The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League featuring the top-division European clubs has delivered tremendous hits. As for now, the Champions League will be heading to Matchday 8 for this week. Like prior clashes, we can expect more stunning actions for this week, which promises to keep you on the edge of your seats for the whole match. Many teams have made notable improvements in the prior matchups, where similar actions can give them a happy end. Simultaneously, few teams have been at their worst time, and a big bounce back is highly expected to save them in the forthcoming clashes. Matchday 7 was fascinating, with thrilling comebacks and impressive performances. Let’s delve deeper into Matchday 7 and discuss the teams’ results so that we can get a clear view of how the teams are getting ready for their future games.
The Atalanta team delivered massive game tactics on either side of the field for Matchday 7, ending the clash with a 5-0 win for SK Sturm Graz. The Benfica and Barcelona teams had a close match, where both the teams were fighting very hard till the last minute, and finally, the matchup ended with a 4-5 win for Barcelona. The Monaco vs. Aston Villa matchup for Matchday 7 was quite dull, in which Monaco won over the Aston team with just a single score. Topping the league, the Liverpool team ended its recent matchup with a 2-1 win against Lille OSC. Club Brugge and Juventus ended the clash with a scoreless draw. The Stuttgart side kicked off the Bratislava with a 1-3 score set, which was quite impressive. The Bologna and Dortmund teams have had a decent 2-1 end, where the Dortmund slipped off.
The Matchday 17 did not end there but had meticulously featured even more actions. One such action featured the Feyenoord team making an astonishing move over their opponents, Bayern Munich. The clash at last ended with a 3-0 victory for Feyenoord, where Sven Ulreich of the Bayern team was provided with a red card. The Arsenal team likely made nice actions for the day and won the battle with three goals over the Dinamo Zagreb. AC Milan was less attractive for the day, as they won the match with only one goal over the Girona side. The ever-skilled PSG team did not fail to prove their dominance for the day, where they defeated Manchester City with a 4-2 score. Another big show remains between Real Madrid and RB Salzburg, in which Real Madrid won the battle with five goals. Therefore, Matchday 7 was nothing less exciting, and the teams will likely be getting ready to showcase an even more powerful performance. With the prior matchup review, let’s take a quick look at the preview and predictions for Matchday 8 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. Also, get more exciting information on other football showdowns on our website.
Predictions for Matchday 8:
PSV Eindhoven vs. Liverpool FC
On Matchday 8 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, PSV Eindhoven will play host to the Liverpool team. So far, in the clashes between the PSV and Liverpool teams, Liverpool has maintained dominance in most of the clashes. Let’s wait and see whether Liverpool will continue their dominance or the PSV side will work to defeat Liverpool in this clash.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Standings: Liverpool – 1st position; PSV Eindhoven – 19th position
Predictions:
Liverpool, who have shown great dominance in this season’s Champions League by winning all seven matches, are expected to continue their impressive run against PSV Eindhoven. On the other hand, PSV Eindhoven has managed only three victories so far. While they recently secured a 2-3 win over Crvena zvezda, their defensive weaknesses may struggle to contain Liverpool’s potent attack. PSV will likely aim to leverage their home advantage and target at least two goals, but Liverpool’s consistent form suggests they are poised to triumph in this encounter.
Bayern München vs. Slovan Bratislava
Bayern Munich and Slovan Bratislava will face off on Matchday 8 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. Both Bayern and Slovan Bratislava enter this clash after facing defeats in their respective prior Champions League matches. So, this clash will give the teams another chance to prove their dominance. Let’s see whether the teams will turn this chance to their side.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
- Standings: Bayern Munich – 15th position; Slovan Bratislava – 32nd position
Predictions:
The Slovan Bratislava team is showing their worst game tactics from the very start of the season, where they currently stand with zero victories to their side. They have lost each of their seven Champions League games, which is disappointing. So, the team needs a definite bounce back to make improvisations in the standings. On the other hand, the Bayern Munich team enters this game after facing an upsetting 0-3 loss to Feyenoord. Vincent Kompany is highly expected to make his men stand dominant for this matchup. Also, the Bayern side has dealt with home team advantage for this clash, so the squad is expected to turn out this in this matchup.
Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Matchday 8 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League will feature a battle between Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar Donetsk teams. In the prior two meetings between these teams, one match was won by the Borussia side, and the remaining one ended in a draw. Let’s see whether the Shakhtar side will try to add one victory to their side.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Standings: Borussia Dortmund – 14th position; Shakhtar Donetsk – 27th position
Predictions:
The Shakhtar Donetsk team heads into this battle after a splendid 2-0 win against the Brest side in the Matchday 7. Kevin and Heorhly Sudakov netted each goal for Shakhtar’s side in that matchup. It remains the second victory of the Shakhtar Donetsk team in the 2024-25 Champions League. But still, the Shakhtar team needs to make a lot of alterations on either side of the field to make solid attempts in future games. The Dortmund team, on the other hand, lost their recent match in the Champions League to Bologna with a 2-1 score set. But they hold a better squad than their opponents for this clash, and they also have the home team advantage. Hence, this game is highly expected to be won by the Borussia Dortmund team with at least two goals to their side.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Sparta Praha
Sparta Praha will travel to Leverkusen on Matchday 8 for an exciting UEFA Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen. In their previous two encounters, Bayer Leverkusen emerged victorious on both occasions. With the added advantage of playing at home, Bayer Leverkusen is expected to continue its winning streak in this matchup.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Standings: Bayer Leverkusen – 9th position; Sparta Praha – 29th position
Predictions:
Both teams approach this clash differently, and their requirements vary accordingly. Bayer Leverkusen is in a decent position in the standings with four victories, one draw, and two losses. They recently lost their latest Champions League game against Atletico Madrid by a narrow 1-2 score. However, the team is determined to bounce back from their recent loss and is expected to perform strongly in front of their home crowd. On the other hand, Sparta Praha has won only one of their seven Champions League games. They have lost five matchups, including their recent 0-1 defeat to Inter Milan. The offensive side of Sparta Praha is quite shaky, and they need to put more pressure on their upcoming games. Consequently, Sparta Praha will likely struggle in this game, with Bayer Leverkusen expected to win.
Girona vs. Arsenal
To snap up their three consecutive defeats in all competitions, Girona is ready to face Arsenal on matchday 8 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. With seven matches, Girona only has three points on their table, and Arsenal is on high, but this win over Girona will boost their position.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Estadio Municipal de Montilivi, Girona
- Standings: Girona – 3rd position; Arsenal – 31st position
Predictions:
Arsenal headed into this match with a 1-0 win over Wolves in round 23 of the EPL; the first half of the game was utterly lackluster, but in the 74th minute of the match, Riccardo Calafiori shot the winning goal for Arsenal, and that helped the team to maintain their second position in the league table. In this Champions League season, they currently stand third with a point of 16; if they maintain consistency in the upcoming game day, they can reach the final destination. At the same time, Girona suffered their second straight defeat in round 21 of La Liga with Rayo Vallecano 1-2. Despite their early lead from Bryan Gil, the late goals from the opponent ended the game in defeat. This season, they secured only one win and lost six matches. In addition, it will be their first meetup in their history, and with the recent form, Arsenal is favored to win.
Barcelona vs. Atalanta
Barcelona and Atalanta are all set for their first matchup in football history, round 8 of the Champions League. With both teams in the top eight positions, this match will be thrilling as they use their strategies to win this game and maintain their game level and momentum.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Barcelona
- Standings: Barcelona – 2nd position; Atalanta– 7th position
Predictions:
By a margin of one point, triumph over Benfica in the prior league phase round 7, Barcelona confirmed their place in the top eight of the Champions League group phase, allowing them to skip off the playoff games. With a total of 36 teams, finishing at the top second is not easy; it shows the determination and resilience of their passion. On the other hand, Atalanta also performed phenomenally well in Serie A and the Champions League. In Serie A in the last match, they showed an outstanding comeback performance by defeating Como by a one-point margin. Before this, they faced Sturm Graz in round 7 of the league phase; from the start to the end, their defense was exceptional, with a balanced attack that made the opponent leave the field without scoring a single point in the game. Based on the recent form and home advantage, Barcelona will have a higher chance of winning this game.
