- Liverpool and Barcelona are the only teams to have secured qualification so far
- The top eight teams progress directly to the Round of 16, while 9th to 24th-placed teams face playoffs
- Liverpool hosts Lille, aiming to maintain their unbeaten record in the competition
- Barcelona faces a tough test against Benfica, crucial for both teams’ standings
- Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen are separated by just one point ahead of their clash
- Borussia Dortmund seeks a win against Bologna to secure a Round of 16 spot amidst domestic struggles
Key Takeaways:
The Champions League resumes this week with decisive matches as the group stage nears its conclusion. Today and tomorrow, 18 games will be played in the penultimate round, followed by the final round next week. With the new format adding suspense, only Liverpool and Barcelona have secured qualification so far. The top eight teams will progress directly to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will contest playoffs.
Matchday 7 is here 👊#UCL pic.twitter.com/EEywxBbpoq
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 21, 2025
In tonight’s matches, Liverpool welcomes Lille to Anfield. The French team, currently in the top eight, has impressed by defeating Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid and drawing with Juventus. However, Liverpool, the only team with a perfect six-win record, is determined to secure first place in the standings. Barcelona faces a challenging away game against Benfica. Despite their recent 5-2 triumph over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, the Catalans have struggled for form. Benfica, meanwhile, is fighting to remain in contention, being three points away from the top eight.
A tightly contested clash looms between Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. With just one point separating the two sides, the encounter at the Metropolitano promises to be fiercely competitive. Juventus, buoyed by their recent victory over AC Milan, travels to Belgium to face Club Brugge in another crucial match-up where three points could prove decisive.
Borussia Dortmund, struggling in the Bundesliga and with coach Nuri Sahin under pressure, heads to Italy to face Bologna. A win could guarantee BVB’s round of 16 berth, while Bologna’s campaign is on the brink of ending. Aston Villa will try to avoid the playoffs when they take on Monaco, who handed Barcelona their sole defeat in the group stage. Atalanta hosts Sturm Graz, a team that has lost five of their six matches, in what should be a straightforward task for the Europa League winners.
Tonight’s early games feature Monaco vs. Aston Villa and Atalanta vs. Sturm Graz, while other fixtures include Red Star Belgrade-PSV Eindhoven and Slovan Bratislava against Stuttgart.