Napoli host Chelsea in a must-win match for both sides
A few old friends become foes at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday, as Napoli host Chelsea in a must-win match for both sides on the final matchday of the league phase of the Champions League.
Antonio Conte faces his former club knowing full well that his 25th-placed team need maximum points to avoid elimination from the competition, while the Blues realistically need to defeat the Partenopei to finish inside the coveted top eight.
A disappointing week went from bad to worse as Conte’s defending champions were crushed 3-0 by Juventus at Allianz Stadium, seeing them slip nine points behind league-leading Inter Milan in Serie A.
The defeat in Turin followed last week’s dismal draw with 10-man Copenhagen in the penultimate matchday of the league phase.
Although they sit outside the top 24 on goal difference, with five clubs on eight points, maximum points in Naples would enhance the Serie A club’s chances of advancing to the knockout phase playoffs.
The Blues are unlikely to be in a generous mood on Wednesday, as they are determined to secure automatic qualification for the first knockout round and avoid a dreaded playoff tie for a place in the last 16.
The Blues must overcome a poor record in visits to Italy in European competition, having won just two of 13 such matches and losing eight.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
PSG welcome Newcastle to the Parc des Princes
With a place in the last 16 on the line, Paris Saint-Germain will welcome Newcastle United to the Parc des Princes on matchday eight of the Champions League campaign.
Both sides are currently sitting in the top eight, each on 13 points, with the holders in sixth despite a 2-1 defeat at Sporting, and the Magpies sitting seventh, thanks to a 3-0 triumph over PSV.
Retaining their Champions League crown will be a little easier for Paris Saint-Germain with a victory on matchday eight this week.
Luis Enrique’s men just regained first place in Ligue 1 last weekend and a win on Wednesday would put them through to the last 16 of this tournament for a 14th consecutive occasion.
Les Parisiens have won two of their previous three Champions League affairs versus English opposition at the Parc des Princes and have not lost a group contest at home against a Premier League side since Manchester United beat them 2-1 in October 2020.
For the first time in club history, Newcastle will feature in the knockout phase of the Champions League, assuring themselves a place in the playoffs at worst with a win on matchday seven.
PSG have learned what it takes to come out on top in these big games, and the Magpies are still figuring out how to do that in Europe, which is why we expect the reigning champions to win a close one on Wednesday.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Dortmund, Inter clash to decide knockout places
Still fighting for a top-eight finish in this season’s league phase, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan will clash when the Champions League knockout places are decided on Wednesday.
Two former winners – and both beaten in recent finals – BVB and Inter are separated by a single point before the final matchday, with the Italian side just ahead of their German hosts.
Despite defeats last week, both Borussia Dortmund and Inter are on track for a playoff place, with Dortmund still sitting on 11 points, one behind this week’s visitors.
Losing 2-0 away to Tottenham Hotspur harmed BVB’s hopes of qualifying automatically for the last 16, leaving them 16th in the table with one game remaining.
So, Niko Kovac and co need several teams to slip up if they are to avoid the playoffs; likewise, it would take an improbable set of results for them to fall out of the top 24.
Without much fear of elimination, the German giants can go all out for their 100th win in Europe’s top competition, having been among the Champions League’s top entertainers this term.
After putting four goals past Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal and Copenhagen, they have found the net 19 times so far, and only Arsenal, Bayern Munich and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain have fared better.
Dortmund rarely lose at home, while Inter boast an excellent away record, so the points will be shared – sending either side into the knockout-round playoffs.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Barcelona host Copenhagen at Camp Nou
Barcelona will be aiming to qualify for the knockout round of the Champions League when they welcome Copenhagen to Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
The Catalan outfit are ninth in the Champions League table, level on points (13) with the three teams above them, while their opponents are down in 26th, with the Danish outfit bidding to secure a position in the knockout round playoffs to continue their journey in the competition.
Barcelona have a record of four wins, one draw and two defeats from their seven matches in the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League, with the Catalan outfit picking up 13 points, which has left them in ninth spot in the division, only just outside the qualification spots.
Hansi Flick‘s side, as it stands, will need to navigate their way through a knockout round playoff in order to reach the final 16, but they are level on points with eighth-placed Chelsea, seventh-placed Newcastle United and sixth-placed Paris Saint-Germain.
As expected, it is a complicated system when it comes to permutations for the final matchday, but Barcelona need a win to stand a chance of finishing in the top eight, so that will be the message from Flick – collect all three points and then see if that is enough.
Copenhagen are capable of making this a tricky match for Barcelona, with the visitors in excellent form in the Champions League, but the Catalan outfit should be able to navigate their way to a victory which could potentially be enough to finish in the top eight.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Athletic Club 20:00 Sporting CP
Atletico Madrid 20:00 Bodø / Glimt
Bayer Leverkusen 20:00 Villarreal
Borussia Dortmund 20:00 Inter Milan
Eintracht Frankfurt 20:00 Tottenham
Manchester City 20:00 Galatasaray