Brest vs. Real Madrid
In order to deliver a strong comeback, Brest will compete against Real Madrid in the 2024-25 Champions League match. Both teams are in the playoff zone, so this game will be crucial to keep up their momentum and conclude this league phase final round on a high note.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp
- Standings: Brest – 13th position; Real Madrid– 16th position
Predictions:
At the beginning of the Champions League season, Real Madrid faced significant difficulties, languishing below 24th place. However, they gradually regained control of their performance, improved their game, and secured a playoff spot. In this match, they will miss some key players due to injuries, such as Eduardo Camavinga, Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, Jesus Vallejo, and Vinicius Junior, who is out due to a two-match suspension. Meanwhile, for Brest, this 2024-25 Champions League is the debut season, and they are doing great and using their opportunity wisely. Likewise, Brest is also missing some of the players due to injuries, including Jordan Amavi, Massadio Haidara, Julien Le Cardinal, Bradley Locko, and Jonas Martin. While considering Real Madrid’s depth and experience, they will have a slight edge to win this game.
Manchester City vs. Club Brugge KV
On Matchday 8 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, Manchester City, positioned 25th in the standings, needed a crucial win against Club Brugge to move into a playoff spot. A win here would guarantee their progress to the knockout stage, highlighting the significance of this vital match.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Standings: Manchester City – 25th position; Club Brugge KV– 20th position
Predictions:
This match will be the third meetup between Manchester City and Club Brugge KV, and in both meetings, Manchester City was highly dominant. Let’s see whether Club Brugge defeated Manchester City for the first time in their history. On offense, Manchester City is standing 9th with a total of 15 goals scored with an average of 2.1 points per game, and Club Brugge is in 30th place with a total of six goals scored with an average of 0.9 points per game. Defensively, Club Brugge is phenomenal, with eight total goals conceded and an average of 1.1 points per game, which placed them 9th in the table. Manchester City is 27th with 13 total goals scored and an average of 1.9 points per game. To move up their position, Manchester City will try harder and put forth their complete effort to win this game over Club Brugge.
Young Boys vs. Crvena zvezda
In the 2024-25 Champions League of Round 8, Young Boys will compete against Crvena zvezda. This season was a complete disaster for young boys, who are still hungry to mark their first victory. Crvena Zvezda is looking to wrap up this season with two victories on their board.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Stadion Wankdorf, Bern
- Standings: Young Boys – 36th position; Crvena zvezda – 32nd position
Predictions:
This season also ended up in utter disappointment for Young Boys, with their inconsistent attack and defensive error let down to losing all seven matches played so far in the 2024-25 Champions League, and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their matches. With this performance, they are already out of the competition, but before ending this league phase, they can try to secure a single victory. Crvena zvezda is also in the same scenario, and this season, they struggled with defensive issues, injuries, and tactical challenges that affected their performance and blocked them from moving up their position in the league. As it will be the final league phase round, both teams will try to score points, and there is a high chance the game will end in a draw.
Lille vs. Feyenoord
Feyenoord is making a road trip for the league phase matchday 8 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League shown to face off against Feyenoord. With 13 points, both teams are standing closer, which means this game is crucial for both to maintain their momentum.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve d’Ascq
- Standings: Lille – 12th position; Feyenoord – 11th position
Predictions:
Despite losing in Round 7 to the unbeaten Liverpool, Lille’s effort was commendable. They fought hard until the final whistle and scored one goal rather than finishing the match without any. However, the team’s offense has been a significant issue this season, leaving them in the 20th place of the offensive standings with only 11 goals to their credit. On the other hand, Feyenoord’s prior game with Bayern Munich showed their balanced offense and defense. If they continue their consistent gameplay in the upcoming day, they will move up the level forward in the Champions League. However, they need to be more precise on their defense because, so far, they have conceded 15 goals with an average of 2.1 per game. If they had managed this, their performance would have been outstanding. With the home advantage, Lille will have an edge in winning this game.
