Under the new Champions League format, the most important novelty is the introduction of playoff rounds. While the league’s top eight teams directly qualify, the rest of the 24 qualified teams play a play-off round before facing a Top 8 team. As this is all new, it can be difficult to navigate the fixtures: we have picked the three most exciting clashes of the playoffs.
Top Champions League prediction №1. Manchester City vs Real Madrid, 11.02.2025
When the season started, nobody expected these two teams to land in the playoffs. While Real Madrid have improved in the last weeks, Manchester City qualified with an unconvincing win over Brugge (3-1). There are new transfers that bring hope (like Abukodir Khusanov, who scored in the FA Cup), but this is unlikely to suffice against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Both coaches have been criticized this season, despite Real Madrid occupying first place in La Liga. However, the 1-0 defeat against Espanyol, as well as the 1-1 draw against Atlético, led to harsh criticism from fans, who believe Carlo Ancelotti should be doing better in spite of the injuries.
Back at home for some #UCL action 🔜🏡 pic.twitter.com/vKbfuSkSc7
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 9, 2025
Manchester City also need to progress in the Champions League, as they sit in 5th place in the Premier League. The season has been a disaster by Pep Guardiola’s standards, and he has seemed helpless since Rodri’s injury.
Both teams need a victory. A defeat would put an end to their team’s season in the Champions League, which would undoubtedly endanger the positions of Guardiola and Ancelotti.
✨ @Camavinga ✨ pic.twitter.com/G6OuxM7ebA
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 9, 2025
Although Real Madrid have struggled with injuries, their attack should guarantee the victory.
Kylian Mbappé has excelled since his breakthrough as a fast attacker, something that Manchester City have to be wary of. If Madrid want to win, they need to attack where they have the advantage.
Carlo Ancelotti can also count on an impressive Raul Asencio, who has stepped up in the absence of Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militao.
Pick: Real Madrid to win (+185)
Top Champions League prediction №2. Sporting vs Borussia Dortmund, 11.02.2025
Dortmund recently sacked head coach Nuri Sahin and appointed former Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovač. The first match under his guidance ended in a 2-1 defeat, which means Dortmund have only won one match in the last five in the Bundesliga (against Heidenheim).
They now rank 11th, making it one of the worst seasons domestically in the last few years. Dortmund’s inconsistency makes this an exciting clash. They defeated Shakhtar Donetsk (3-1) in their last Champions League match after losing to Bologna (2-1).
De olhos postos no embate europeu ⭐️ #UCL pic.twitter.com/ib3Hl61x17
— Sporting CP (@SportingCP) February 9, 2025
Sporting, on the other hand, surprised the world when they defeated Manchester City (4-1), with star striker Viktor Gyökeres scoring a hat-trick back in November 2024. At that time, Manchester City’s struggles were still believed to be only linked to Rodri’s absence.
Sporting already showed in that match that City’s highline was vulnerable without the Spanish midfielder. They also defeated weaker teams like Sturm Graz and Lille, while losing to Club Brugge and Arsenal.
Given Dortmund’s struggles and recent coaching change, Sporting are fortunate to face the German team in a time of crisis, where their inconsistency may be an advantage for the Portuguese side.
Building momentum 💪 pic.twitter.com/eoiOvBO8vn
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 8, 2025
The two teams have already played each other four times in the Champions League, with Dortmund winning three and Sporting only winning one. This victory came in their most recent meeting, when Sporting won 3-1 in November 2021.
This match will be more difficult for Sporting due to the suspension of Morten Hjulmand, as well as the injuries of Geny Catamo, João Simões, Nuno Santos and Pedro Gonçalves. For Dortmund, Felix Nmecha and Carney Chukwuemeka will be sidelined due to injury.
Pick: Sporting to win (+127)
Top Champions League prediction №3. AS Monaco vs Benfica, 12.02.2025
When it comes to playoffs, the ideal scenario is to have two teams face each other with similar rankings in the Champions League table in the group stages. AS Monaco vs Benfica is that tie, as both teams ranked in mid-table places, almost equal in most parameters.
Monaco started strongly with a 2-1 victory over Barcelona, but the team has been inconsistent for the rest of the campaign. The business model of Monaco makes it a club with a young squad, which explains the lack of consistency.
Defeat.
Time to focus on the @ChampionsLeague.
4⃣-1⃣ #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/qTWmSL1V8P
— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) February 7, 2025
However, coach Adolf Hütter ensures the team plays a dynamic brand of football, risky but usually worth the gamble. His team defeated Aston Villa (1-0) in their last Champions League match but lost to Arsenal (3-0) and drew with Dinamo Zagreb (2-2).
Bruno Lage’s Benfica are more experienced, with the squad including Argentinians Nicolas Otamendi and Ángel Di Maria. However, this has not stopped the team from struggling defensively, as seen against Barcelona (5-4). The team was two goals up by half-time, but a lack of concentration allowed the Catalans to come back.
🫡©#SLBMFC • #LigaPortugalBetclic pic.twitter.com/PAtOteZpxh
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) February 9, 2025
Benfica were unable to find the win against Bologna (0-0), lost to Feyenoord (1-3) but outclassed Atlético (4-0). They are undoubtedly a team to keep an eye on, despite the inconsistent results.
Benfica and Monaco were already drawn together in the group stage earlier this season. Benfica won 3-2 in late November, their first meeting in 10 years. Before that, Benfica won a two-legged tie in 2014.
The match is expected to be a high-scoring affair, but Benfica’s experience in European competitions is likely to give them the edge on Wednesday.
Pick: Benfica to win (+195)
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