Champions League Matchday 8 Preview

Last Updated on January 26, 2026 3:16 pm by Erwin Noguera

The final matchday of the Champions League group stage will be played, with teams battling for direct qualification spots to the next round and places in the playoffs.

Barcelona are currently outside the top eight, but if they defeat København, they have a strong chance of qualifying directly.

Another team outside the top eight is Manchester City, who were recently stunned and now must beat Galatasaray, who could drop out of the playoff zone with a loss.

There are also two very key matchups: one between PSG and Newcastle, who sit sixth and seventh respectively, with the loser falling out of the top eight. On the other hand, Napoli, currently 25th and provisionally eliminated, will host Chelsea, who are holding the eighth place and the last direct qualification.

At Gambyl Exchange, you can explore all the predictions for the UEFA Champions League, the final bets for this Matchday, and the odds for each match.

Champions League Weekly Picks Betting Odds

Champions League Matchday 8: Barcelona vs. Kobenhavn

Barcelona comes into this match with the obligation to win. They are ninth with 13 points and a goal difference of +5. They know that a victory could put them into the top eight, as two teams currently in that group face each other, but if another team from below wins by a better margin, they could still be overtaken. Last week, they defeated Slavia Praha 2–4, and this weekend they beat Real Oviedo 3–0. With 13 goals conceded, they have the worst defense among the top 15 teams.

København are walking a tightrope. With eight points, they sit 26th and are currently eliminated due to goal difference. They must win and hope that some of the teams above them lose. They are unbeaten in their last three matches in the competition, winning two and drawing the most recent one at home against Napoli despite playing with ten men from the 35th minute after Thomas Delaney was sent off.

Barcelona vs. Kobenhavn Betting Pick: Barcelona

Champions League Matchday 8: Manchester City vs. Galatasaray

Manchester City comes off a surprise loss to Bodo/Glimt, who defeated them 3-1 in Norway, dropping the ‘Citizens’ to 11th place with 13 points. They must win by a solid goal margin to qualify directly, as there are five teams ahead of them with the same number of points. Erling Haaland is going through a negative run, scoring just one goal, from the penalty spot, in his last nine matches.

Galatasaray needs a win to feel comfortable about securing a spot in the playoffs. They sit 17th with 10 points, two more than Napoli, who are currently the first team outside the qualification places. They are coming off a 1-1 home draw against Atletico Madrid and are now three matches without a win, having picked up just one point in that stretch. This weekend, they won 1-3 in the Turkish league and remain the leaders.

Manchester City vs. Galatasaray Betting Pick: Manchester City

Champions League Matchday 8: Napoli vs. Chelsea

Napoli are in trouble. With eight points and a goal difference of -5, they sit 25th and are currently being eliminated from the Champions League, which would be an embarrassment for the club. They are winless in their last two matches, picking up just one point, both on the road, and are coming off a 1-1 draw against Kobenhavn despite playing for an hour with a man advantage. This weekend, they suffered a 3-0 loss to Juventus in Serie A.

Chelsea must win no matter what. They are eighth, holding the final direct spot to the next round. However, teams down to 13th have the same number of points, so any result, even a narrow win, could knock them out.They are coming off a 1-0 win over Pafos and a 1-3 victory against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, but away from home in the competition, they have just one of nine possible points.

Napoli vs. Chelsea Betting Pick: Draw

Champions League Matchday 8: PSG vs. Newcastle

This will be a key match full of high stakes, where the winner advances and the loser is eliminated. Paris Saint-Germain sit sixth with 13 points, a +10 goal difference and 20 goals scored, while Newcastle are seventh with the same number of points and goal difference, but with 16 goals scored. From the sixth to the 13th, everyone has 13 points, and even 18th-placed Qarabag still has a chance with 10 points.

PSG are coming off a surprise loss to Sporting Lisboa, who beat them 2-1, and then had to grind it out in Ligue 1 but edged Auxerre 0-1. At home, they defeated Tottenham and Atalanta, while losing to Bayern.

Meanwhile, the ‘Magpies’ are coming off a 3-0 win over PSV in the UCL, but this weekend they fell 0-2 to Aston Villa in the Premier League. They have just one win in their last five matches. As visitors, they beat USG, then lost to Marseille and drew with Bayer Leverkusen.

PSG vs. Newcastle Betting Pick: PSG