Champions League Matchday 8 Preview

This week, we will enjoy the actions and emotions of the last day of the Group Stage of this 2024/25 edition of the UEFA Champions League.

For many, the passage to the Round of 16 is completely decided, either positively or negatively. Liverpool and FC Barcelona are the only teams with a direct ticket to the next stage of the tournament. Arsenal and Inter are just a draw away from clinching it, while Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, and Milan will be looking for the three points to advance directly.

On the other hand, teams like Dortmund, Bayern, Real Madrid, and Juventus secured their qualification or playoff matches, but all is not lost for them. They depend on a series of results to enter the TOP 8 and qualify directly. However, they still have an additional chance to be part of the Round of 16 party.

Finally, we have teams like PSG, Benfica, and Manchester City, whose futures are hanging in the balance. PSG and Benfica are in the playoff places, while City will have to beat Club Brugge in this last matchday and wait for some results to see if they can enter the TOP 24 of the standings.

This last matchday will be a thrilling one, and below, we bring you a preview of the best matches, with their respective betting odds and our free predictions.

Champions League weekly picks betting odds

Champions League Matchday 8: PSV vs. Liverpool

We will see a fight between two teams going through a great moment in this Champions League. PSV is in 19th place in the standings with 11 points, which keeps them in the playoff spots.

However, a loss in this match could take them out of the TOP 24, while a win could help them get into the TOP 8 and qualify directly to the Round of 16. That’s how evenly matched the table is as we reach the final matchday of the Group Stage.

PSV has a record of three wins, two draws, and two defeats, with 13 goals for and ten against. They are coming from an excellent victory over Red Star in their previous matchday, with a score of 3-2.

On the other hand, Liverpool remains the best team in this Champions League. Not only do they lead the table. They have a 100% success rate in the tournament, as they have won all the matches they have played so far. As a result, they already have in their pockets the pass to the Round of 16.

The Reds are having a good season, as they are also at the top of the Premier League. Now, in this Champions League, they have seven wins with 15 goals scored and two conceded, showing that their defense is in phenomenal form. In their most recent match, Liverpool beat Lille 2-1.

There is no doubt that, for this match, our prediction is a win for Liverpool 2-0.

PSV vs. Liverpool Betting Pick: Liverpool

Champions League Matchday 8: Barcelona vs. Atalanta

There is no doubt FC Barcelona heads into this match in mind-blowing form. Not only is there that they recently decisively beat Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, but in LaLiga they seem to have picked up the pace again, winning their most recent match against Valencia 7-1.

Now in this Champions League, Barça is in second place with a record of six wins and one loss, with 26 goals scored and 11 conceded. While their defense hasn’t been strong, they have the best offense in the tournament. The Blaugranas made a spectacular comeback against Benfica in their previous match in Portugal and won 5-4.

On the other hand, we have Atalanta, a team that had a magnificent start in the Italian Serie A and even spent several weeks at the top of the standings. However, their performance started to suffer ups and downs, and now they are struggling to recover.

In this Champions League, Atalanta has also played very well. They are in seventh place in the standings with a record of four wins, two draws, and one loss, with 14 points out of a possible 21. Although they are inside the TOP 8, they will have to win this matchday to secure their direct qualification to the Round of 16. Otherwise, they could lose their place and have to play their qualification match.

Atalanta are coming from an excellent victory in matchday seven against Sturn with a score of 5-0.

For this match, our prediction is a victory for the Blaugranas 3-1.

Barcelona vs. Atalanta Betting Pick: Barcelona

Champions League Matchday 8: Manchester City vs. Club Brugge

Against all odds, Manchester City currently sits outside the TOP 24 in the standings, meaning that if the tournament were to end today, Pep Guardiola’s side would be eliminated. However, they have a golden opportunity to secure their passage to the qualification or playoff match if they can beat Club Brugge in this final Group Stage match.

Currently, City is in 25th place in the table, with a record of two wins, two draws, and three defeats, with 15 goals scored and 13 conceded. A win would put them level on points with Club Brugge, but the goal difference would favor the English side and they could enter the TOP 24 of the standings. On the other hand, a defeat or a draw eliminates Pep Guardiola’s team from the tournament.

Manchester City is coming from two consecutive defeats in this Champions League, the most recent being against PSG by 2-4. However, in their most recent encounter in the local competition, they achieved a great 3-1 home victory over Chelsea.

On the other hand, Club Brugge arrives at the Etihad Stadium with the firm conviction of getting a draw or a win to stay within the TOP 24 of the table, and even a win and other favorable results could get them into the TOP 8. Likewise, so far, this club has been outstanding. They have a record of three wins, two draws, and two defeats, with six goals for and eight against.

Club Brugge comes into this matchday eight after two wins and two draws in their last four games played in this Champions League, the most recent being a 0-0 draw against Juventus.

For this match, our winner’s chip is on Manchester City 2-1.

Manchester City vs. Club Brugge Betting Pick: Manchester City

Champions League Matchday 8: Stade Brest vs. Real Madrid

Stade Brest have been playing well in this Champions League and, without making much noise, have managed to secure their ticket inside the TOP 24. However, they have a golden opportunity to beat a Real Madrid side that has struggled in this tournament.

The French team is in 13th place in the standings with 13 points, while Bayer Leverkusen is in 8th place with the same points. As a result, a win against Los Blancos on this final matchday will undoubtedly move them up the table and secure their direct qualification to the Round of 16. Stade Brest comes into this matchday after a terrible away defeat against Shakhtar with a score of 0-2.

On the other hand, Real Madrid had to swim against the tide in this final stretch of the Champions League Group Stage. At times, there was talk that Los Blancos could miss out on the Round of 16, but they pulled out all the stops in the last few weeks to win two consecutive matches and ensure their presence in the TOP 24 of the standings.

Los Merengues are in 16th place in the standings, with a record of four wins and three losses. Although their dream of entering the TOP 8 of the table is complicated, hope is the last thing to be lost. Madrid has to beat Stade Brest and hope for a series of results to achieve this feat. However, the fact that they are not out of the TOP 24 right now is an achievement for them.

Real Madrid, as we mentioned, comes from winning two games in a row in this tournament, the most recent being against Salzburg with a score of 5-1.

For this match, our prediction is a Real Madrid victory by 2-1.

Stade Brest vs. Real Madrid Betting Pick: Real Madrid