The UEFA Champions League group stage enters its final two rounds of matches after a 20-day break for international football, all attention will be on which teams qualify for the next round. This will not only impact the competition itself but also other international tournaments in the current and upcoming seasons.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, next season's Champions League, and this season's Europa League knockout rounds are all up for grabs at the moment. This adds an extra incentive for teams that have already secured a spot in the round of 16, such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Real Sociedad, and Leipzig, to continue striving for the best possible results. Similarly, even the six teams that have been eliminated - Benfica, Red Star Belgrade, Antwerp, Salzburg, Union Berlin, and Young Boys - have a stake in these upcoming matches.
For the remaining clubs, their main priority will be to secure one of the 10 remaining places in the Champions League round-of-16 draw, which will take place on December 18.
As the renowned European club football competition resumes, make sure to mark your calendars for these five captivating matches:
1. AC Milan vs Borussia Dortmund (Tuesday, November 28)
Group F is an unpredictable battleground, where Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Newcastle all have a chance to clinch any position from first to last. With a mere three-point gap between the four teams, this match becomes crucial. A victory for Dortmund could secure their spot in the next round, but if the Italian giants emerge victorious, the group will become even more thrillingly open.
2. Newcastle United vs PSG (Tuesday, November 28)
Tuesday, November 28th sees Newcastle United face off against PSG in a highly anticipated match. In their previous encounter at St James' Park, Newcastle stunned PSG with a 4-1 victory. However, Newcastle's fortunes have taken a turn for the worse as they have suffered consecutive defeats to Borussia Dortmund, resulting in a slide from the top to the bottom of the standings. If they fail to secure a win against PSG, it would jeopardize their chances of reaching the last 16.
On the other hand, PSG currently sits in second place in a tightly contested Group F, just one point behind leaders Dortmund. AC Milan and Newcastle are also in the mix for the knockout rounds, with only three points separating the four teams. The outcome of this match could potentially have a significant impact on the final standings of the group.
3. Barcelona vs FC Porto (Tuesday, November 28)
Another crucial match taking place on Tuesday is Barcelona's clash with FC Porto. A victory for Barcelona would be sufficient to secure their spot in the knockout rounds. This is especially crucial for them, as they have faced consecutive eliminations in the group stage in previous seasons.
However, even with a win, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez may still face pressure, as the team's recent performances have been lackluster. Barcelona's advancement to the knockout stage will also be secured with a draw, provided that Shakhtar do not defeat Antwerp in the other Group H match. Barcelona has struggled to find their footing since the departure of Lionel Messi, failing to progress beyond the group stage in the two seasons following his departure.
4. Galatasaray vs Manchester United (Wednesday, November 29)
The race for second place in Group A is extremely close, with Manchester United, Galatasaray, and Copenhagen all vying for the spot behind group leaders Bayern. The upcoming match between Galatasaray and Manchester United is crucial for both teams, as a loss could jeopardize their chances of advancing to the next round and mean no European football in February.
5. Real Madrid vs Napoli (Wednesday, November 29)
Another important Champions League game this week is between Real Madrid and Napoli. A win for Napoli at Madrid, who have already secured their spot in the next round, would guarantee their advancement. However, they may have to wait until their final match against Braga to secure their place in the last 16.
Currently, Real Madrid leads Group C with 12 points, while Napoli is in second place with five points. Napoli can secure their spot in the next round by either defeating Real Madrid in Spain or matching Braga's result against Union Berlin.
