip the knockout playoffs. After all, they have kept clean sheets in their last two visits to Frankfurt. Winners of their last two, the North London club is 17-4-14 overall against German teams.
A first-time meeting between Arsenal (21, 1st) and Kairat Almaty (1, 36th) is the one dead rubber of this round. This top versus bottom clash does give the potential for a surprise result, albeit unlikely. The Gunners have the chance to win all eight matches in the UCL league phase, which would be a first in the tournament. They conceded just twice so far, by far the best defence. They will be up against a team who, along with Frankfurt, have conceded the most so far (19). Interestingly enough, the Kazakh champions have scored in all three of their away games thus far, something which could give them hope in this match.
Playoff Hopefuls Experience Pressure Ties
Our choice for tie of the round comes from Amsterdam, where Ajax (6, 32nd) looks to pull off the great escape at home versus Olympiakos Piraeus (8, 24th). After losing their first six, the four-time European champions rattled off consecutive victories to give themselves a slimmer of hope. If they can make it three in a row, and get a bit of help along the way, they will progress, at the Greeks’ expense. It was a similar fate for Olympiakos after five rounds, but back-to-back victories now has them chasing a top 24 finish. They are 5-5-4 versus teams from the Netherlands, but has never won on Dutch soil (0-2-4).
Now stuck in a pickle, Bayer Leverkusen (9, 20th) meets Villarreal (1, 35th) to conclude their league phase. Die Werkself failed to win either of their last two games, which now puts extra pressure on them. Fortunately for them, a point should do the trick to advance. A win, something they have never done against Villarreal, will put them through without any doubt. They have a great chance here, seeing that The Yellow Submarine are already out following a disastrous league phase campaign. Just one point from seven matches has them second from the bottom, having scored just five times.
The other direct clash this round is from Belgium, where Club Brugge (7, 27th) takes on Olympique Marseille (9, 19th). Anything less than a win from Blauw-Zwart will end their bid for a third straight Champions League knockout round appearance. They did top AS Monaco on matchday 1 at home, and will strive to repeat the same magic. Marseille, on the other hand, cannot afford to lose points in this one, despite their relatively strong position. L’OM has a goal difference of zero, which could come in handy in the event of a draw. They beat Club home and away in the first-ever UCL group phase back in 1992/93, which was the season they went on to lift the trophy.
PSV Eindhoven (8, 22nd) has a high-pressure tie against Bayern Munich (18, 2nd). There is no room for error for the defending Eredivisie champions, who have been defeated in their last two games. Should it become three in a row, they will be out. Even a point might not be enough, depending on how results go elsewhere. Bayern still has an outside shot at passing Arsenal for top spot in the league phase. While this is not overly significant, the Bavarians will not want to end this stage of the tournament with a defeat. They have an excellent history against PSV, winning six of the eight all-time head-to-heads, losing just once.
The pressure is building on Napoli (8, 25th), who faces top eight hopefuls Chelsea (13, 8th). A win is required from the Scudetto holders if they are to make it through this round of the UCL and avoid an early exit. This is a repeat clash from a round of 16 tie 12 years ago, which the Partenopei lost in extra time after both teams won 3-1 at home. Having lost to Atalanta away back in December, the Blues will have to be cautious in this clash. Should they fail to pick up three points in Naples, they will be forced into a knockout playoffs. Not even a win is safe for Chelsea, as a top eight place could go down to goal difference.
Following their second defeat of the league phase, AS Monaco (9, 21st) looks to keep their Champions League dream alive at home to Juventus (12, 15th). Les Monegasques managed to earn nine points thus far, but will need at least one more if they are to move on like they did in 2024/25. They do have a poor record versus Juve though, winning just once in six (1-1-4). La Vecchia Signora clinched their place in the top 24 last round, and can still dream of ending the round in the top eight. To do so, they will need a win at Stade Louis II, as well as several other results to go in their favour.
One of three debutants that can still advance, Union Saint-Gilloise (6, 31st) faces a tricky home tie against Atalanta (13, 13th). The Belgians already lost to Inter back on matchday 3, and have been beaten three more times since. They can ill-afford another loss of points this time. Only a win, alongside some other beneficial results, will keep them in the tournament. La Dea’s inconsistency has them in 13th, also needing a win and some help to qualify for the round of 16 directly. They did beat Club Brugge on the second matchday, making it their first win over Belgian opposition at the fifth time of asking (1-0-4).
Athletic Club (8, 23rd) meets Sporting CP (13, 10th) in a do-or-die match for the Basque outfit. Looking dead and buried midway through the league phase, Athletic has gone unbeaten in their last three, with their win in Bergamo last week propelling them into the top 24. However, to get past this round, they will need another win, as anything less will end their hopes. Sporting pulled off a huge upset last time out, which now results in them having a realistic shot at making it past this round. The Portuguese champions also require a victory in Spain, which will be a tough ask.
Finally, Paphos (6, 30th) is in with a chance progression. The Cypriots face a side already eliminated, Slavia Praha (3, 34th) at home. Although they have scored just four times in the UCL, the joint-lowest, the side making their Champions League bow can still dream of making it through. It would make them the second team from Cyprus to successfully negotiate the group phase after APOEL back in 2011/12. It is all about ending their European journey on a high for Slavia, who has endured another tough campaign in the continent’s premier club competition. Alongside the two teams below them, the Czechs have failed to earn a win in the UCL proper, something they desperately want as they exit at this stage.