After seven rounds of the League Phase, only two teams have qualified for the round of 16 already. Liverpool and Barcelona could thus take it easy in the eight and final round of games. All games will kick off at the same time, which will also mean that all the travel arrangements are slightly more compounded than usual. 18 UEFA Champions League matches on the same day and kicking off at exactly the same - this has never happened before in over 30 years since the old European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League.
On the other hand, a whopping nine teams are already out of contention for the round of 16 or the play-off round before that. BSC Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava sit at the bottom of the table with no points at all. Salzburg, Leipzig, Sturm Graz, Red Star Belgrade and Girona all managed one win in seven games. Sparta Prague drew one game while Bologna drew two in addition to one win each. Of all teams still in contention for a play-off spot, Manchester City are probably the most negative surprise, sitting in 25th position with just two wins and two draws. They must win their home game against Brugge to stay in the competition.
29 January 2025
all matches to kick off at 21.00h CET
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Sparta Prague
BayArena, Leverkusen
8th / 13 pts vs. 29th / 4 pts
Guaranteed a spot in the play-offs at least, Bayer 04 will look to maintain their spot in the round of 16. For this, they probably need a win and some other results to go their way. After all, there are no less than six teams tied on 13 points after seven matches. Visitors Sparta Prague are eliminated from the competition already.
QS4458 PRG 1200-1330 CGN B738 OK-TVH (28/01/25)
QS4436 PRG 1300-1430 CGN B738 OK-TSU (28/01/25)
QS4437 CGN 1200-1330 PRG B738 (30/01/25)
QS4459 CGN 1400-1530 PRG B738 (30/01/25)
BSC Young Boys vs. Red Star Belgrade
Stadion Wankdorf, Bern
36th / 0 pts vs. 32nd / 3 pts
Both these teams are already out. But Young Boys are even worse off. They have not managed to gain a single point this season, losing all seven previous matches and conceding 23 goals along the way. YB will look to beat Red Star like last season to at least have some points on the board.
JU9022 BEG 1000-1205 BSL A319 YU-APE (28/01/25)
JU9023 BSL 1245-xxxx BEG A319 YU-APE (28/01/25, ferry flight)
JU9022 BEG xxxx-1405 BSL A319 (30/01/25, ferry flight)
JU9023 BSL 1450-xxxx BEG A319 (30/01/25)
FC Barcelona vs. Atalanta Bergamo
Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Montjuic, Barcelona
2nd / 18 pts vs. 7th / 14 pts
The hosts Barça are one of two teams that are guaranteed a seeded place in the round of 16 already. Atalanta however still need to maintain their spot to avoid the play-offs. A win would make sure for them that they get some time off. A draw however would make Atalanta dependent on other results on the same night.
AZ9070 BGY 1430-1610 BCN A20N EI-HOD (28/01/25)
MT1620 BGY 0900-1035 BCN A320 9A-BTL (29/01/25)
AP1855 BGY xxxx-1040 BCN B738 (29/01/25)
VOE9108 BGY xxxx-1015 BCN A320 (29/01/25)
VOE9109 BCN 0055-xxxx BGY A320 (30/01/25)
MT1621 BCN 0110-xxxx BGY A320 (30/01/25)
AP1856 BCN 0200-xxxx BGY B738 (30/01/25)
AZ9071 BCN 0945-xxxx BGY A20N (30/01/25)
RB Salzburg vs. Atlético Madrid
Red Bull Arena, Salzburg
34th / 3 pts vs. 5th / 15 pts
For the second time within one week, Salzburg play against a team from Madrid. After Real last week it is Atlético Madrid now. Los Colchoneros sit nicely on the table and probably just need one point from this game to consolidate their access to the round of 16. A win would end any discussions about this right away though.
PVG1903 MAD 1045-1435 SZG A321 EC-OCT (28/01/25)
PVG2003 SZG 1030-xxxx MAD A321 (30/01/25)
Manchester City vs. Club Brugge
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
25th / 8 pts vs. 20th / 11 pts
This tie is absolutely crucial for both teams. Brugge sit on 11 points and need just the one extra point to be sure about qualification for the play-offs. City however absolutely need to win to stand any chance after their disappointing loss in Paris last week.
ENT585 OST 1130-1115 MAN B738 SP-ESL (28/01/25)
ENT586 MAN 1200-xxxx OST B738 SP-ESL (30/01/25)
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| An Enter Air Boeing 737-800 seen at Basel-Mulhouse in June 2023 |
Girona FC vs. Arsenal
Montilivi, Girona
31st / 3 pts vs. 3rd / 16 pts
It would take a major shift elsewhere for Arsenal still to drop out of the top 8. But Girona does not seem like the type of opposition that should cause them much harm though. The Catalan team only managed the one win in the competition so far and is already sure to be eliminated by the end of the league phase.
