Champions League Matchday 8 Predictions: 18 Matches, One Final Chance—Your Ultimate Betting Guide

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• The CL Matchday 8 kicks off on Wednesday, with synchronized kick-off times for all 36 teams.
• The action begins on Wednesday, January 28, at 21:00 CET.
• UCL top 8 qualification odds are open for all except for the top few teams.
• With knockout stage play-offs in reach for lower-ranked teams, there will be plenty of unique betting opportunities in the BetPlays sports betting lobby.

The Champions League first phase is coming to an end in a chaotic, yet exciting way. All 36 teams will play on the same night and the same time tomorrow evening, closing out the league phase in a whirlwind of chaos and opportunities. Our Champions League matchday 8 predictions are coming up early, as there’s plenty of ground to cover involving some of Europe’s top teams.

There are plenty of implications for UCL Top 7 qualification odds for team such as Barca, PSG, Liverpool, and more. Some have already secured a spot in the top 8, others will have to go through the playoffs. Some teams are already out; others will have a chance to secure knockout stage play-offs if results go their way. Read the detailed BetPlays Champions League guide for the simultaneous kick-off chaos and learn the hances for the top teams.

The Master Schedule & Odds Table

Here’s the preview of the matches coming tomorrow, January 28. We’ve added fixed odds for home and away wins as well as the draw for you to review ahead.

Source: BetPlays. Odds are subject to change.

The Must-Win Scenarios

A lot is at stake in the CL Matchday 8, with major teams including reigning champ PSG on the brink of the playoffs. The Parisians need a win against Newcastle to keep their UCL Top 8 qualification odds and hopes alive. If they fail, other teams can leapfrog them, which means the champion must defend its title the harder way.

Barcelona is in a win-now situation, too, with the Blaugrana needing more than 2 goals for some comfort. The team has much better quality than Copenhagen, but the Danish team is fighting for the knockout rounds, too.

PSG vs Newcastle

One of the top games for the final matchday of the CL this year. PSG sits in 6^th place while Newcastle is right behind it at 7^th. Both clubs are aiming for a top 8 spot and automatic qualification.

Playing at Parc des Princes, PSG has the upper hand at home. Regardless of the struggles, this is the reigning European champ, and realistically, the team has much better quality than Newcastle.

The English club is not without its chances, and will be looking to shock PSG from the get go. Still, most UCL league phase scenarios see Paris Saint-Germain overcoming this obstacle, which is the only way to secure a top 8 spot.

Barcelona vs FC Copenhagen

If there’s one team that has a final on its hands during the simultaneous kick-off chaos, it’s Barcelona. Hansi Flick said so after the previous match, as Barcelona needs a win to break into the top 8. Even then, the Blaugrana must wait for other results. Goal difference tiebreakers will mean a lot, so Barcelona needs to win by at least a couple of goals to qualify for the top 8.

Considering Barca’s defensive concerns, backing them to win and both teams to score seems logical. The UCL Top 8 qualification odds for the Blaugrana are high, but Copenhagen has chances as well. The win against Villareal in the previous round gave the Danish outfit chances for the playoffs.

It’ll be interesting to see how UCL league phase scenarios play out for this match, where both teams are looking to book their spot in the knockout round.

Monaco vs Juventus

Juventus is on a roll in the CL, having won 4 out of the last 5 matches. The Turin outfit also secured a much-needed wing against Napoli in Serie A, winning 3-0 at home.

Monaco is struggling, having lost 6-1 to Real Madrid in the CL Matchday 7. The team has not won any of its last 5 matches in all competitions, but will be buoyed by the home advantage.

Quality is on Juventus’ side, and a win could mean automatic qualification for the Bianconeri. Monaco might survive with a loss, too, but it seems highly unlikely. Overall, Juventus should put away the French squad in this one, with a strong position in our Champions League Matchday 8 predictions.