Juventus vs. Benfica
On matchday 8, Juventus will face Benfica at home in the 2024-25 Champions League. Juventus is on the safer side, but a win will maintain their momentum in this game. However, Benfica must win to keep its position and knockout-phase playoff hopes alive.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin
- Standings: Juventus – 17th position; Benfica – 21st position
Predictions:
Playing at home in this match will be an excellent advantage for Juventus. Their last home game in the Champions League was against Manchester City, which gave them phenomenal success with a scoreline of 2-0. They have a solid defense throughout the season by conceding only five points with a defensive average of 0.7 points per game. While Benfica’s road games performance was quite a mixed bag of results, they managed to win several games. On offense, they scored 14 total goals with an average of 2.0 points per game; on defense, they conceded 12 goals with an average of 1.7 points. Given Juventus’ home advantage and their need to maintain momentum, they are slightly favored to win.
Aston Villa vs. Celtic
Celtic is traveling away to square off with Aston Villa in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League phase of round 8. This match will be their first meet-up in their football history, so it will be interesting to watch how the teams will adapt and modify each strategy on the ground.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin
- Standings: Aston Villa – 9th position; Celtic – 18th position
Predictions:
Aston Villa heads into this match after a 1-1 draw over West Ham in round 23 of the Premier League. However, their prior game in the Champions League ended in a 0-1 defeat to Monaco. They were involved in several substitutions in the game, but nothing helped them score a single point. In the game, they had 61% ball possession with 10 goal attempts and five shots on goal. On the other hand, the Celtics won their prior match by defeating the Young Boys with a scoreline of 1-0. In the 85th minute of the game, Loris Benito’s own goal was the game, saving one Celtic to win the game. This match will be closely contested, but Aston Villa will likely win.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. AC Milan
This is Dinamo Zagreb’s final chance to clinch the playoff position in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, so they will now face AC Milan in round 8. While AC Milan is in the top eight positions, showing their strong performance, we wait to see how Dinamo Zagreb will overcome this strong contender.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
- Standings: Dinamo Zagreb – 26th position; AC Milan – 6th position
Predictions:
Midway through the UEFA Champions’ League group stage, Dinamo Zagreb seemed on track to become the first Croatian club in 30 years to advance to the knockout rounds, having collected seven points from their first four games. However, a three-match winless streak without scoring has left them two points shy of the playoff spots. They now face AC Milan, who have historically dominated their matchups, winning all six encounters with a 17-3 aggregate. Among the top eight, Milan requires a victory to secure their place. Dinamo Zagreb must end their five-game winless streak at home to maintain their European aspirations. The pressure is mounting on Fabio Cannavaro’s team to produce a crucial performance to revitalize their Champions League ambitions. AC Milan will win this game based on recent form and historical dominance.
Inter Milan vs. Monaco
Inter Milan will be at their home for matchday 8 of the Champions League phase game, and they are scheduled to face off against Monaco. Inter Milan is in the top eight and Monaco in tenth place, so both are qualified rather than at the bottom.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, San Siro, Milan
- Standings: Inter Milan – 4th position; Monaco – 10th position
Predictions:
To ensure advancement to the Round of 16, Inter Milan needs to maintain their unbeaten home record during the UEFA Champions League league phase. This achievement would signify their fourth consecutive appearance in the knockout stages, supported by an impressive streak of 12 games without a home loss. Their strong defense has played a crucial role, highlighted by five consecutive clean sheets in UCL home matches. However, they will face a challenging opponent in Monaco, who has posed problems in past encounters. Monaco, with a win rate of 57% this season, faces a tough challenge to finish among the top eight. Their away performance has been inconsistent, although they did secure a victory in Italy against Bologna. This match at Stadion Maksimir sets the scene for an exciting battle, given Inter’s defensive resilience and Monaco’s difficulties on the road. As a result, Inter Milan will win this game.
