Champions League predictions: Matchday 7

If you are not yet convinced by this brand new phase of the championship, these last two days could push you to the other side of the divide.

The Champions League extension means we will have continental matches in January, but we will know who has secured a place in the round of 16 and who is in the two-legged play-offs by the end of the month.

The 36-team field remains condensed, only adding to the intrigue, and we can’t say for sure if it will take shape after the conclusion of the penultimate day.

Here’s how 90 minutes predicts the seventh day of the 2024/25 season Champions League will take place.

As usual, there will be two early kick-offs each day of the Champions League. Tuesday starts with the top eight Villa Aston travel to Monaco, And Atalanta welcoming Sturm Graz in Bergamo.

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

Atletico Madrid Remarkable form has propelled them to the top of La Liga, and three straight wins in the league stage mean they should move into the top eight with another win over Bayer Leverkusen. Fourth-placed Leverkusen recovered after succumbing to a heavy defeat at Anfield on matchday four.

Liverpool And Barcelona are both on the verge of securing their respective places in the round of 16. They face Lille And Benfica respectively Tuesday evening.

Slovak Bratislava are one of three teams without a point, and they face a match in form Stuttgart team that harbors hopes of sneaking into the knockout play-offs. Bundesliga compatriots Borussia Dortmund take a Bologna team which found itself under the direction of Vincenzo Italiano. Dortmund are ninth in the league stage standings, but the Italians have only picked up two points so far.

Juventus have surprisingly won more than they have drawn in the league stage, and they will look to build on the momentum gained in a 2-0 domestic win over AC Milan this weekend, against Club Brugge. The Belgians look good for a play-off place, having matched Juve’s three victories.

PSV are a few points behind and in a rather precarious position. They are 23rd and currently qualify for the play-offs, but they should benefit from facing a Red Star Belgrade team that has lost five of its six Champions League matches so far.

The crucial meeting of the day arrives Wednesday evening, but before we go to Paris, RB Leipzig to welcome Sports CPstill uncertain in a world without Ruben Amorim, in Saxony, while Brest visit Shakhtar Donetsk.

Leipzig have already exited the competition and are simply playing out of pride, while Sporting have fallen to 17th after back-to-back defeats. Brest have embarked on a remarkable campaign so far, winning four matches, and they will have one foot in the round of 16 if they win their penultimate match.

PSG And Manchester City Met in the semi-finals of this competition less than four years ago, the two men are now fighting to reach the round of 16. PSG suffered from a busy schedule and enters this duel in 25th place in the standings. City, meanwhile, are 22nd and only one point ahead.

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

Bayern Munich look set to reclaim the Bundesliga title this season, and three successive victories in the league stage have put them in a worrying position. They are aiming to win their fourth European match by one stroke Feyenoord Wednesday.

The holders, Real Madridhaven’t had things their way this season, and Carlo Ancelotti’s men still have work to do to ensure they even claim a play-off place. They should have no problem against RB Salzburg on national soil, however, Arsenal And Between should also consolidate their position in the top eight against Dinamo Zagreb And Sparta Prague respectively.

Celtic have competed fiercely in the league stage after struggling in Europe for years, and their Champions League campaign is remarkably set to extend into February with a victory over the bottom of the table. Young boys at Celtic Park.

that of Girona their first venture into this competition appears to be coming to an end, but they will no doubt benefit from one more big day away against AC Milan in San Siro. The Rossoneri could be a tricky opponent in the last 16 with former Inter winger Sergio Conceicao at the helm.

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