Napoli vs Chelsea

Napoli has been struggling mightily in Europe, sitting on the brink of elimination. The goal in the match against Chelsea is clear – a win is a must. Other results are important, too, for the Serie A champions to progress.

Premier League side Chelsea has calculations of its own. With a new coach, Liam Rosenior, who prefers an attacking mentality, Chelsea will be looking for an away win. The team is currently on the 8^th spot, and a win here would likely send it automatically to the last 16.

It’s a match where backing up European football betting markets such as BTTS works best. It should be an open and exciting game, where both teams can claim the win.

Benfica vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid is all but qualified for the knockout round, currently sitting in third place. Benfica can progress to the playoffs, too, but the chances are slim. The loss against Juventus last week hurt Jose Mourinho’s chances of appearing in the playoffs, and the match against Los Blancos couldn’t arrive at a worse time.

Real won in dominant fashion against Monaco last week, and will be looking for a strong performance as well. Los Blancos would most likely go for the goal early, but Benfica is a tricky opponent at home. A real win and both teams to score and over 3 goals seems a good choice here. The UCL top 8 qualification odds aren’t ideal for Mourinho’s team, but if anyone can play a chess-match and go for the win in clutch matches, it’s him.

Inter vs Dortmund

Inter was on top of the League phase standings for a while. However, three consecutive losses has pushed it out of the top 8. The Italian side will most likely progress to the knockout rounds, but it needs a good result away against Borussia Dortmund.

Borussia is sitting below Inter, and will be looking for at least a draw to progress via the knockout stage playoffs. Our Champions League Matchday 8 predictions suggest a close match that might end in a draw. That’s a result both teams will most likely be satisfied by, although depending on other results, there’s a chance that Dortmund slips out.

This is one of the rare matches where Champions League betting tips Wednesday suggest a draw, maybe even a goalless one. Both teams will be on the defensive, although Borussia’s free-scoring tactics and solid pressing will make things hard for Inter.

Top 5 Expert Picks for Wednesday

• Look for over 3.5 goals for Barcelona vs Copenhagen. The Blaugrana needs to boost its goal difference to overtake the teams in front.
• PSG vs Newcastle looks like a solid BTTS pick. It’s a match with high stakes and both teams will be looking to score.
• For Monaco vs Juventus, look for Jonathan David to score. He has 3 goals in his last 4 Serie A starts, and he knows the Ligue 1 pretty well.
• Over 2.5 goals seems like a lock for Napoli vs Chelsea. Both teams have their own calculations and will be looking to score in a match that could end with plenty of goals.
• For Inter vs Dortmund, a draw seems likely. Our Champions League Matchday 8 predictions suggest over 1.5 goals as an alternative, in a match where both teams could benefit from a stalemate without risking too much.

The Dead Rubber Warning

While some teams need points and goals, others have already booked their spot. Arsenal, for example, has secured a top 2 position, so heavy rotation in these matches is likely.

This opens up soccer betting opportunities like handicaps and a chance for underdogs. The same can be said for Bayern who’s second and plays PSV away from home. Favorites that have already qualified will be looking to rest players and may field younger squads, presenting opportunities for the underdogs.

Final Thoughts on Our Champions League Matchday 8 Predictions

As the regular season of the 2025-2026 Champions League come to play, there are many UCL league phase scenarios Canadian bettors should consider. The stakes are high even for major European teams, as some, like Barca, are aiming for automatic qualification.

While backing up heavyweights such as Manchester City or Real Madrid doesn’t offer the best value, teams in the survival bubble like Napoli are fighting to avoid elimination. Their odds are higher and offer much better betting opportunities.

With all kick-off times synchronized on Wednesday, live betting markets will be volatile. Any goal in any match can change the layout on the table and drive the odds even higher. We suggest looking at the BetPlays Champions League guide in detail for Matchday 8 before placing your wagers in the sports betting section.

Make sure to keep your push notifications on – any change on the pitch affects the UCL top 8 qualification odds.