ZT6591 LTN 1530-1840 GRO A321 G-POWN (28/01/25)
ZT6592 GRO 0130-xxxx LTN A321 G-POWN (30/01/25)
Stade Brestois 29 vs. Real Madrid
Stade de Roudourou, Guingamp
13th / 13 pts vs. 16th / 12 pts
Three teams and one point are between these two sides. Surprisingly it is the way smaller club from Northwestern France though who is on top there. Real will at least look to get home advantage in the knockout play-off tie in February. Brest however can still even dream of direct access to the round of 16.
IB1401 MAD 1030-1205 SBK A319 EC-KUB (28/01/25)
IB1400 SBK 1330-1530 MAD A310 EC-KUB (28/01/25, ferry flight)
IB1402 SBK xxxx-0230 MAD (30/01/25)
Sturm Graz vs. RB Leipzig
Wörthersee-Stadion, Klagenfurt
33rd / 3 pts vs. 30th / 3 pts
This duel between two German-speaking teams is also a duel of two eliminated sides. Sturm will play their final home game in the exile of Klagenfurt while their home ground Liebenauer Stadion is still not ready for Champions League football. Leipzig have been struggling all season long so far, in the domestic league just as much as internationally.
KK7100 LEJ 1620-1730 KLU A320 OY-JRK (28/01/25)
FC Bayern München vs. Slovan Bratislava
Fussball Arena München
15th / 12 pts vs. 35th / 0 pts
Of the two sides without points yet, Slovan Bratislava definitely have the tougher opponent in the last round of the league phase. They travel to Munich where Bayern still need points to move further up from 15th place and on an outside chance even up to the top 8.
RR9381 BTS 1100-1210 FMM B738 SP-RNE (28/01/25)
Inter Milan vs. AS Monaco
San Siro, Milan
4th / 16 pts vs. 10th / 13 pts
A rather short trip but still a flight for AS Monaco on their quest to usurp a couple of teams to finish in the top eight. Inter on their side though might be happy with a draw from this game already. It would guarantee them a spot in the top eight who qualify directly for the round of 16.
AP1273 NCE 1635-1740 MXP B738 (28/01/25)
AP1274 MXP 0130-0235 NCE B738 (30/01/25)
Dinamo Zagreb vs. AC Milan
Maksimir, Zagreb
26th / 8 pts vs. 6th / 15 pts
Two points behind the pace for 24th place, Dinamo are in a must-win situation against Milan. The Italian side should be favourites to win this game and even a draw is already enough for them to proceed to the round of 16.
NO9260 MXP 1630-1740 ZAG B738 (28/01/25)
Juventus Turin vs. SL Benfica
Juventus Stadium, Turin
17th / 12 pts vs. 21st / 10 pts
In this genuine midfield clash, both teams still fight for the seeding in the play-off round. It would take a lot of other results going the right way for them to be able to fight for a direct access to the round of 16. Expect no gifts on either side though, as home advantage in the play-off round in February could be absolutely crucial.
TP9024 LIS 1500-xxxx TRN (28/01/25)
Sporting CP vs. Bologna
José Alvalade, Lisbon
23rd / 10 pts vs. 28th / 5 pts
There is almost a dead-rubber feeling over this match. Bologna face one more away trip, but they are already out of contention for the play-offs. Sporting need so many results to go the right way that it seems unlikely for them to make it up into the seeded ranks for the play-offs. At least they are guaranteed a spot in this next round.
AZ9028 BLQ 1500-1710 LIS A320 EI-DTN (28/01/25)
Borussia Dortmund vs. Shakhtar Donezk
Westfalenstadion, Dortmund
14th / 12 pts vs. 27th / 7 pts
The lowest-ranked team with an outside chance of making it to the play-offs is traveling to Dortmund - directly from their winter camp in Antalya. Shakhtar face an uphill task against a wounded BVB side who will be looking to at least consolidate their top 16 finish for a seeded spot in the play-offs.
FH731 AYT xxxx-1050 DTM A320 (28/01/25)
FH732 DTM 1140-xxxx ISL A320 (28/01/25, ferry flight)
VfB Stuttgart vs. Paris St-Germain
MHPArena, Stuttgart
24th / 10 pts vs. 22nd /10 pts
Both teams are equal on points, which could not have been expected before the league phase. With Manchester City looming from behind for sure, Stuttgart and PSG will be absolutely desperate to get a win from this fixture.
KLJ2881 CDG 1115-1220 STR B733 LY-CHF (28/01/25)
Aston Villa vs. Celtic Glasgow
Villa Park, Birmingham
9th / 13 pts vs. 18th / 12 pts
Just one point separates these two teams after seven matches. Both are assured a spot in a next round, but they might look for even better options. Add to that the dynamic of an English vs. Scottish game - it's on!
LS6959 GLA 1600-1710 BHX B738 G-JZHU (28/01/25)
PSV Eindhoven vs. Liverpool FC
Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
19th / 11 pts vs. 1st / 21 pts
The Dutch hosts are facing none other than the only unbeaten team in this season's league phase of the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool are certain to be in the round of 16 with this and might just look to extend that run to eight wins from as many games.
LS6894 LPL 1230-1450 EIN B738 G-JZHF (28/01/25)
ZT621 LPL 1650-1900 EIN A320 G-POWM (28/01/25)
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