Some of the biggest clubs in the world were pushed into the first knockout phase of the 24/25 UEFA Champions League, as AC Milan, Bayern Munich, and Benfica are among the teams participating. We have previews and predictions for every match on Wednesday on another big European football night.
AC Milan at Feyenoord
A battle of former Champions League winners, Feyenoord has stood up against some bigger, favored clubs to reach this stage of the tournament, but they will need a home win to have a real shot of advancing against one of the biggest Italian clubs, AC Milan. Igor Paixao is the key man for Feyenoord now in the attack, as their star striker Santiago Gimenez, Mexico’s finest player, was transferred to AC Milan and will line up against his former teammates in this game. AC Milan made some significant transfers in the January window, including bringing in Kyle Walker and Joao Felix, AC Milan is fighting to improve on their 7th place position in Serie A, but their opponents sit at 5th in the Dutch League. While this Milan squad is still gelling, the CONCACAF attack of Pulisic and Gimenez, along with the flashes of talent from Felix is going to be tough for Feyenoord to defend against. I expect them to go down fighting as AC Milan has gained momentum. Prediction: AC Milan 3 Feyenoord 1
Bayern Munich at Celtic
One of Europe’s most decorated clubs Bayern Munich, travel to Glasgow to take on Scotland’s finest in Celtic. Both teams are dominating in their domestic leagues once again, having only lost one league game each, but Champions League glory would mean more. In terms of squad valuation, Bayern Munich are facing a minnow, but Celtic fought hard in the group stage of the CL to reach this point and they will want to give themselves a shot at victory when they travel to Munich next week. Bayern Munich have been fantastic in Munich but poor away so this is Celtic’s shot. Kyogo Furuhashi will be missed, as he transferred to Reims in January, after leading Celtic in goals this season. Lined up against Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala leading the Bayern attack this should be a rather lopsided game as Bayern won’t want to leave any doubt after the first leg. Prediction: Bayern Munich 4 Celtic 1
Club Brugge at Atalanta
Club Brugge have punched above their weight at times in the Champions League, but facing the team that currently sits #3 in Italy, Atalanta on the road is going to be tough. These teams finished far apart in the group stage standings, with Atalanta just outside the top 8, and Brugge the last team into this phase. Brugge is productive offensively but has been on a cold streak overall, which included conceding late goals to lose to lose against Antwerp in the first game of February. Charles De Ketelaere, one of Brugge’s finest talents, will line up against his old team and similar to the Santiago Gimenez situation, he should be a great contributor for his new team Atalanta. Brugge is well drilled defensively but look for Atalanta to crack their defences at least once and head to Belgium with the lead in hand. Prediction: Atalanta 1 Club Brugge 0
Benfica at AS Monaco
After their rivals Sporting CP were embarrassed against Dortmund in the first leg on Tuesday, Benfica, currently 2nd in Portugal, will look to restore the honor of Portugese football when they travel to the principality to take on AS Monaco, who sit 4th in Ligue 1. Benfica faced Monaco during the group stages and went home 3-2 winners at this same venue, that result would suit them well as they host the second leg.
Monaco has preferred starters injured in every phase of the lineup, including Lamine Camara, Benfica’s veteran leader Angel Di Maria should be ready to go for the Eagles, who on paper have enough of a squad to avoid defeat here, and ideally go for the win to give Monaco long odds to advance. Prediction: Benfica 2 AS Monaco 1
Main Photo Credit: IMAGO / justpictures.ch
