Champions League: previews and predictions for the playoff round

Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are among the teams fighting for a place in the last 16. By Ben McAleer for WhoScored. Familiar foes face off in the first Champions League playoff game this week as Brest take on PSG at the Stade de Roudourou​ in Guingamp.​ Brest’s ground did not meet Uefa’s requirements, so they will continue to play at the home of their local rivals. The Bretons will hope to extend their fine debut run in the Champions League, and they have won their last two matches, beating Troyes in the Coupe de France and Nantes in Ligue 1.

The downside, though, is that they have lost back-to-back home games, the most recent of which was against PSG, who eased to a 5-2 win at the start of the month. Éric Roy is without the services of left-backs Bradley Locko and Jordan Amavi, so expect Massadio Haidara to start. Jonas Martin is also expected to miss out, while Romain Del Castillo has a knee issue, with Romain Faivre and Mama Balde battling to deputise on the right.

Warren Zaïre-Emery is missing for the Ligue 1 leaders but PSG have ample strength in depth to cover for his absence. Osumane Dembélé will be hoping to continue his rampant form. He scored twice in PSG’s 4-1 win against Monaco at the weekend, meaning he has scored 13 goals in 2025, already matching his tally for the entirety of 2024. Prediction: PSG to progress. The powerhouse tie of the playoffs. One European giant will fall by the wayside before the month is out as Manchester City take on Real Madrid. City came from behind to book a spot in the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday at Leyton Orient’s expense, a vital victory to build momentum and confidence following their 5-1 mauling at Arsenal the week before.

Nico González, Ederson, Nathan Aké and Jeremy Doku have all trained this week, leaving Rodri as City’s only confirmed injury absentee. The Ballon d’Or winner has been named in the club’s Champions League squad for the second half of the season, prompting speculation ​that he could return sooner than expected.​. The playoff draw, though, has not been kind to City. Real Madrid, the reigning European champions, boast a front three of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappé​ that has amassed 59 goals this season​. As Pep Guardiola said in the buildup to the game, containing the Real attack for the whole tie will be “impossible”.

The issue for Carlo Ancelotti is at the back. Real are without defenders Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez, meaning midfielder​ Aurélien Tchouaméni is likely to partner Raul Asencio at the heart of the defence with Fede Valverde at right-back.​ Real are vulnerable at the back but they are frightening going forward. Prediction: Real Madrid to progress.

The Old Lady has a spring in her step as Juve gear up to welcome PSV to Turin. After a three-game winless run, Juventus have claimed back-to-back victories, beating Empoli and Como to get their top-four pursuit back on track. January signing Randal Kolo Muani has been a breath of fresh air, scoring five league goals in just three outings for the Italian side; only Dusan Vlahovic (eight) has netted more for Thiago Motta’s side this season.

Kolo Muani, along with fellow January arrivals Lloyd Kelly and Renato Veiga, have been added to the club’s Champions League squad, and the trio may be needed from the outset. Left-back Andrea Cambiaso, who was linked with a move to Manchester City last month, is a doubt, while fellow defenders Bremer, Juan Cabal and Pierre Kalulu all miss the meeting with Eredivisie leaders PSV. The Dutch side have their fair share of concerns. Defenders Oscar Boscagli and Richard Ledezma are missing due to injury, with the absence of the former a huge blow. Forward pair Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi are also sidelined, though Peter Bosz can at last call upon Ivan Perisic after he joined too late to be included in their Champions League squad for the league phase. Loan signing Tyrell Malacia may also feature at left-back following Matteo Dams’ move to Saudi side Al Ahli. Prediction: Juventus to progress.

Sporting have struggled since Ruben Amorim’s departure. They remain top of the Primeira Liga but their 1-1 draw with Porto at the weekend means their lead has been cut to just four points. They have been inconsistent under Rui Borges, winning just two of their last five matches. Sporting have issues in midfield. Morten Hjulmand misses the first leg meeting with Borussia Dortmund due to a ban, and João Simões was forced off at the weekend, meaning Zeno Debast should partner Hidemasa Morita in the middle of the park. Nuno Santos, Pote and Geny Catamo are also injured, but star striker Viktor Gyökeres is back.

Borussia Dortmund were beaten by Stuttgart at the weekend, continuing a poor run of form. They are 11th in the Bundesliga, having lost as many matches as they have won this season. The good news is that centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck is back after a ban. New arrival Carney Chukwuemeka will have to wait a little longer to make his debut due to injury, and he is joined by Felix Nmecha and Niklas Sule on the sidelines.