. 29 with 18 games kicking off at 3 p.m. ET. / IMAGO/GEPA pictures
Champions League predictions are in for the final day of the league phase as 24 teams will move on to the next stage of the competition. Eight of those 24 will earn a direct bye to the round of 16, while the other 16 battle it out in a two-legged playoff to advance. The remaining 12 teams will be eliminated with no consolation of dropping into the Europa League. SI Soccer gives our predictions across the full slate of 18 matches with all the action kicking off at 3 p.m. ET.
Prediction: PSV 1-3 Liverpool
Arne Slot’s side completes a perfect league phase with eight wins out of eight moving on to the round of 16 as the top team. An extremely promising and dominant showing from the Dutchman’s debut in the Champions League as Liverpool boss.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 4-1 Slovan Bratislava
Bayern Munich need some help to secure a spot in the round of 16, but winless Bratislava offers an opportunity to inflate their goal difference as well given teams like Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta have a better record in that department.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Dortmund might be level on points with teams like Real Madrid, Juventus and Bayern, but the Bundesliga side is only second to Barcelona in terms of league phase goals scored with 19. They get the job done with a shot at potentially finishing in the top eight.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Sparta Praha
Xabi Alonso’s mission is simple: win and you’re in the top eight. Sparta Praha, already eliminated, have the fourth worst goal differential (-12) conceding 19 goals so far in the league phase. A draw or worse would risk teams like Aston Villa, Monaco, Feyenoord and more leapfrogging Leverkusen in the standings.
Prediction: Girona 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal’s attacking deficiencies have been well documented since Bukayo Saka’s injury, but the Gunners have been near perfect defensively …
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