The UEFA Champions League returns with Matchday eight, promising a captivating blend of high-stakes encounters and potential upsets. This week will see all 36 teams face off at the exact same time, so let's delve deeper into the six fixtures that demand your attention.
Manchester City vs Club Brugge
If you told anyone six months ago that Pep Guardiola’s Man City squad would enter the final league-phase matchday on the outside looking in and winless since October, they’d never believe you. That’s the exact situation they’re in however, but they have a great opportunity to still progress despite their struggles, with a win at home against Club Brugge. With that said, the visitors will be tough to beat. The Belgian side comes into the game unbeaten in their last four with just a point between them and a guaranteed place in the knockout play-off round. A loss, however, would likely spell elimination.
Brest vs Real Madrid
Ligue 1 side, Brest, will host the reigning champions Real Madrid with both sides hoping to make the jump into the top eight, in an effort to bypass the knockout playoff round. Both teams enjoyed positive spells during the league-phase and are safe from elimination, however, this final game presents the opportunity to not just survive, but thrive. On paper, Madrid is the clear favorite, but matches are not won on paper. Brest have conceded just eight goals in seven games, so goals will be hard to come by for the visitors.
Feyenoord vs Lille OSC
Level on points and goal difference, Feyenoord and Lille both go into matchday eight sitting 11th and 12th in the table with one objective. Win, and put themselves in a great position to move up to the top eight. While both sides are safe from elimination, the opportunity to advance directly to the round of 16 is massive for both clubs. Lille’s stout defense will attempt to keep their opponents at bay, but Feyenoord’s high-flying offense averages 2.43 goals per game.
Aston Villa vs Celtic F.C.
These two giants of the British Isles have rich European pedigree. Celtic were the first British side to win the European Cup in 1967, while Villa claimed a European Cup of their own in 1982. Since then, both sides have enjoyed national success, but have found it difficult to make the jump back to continental competition. Now, Villa Park will play host to a thrilling contest between two teams hoping to secure a spot in the league phase top-eight. The hosts have just goal difference between them and Bayer Leverkusen in eighth, while Celtic desperately need other results to go their way along with a win of their own.
VfB Stuttgart vs PSG
PSG’s frustrating league phase campaign now means their next tie, might as well be a playoff game. Stuttgart and PSG both sit just two points clear of 25th place Man City, and will need three points to guarantee a spot in the knockout round. PSG just downed the Cityzens last week with a dominant 4-2 win, but a loss in Germany could nullify that massive moment. In their way is a Stuttgart side that took down Juventus on matchday three. Riding a two-game win streak, the hosts have the chance to create their own destiny with a win against one of Europe’s biggest sides.
Dynamo Zagreb vs AC Milan
Level on points with Man City and on the outside looking in is Dynamo Zagreb. The Croatian champions have just eight points and desperately need a win against Milan if they want any chance of advancing. It won’t be easy, especially given that Milan sits sixth on 15 points and even a draw could see them drop out of the top eight. Zagreb’s defense has conceded 18 goals in seven games this season, so they’ll need to tighten up at the back if they want any hope of surviving this dangerous AC Milan attack.
Gear up for the knockout rounds at Soccer Post! Visit your local store to shop in person or shop online at SoccerPost.com!
Shop Jerseys





