In this article, we present to you our preview and predictions for the playoff round of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League (UCL).
After a long and hectic league phase, 24 teams remain in the Champions League, with the top eight already in the Round of 16, leaving the rest to battle it out in a playoff round for the other eight spots.
Some European heavyweights like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain had below-par performances in the league phase and find themselves in the playoffs, while relative minnows like Celtic, Feyenoord, and Club Brugge did exceedingly well to make it past the first stage.
Stade Brestois 29 vs Paris Saint-Germain FC
Two French sides with completely different emotions. Brest, in their first-ever Champions League campaign, have progressed to the knockouts, while PSG, after a timid start, won three on the bounce to finish 15th in the 36-team table.
Both teams have already played each other in Ligue 1 twice, with the Parisians coming on top on both the occasions. They won the home tie 3-1 early in the season, while in the reverse fixture, played quite recently, Luis Enrique’s men put in a great performance in the second half to come away 5-2 victors.
Coming into this two-legged tie, PSG should have too much quality for their fellow French opponents and should easily breeze past them into the last 16.
Prediction: Brest 1-5 PSG
Manchester City FC vs Real Madrid CF
Both these clubs had a disappointing league phase and paid the ultimate price by drawing each other. While Real Madrid made the playoffs rather comfortably, Pep Guardiola’s men were 45 minutes away from elimination altogether before a solid second-half against Club Brugge saved their blushes.
While going up against Los Blancos has always been a daunting task for any opposition, City’s recent struggles suggest it’ll be an even more difficult tie for them. Real Madrid are known for their slow starts and ability to pick up pace as soon as the knockouts come around. Moreover, looking at City’s recent loss to Arsenal in the Premier League, the defending UCL champions seem to have all the tools they need to take advantage of City’s sluggishness.
Prediction: Man City 2-4 Real Madrid
Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund
Sporting have been far from their best since Rúben Amorim left them to join Manchester United. After his departure, they lost 5-1 to Arsenal, lost 2-1 against both Club Brugge and RB Leipzig, and drew their final UCL first stage fixture against Bologna 1-1 to narrowly scrape in on goal difference.
Borussia Dortmund, on the other hand, recently sacked Nuri Sahin following poor performances. Niko Kovac has been brought in as Sahin’s replacement, which should result in a few favourable outcomes early on as opposition teams slowly catch up to their tactics.
Despite the recent struggles of both these sides, we believe BVB should comfortably come out of this tie and progress to the last 16.
Prediction: Sporting CP 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
Also read: UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Sponsors
Juventus FC vs PSV Eindhoven
Juventus have found it difficult to convert draws into wins. Despite their tight defensive structure under Thiago Motta, for the Old Lady goals have been hard to come by. They are out of the Serie A title race already largely due to their inability to win games, having drawn 13 out of their 23 league games. During the UCL first stage, Juve scored just nine goals in their eight matches, only making the playoffs due to their defensive structure.
PSV, on the other hand, have played a free-flowing, attacking brand of football throughout the league phase. Their unlikely win against a heavily-rotated Liverpool side in the final Gameweek saw them finish 14th in the table.
Interestingly, these two sides have already faced each other in the league phase, with Juventus winning the home tie 3-1. Although the Bianconeri have since struggled for goals, their solid defence should be able to carry them through to the last 16.
Prediction: Juventus 2-1 PSV
Club Brugge KV vs Atalanta BC
Despite capitulating in the second half of their game against Manchester City, the Belgian club narrowly escaped elimination by securing the final playoff spot on goal difference. They’ve shown promise this season, with impressive wins against Aston Villa and Sporting at home.
Atalanta, on the other hand, have been playing exciting football but have somewhat tailed off recently, which has resulted in them finishing ninth in the UCL table and slipping to third in the Serie A, seven points behind leaders Inter.
Looking at this tie in isolation, Atalanta should have enough firepower to see off this tie without breaking much sweat.
Prediction: Club Brugge 1-4 Atalanta
Celtic FC vs FC Bayern Munich
Celtic are having a fantastic season. They are currently sitting 10 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since the 2012/13 season. An impressive 3-1 win against RB Leipzig at home and a 0-0 draw away from home against Atalanta were the highlights of their impressive league stage journey.
Bayern, on the other hand, for all their attacking prowess under Vincent Kompany, have a soft underbelly and are vulnerable at the back. Despite their five wins in the first stage, Bayern lost away ties against Feyenoord, Barcelona, and Aston Villa.
That being said, the gulf in quality between the two sets of players in this match-up is huge. Over two legs, Bayern should comfortably win this tie.
Prediction: Celtic 1-4 Bayern Munich
Feyenoord Rotterdam vs AC Milan
Feyenoord have been rather unpredictable this season. They rallied back from a three-goal deficit against Manchester City to snatch a draw at the Etihad Stadium and schooled Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich at their own backyard with a 3-0 thumping. However, they also started their campaign with 0-4 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen and ended their league phase with a 6-1 loss to French club Lille.
Milan, on the other hand, after starting their campaign with back-to-back defeats against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, went on a five-game winning run before Dinamo Zagreb thwarted their automatic progression hopes with a shock 2-1 victory on the final day. Like their Dutch opponents, the Rossoneri have also been inconsistent throughout this season both in the Serie A and the European front, making this a hard tie to predict.
Given their European heritage, however, we give the Milan a slight advantage.
Prediction: Feyenoord 3-4 Milan
AS Monaco vs SL Benfica
One of the three Pot 4 teams to qualify into the knockouts, Monaco gave a good account of themselves with quality victories against the likes of Aston Villa and Barça. They finished the league phase with four wins and a draw, ending 17th in the table on goal difference.
On the other hand, after starting their campaign with two wins in two, Benfica could only manage four points from their next five games, managing to secure knockout qualification on the final day with a massive 2-0 away at Juventus.
On paper, this should be a close match, though Monaco have a knack for conceding self-inflicted goals, having already conceded ten so far this season. Their defensive vulnerability gives Benfica the edge.
Prediction: Monaco 2-3 Benfica
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