All Eighth-Round Champions League Matches to Start Simultaneously
The eighth round of the Champions League, which starts today, will conclude the competition«s group stage. All matches will start at the same time, with clubs fighting for a playoff berth and direct qualification to the round of 16.
The central event will be the match in Naples, where Italian champions Napoli will host London«s Chelsea.
Tournament Format
The season is again being played under an updated format with 36 teams. Instead of a group stage, a single league table is used. Each club plays eight matches—four at home and four away—facing different opponents.
After the group stage, the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16. Clubs finishing in 9th to 24th place will play in a knockout round (round of 32). The rest will end their European campaign.
Eighth Round Schedule
All matches are scheduled for 23:00 Moscow time. Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, and Kairat have already lost their chance for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Bayern Munich have already secured their place in the round of 16.
The round features several key clashes. The matches Liverpool vs. Karabakh, Barcelona vs. Copenhagen, and PSG vs. Newcastle will determine the playoff participants. The teams in these pairings occupy adjacent positions in the table, where the winner gets direct passage to the round of 16 and the loser goes to the knockout round; a draw suits neither side.
The matches Borussia Dortmund vs. Inter and Napoli vs. Chelsea also promise to be tense. For Napoli, playoff qualification is in doubt, and a win over Chelsea is crucial. A draw could keep the Neapolitans« chances alive only if other results go their way. Napoli manager Antonio Conte will face his former club, with which he won the English championship but left under difficult circumstances.
The matches Benfica vs. Real Madrid, PSV vs. Bayern Munich, and Ajax vs. Olympiacos will also affect the standings. In Amsterdam, Olympiacos is trying to stay in the knockout round zone, but for that they need a win over Ajax. The hosts, however, need only a win to keep their chances alive.
Other matches in the round include:
- Pafos vs. Slavia Prague
- Athletic Bilbao vs. Sporting
- Atlético Madrid vs. Bodø/Glimt
- Club Brugge vs. Marseille
- Monaco vs. Juventus
- Arsenal vs. Kairat
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Tottenham
- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Villarreal
- Union Berlin vs. Atalanta
- Manchester City vs. Galatasaray
Manchester City, after an unexpected defeat in the previous round, risks playing additional matches if they don«t qualify directly for the round of 16. Galatasaray, with one of the top scorers Victor Osimhen, is also set for a battle.
Top Scorer Race
In the scoring race, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé leads by a wide margin with 11 goals. He is followed by Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane with seven goals.
Where to Watch
In Russia, all matches of the eighth round of the Champions League will be broadcast by the online cinema service Okko.
