New Delhi: The UEFA Champions League enters it’s final matchday tonight as the tournament’s group stages come to an end with all 36 teams playing at once. The revamped edition of the tournament sees it’s first ever league stage conclude with 18 matches all being played together as a lot remains at stake heading into the final matchday of the league stage. With the futures of certain big clubs still up in the air, the new format seems to have delivered on the excitement it promised the fans.
The new format of UEFA’s European competitions had come under heavy criticism when it was announced, with the fans being opposed to this new league format. However, the tournament has offered up some fresh match-ups, some thrills and spills and has offered opportunities to more teams to showcase themselves on a grand stage. As the tournament heads into the final matchday, there remains to be seen who goes through to the next round immediately, who will struggle it out in the knockouts and who exits the tournament at the very first hurdle?
Big names face big risks ahead of Matchday 8
The first-ever UEFA Champions League table is divided into four separate parts. The first part consist of the top eight teams after all eight games and they go straight into the Round of 16 of the tournament. Next up are teams that finish between 9th and 16th who go into the knockout stages as the seeded teams while those placed between 17th and 24th go through as the unseeded teams. Anyone that finishes 25th and below, exits the tournament at this stage and will have no European football to play for anymore.
Current holders and the most successful team of the tournament, Real Madrid face an uphill battle to finish in the top eight as they’re currently placed 16th in the table. Los Blancos will have to beat Stade Brest in their final match and hope that other results go in their favour to make it through to the Round of 16. Joining them in the mid table muddle are last season’s finalists Borussia Dortmund, German giants Bayern Munich, and Italian outfit Juventus, all of whom occupy the 14th, 15th and 17th spot respectively and need a similar result to Real Madrid to make it through in the top eight.
One matchday to go! 😲#UCL pic.twitter.com/jEYfEM9kTC
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 22, 2025
Two of the richest teams in the tournament, PSG and Manchester City are in an even more precarious position than those mentioned above. The Middle east backed clubs faced each other in the previous matchday and PSG’s dominant win over Manchester City has placed them in a better position than the English team but both teams can still be knocked out of the tournament entirely.
Both team’s qualification hopes are hanging by a thread as the French Champions currently occupy the 22nd spot in the table whereas the English champions sit 25th in the table, outside the final qualification spot. PSG travel to Stuttgart for their final game as Pep Guardiola’s side host Club Brugge. It’s a do or die situation for City as they have to win their game and hope other results go in their favour to make it into the top 24 while PSG need a win to qualify as a seeded team into the knockouts.
How will UCL Matchday 8 shape up?
18 games in one night 🤯
Wednesday 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/OQjiMiwH2G
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 27, 2025
The final matchday of the season will be different that the ones of seasons before. Unlike the previous seasons where the final matchday was spilt over two days, all matches will be played at once on one day. All the games will kick off at 01:30 hours (IST) on Wednesday night like any other cup competition. The 18 games feature some exciting clashes with the biggest one being Manchester City’s clash with Club Brugge because of the consequences the game’s result could have.
The UEFA Champions League enters it’s final matchday tonight as the tournament’s group stages come to an end with all 36 teams playing at once. Who goes through and who gets left behind? Let’s find out! Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