Sturm Graz vs. RB Leipzig
The bottom-half clash between Sturm Graz and RB Leipzig will occur in round 8 of the 2024-25 Champions League. Based on the position, both teams are out of the competition but looking to end the season on a positive note.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
- Standings: Sturm Graz – 33rd position; RB Leipzig – 34th position
Predictions:
Both teams have already been eliminated from the Champions League after identical seve-game records of one win and six losses. Sturm Graz recently suffered a 5-0 defeat to Atalanta and a 3-2 loss to Lille, highlighting their defensive issues. On the other hand, RB Leipzig’s first exits at this stage since 2021/22 saw them lose their first six matches. They broke their losing streak with a 2-1 win over Sporting CP and drew 2-2 with Bayer Leverkusen. Therefore, given the recent RB Leipzig form and their quality, they are the favorite team to win this match.
FC Red Bull Salzburg vs Atletico de Madrid
In this Champions League 2024-25, FC Red Bull Salzburg and Atletico de Madrid are ready to play on Matchday 8. Fans are excited to witness this grand game between two formidable teams and hold expectations about which team will rise above the others.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025 (Wednesday)
- Venue: Red Bull Arena (Salzburg)
- Standings: FC Red Bull Salzburg – 34th Position, Atletico de Madrid – 5th Position
Predictions:
Salzburg is facing continuous downfall in their recent games in Club Friendly matches and the last Champions League game. While their last Bundesliga game against Klagenfurt was successful, Salzburg failed to secure a victory against Real Madrid in the previous game. Both teams were known for their gameplay, and fans expected a great clash, but the match ended in a disappointing 5-1 score. Now, fans expect a challenging game from Salzburg in this upcoming Champions League match. On the other hand, Atletico de Madrid is one of the most successful teams in the Champions League and holds the top five positions with their outstanding effort. Comparing both teams’ previous games and players’ stats, Atletico de Madrid holds higher odds of claiming victory than Salzburg.
Sporting CP vs Bologna FC 1909
Sporting CP is preparing for the upcoming match against the Bologna FC 1909 on Matchday 8 of Champions League 2024-25. Both teams are trying to rise above in the standings determined to win their upcoming matches.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025
- Venue: Estadio Jose Alvalade (Lisbon)
- Standings: Sporting CP – 23rd Position, Bologna FC 1909 – 28th Position
Predictions:
In this upcoming Champions League game, Sporting CP is ready to play their Matchday 8 game against Bologna. Sporting may stay in the middle order in standings, but it is known to be one of the most formidable teams. While they face continuous three losses in the Champions League, Sporting performs better in the Liga Portugal. As for Bologna, they stay close to the bottom tier position in standings with their average performance. Surprisingly, their previous match ended in victory, raising fans’ expectations for the upcoming game. Both teams have solid players, but looking for the results, Bologna holds a higher chance of winning the upcoming match.
VfB Stuttgart vs Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
On Matchday 8, fans are highly anticipating the upcoming Champions League 2024-25 match between Stuttgart and PSG. Both teams are highly performing in their own leagues and ready to show their potential in this Champions League.
Match Details:
- Date: January 29, 2025
- Venue: MHPArena (Stuttgart)
- Standings: Stuttgart – 24th Position, PSG – 22nd Position
Predictions:
Both middle-tier positioning teams are preparing to clash in this upcoming Matchday 8 of the Champions League. PSG stays in the 22nd position with 10 points and struggled in past matches. But in the past two games, they rose above with a dominant performance against their opponent. On the other hand, Stuttgart is trying its best in the Champions League to claim victory and move forward in the standings. While staying in 24th Position, Stuttgart never let themselves dwell on previous losses and was ready to move forward. While both teams never clashed with each other, this game will be their first H2H clash, which makes it more expected among fans. While both teams hold similar records, PSG holds the odds of gaining the advantage over their opponent.
