African Players’ Performances in UEFA Matchday 8
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)
Hakimi played 70 minutes in PSG’s dominant 4-1 victory over Stuttgart. His defensive work was solid as he frequently surged forward, contributing to PSG’s attacking plays. Hakimi also registered an assist for PSG’s fourth goal and was a key figure in ensuring their progression to the knockout stage.
Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen, Nigeria)
Nathan Tella was influential in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 victory over Sparta Prague. The Nigerian forward was heavily involved in the attack, Scoring the second goal and constantly threatening the opposition’s defense with his movement and link-up play.
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Nigeria)
Onyedika was one of the brightest players for Club Brugge in their 3-1 loss to Manchester City. The Nigerian midfielder opened the scoring just before halftime, giving Brugge a brief lead before City mounted a comeback. He was impressive in the middle of the park, showing his ability to break up play and dictate possession.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
Salah did not feature in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven due to minor fitness concerns. His absence was felt as Liverpool struggled in attack and failed to secure a crucial win.
African players once again showcased their talent on the European stage, proving instrumental in many teams’ successes in the final matchday of the UEFA Champions League league phase.
The UEFA Champions League Extravaganza
The UEFA Champions League’s newly revamped league phase concluded on January 29, 2025, with dramatic finishes, breathtaking goals, and last-minute qualifications. With 36 teams battling through eight rounds of matches, the top eight have automatically progressed to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9-24 will contest in a two-legged knockout playoff for a place in the Last 16.
Let’s dive into the final matchday results, key talking points, the biggest winners and losers, and what to expect in the upcoming knockout stage!
Final Standings After Matchday 8 (January 30, 2025)
The teams that have secured automatic qualification to the Round of 16 are:
- Liverpool – 21 points
- Barcelona – 19 points
- Arsenal – 19 points
- Inter Milan – 19 points
- Atletico Madrid – 18 points
- Bayer Leverkusen – 16 points
- Lille – 16 points
- Aston Villa – 16 points
Meanwhile, teams finishing 9th-24th will fight through a playoff round:
- Atalanta – 15 pts
- Borussia Dortmund – 15 pts
- Real Madrid – 15 pts
- Bayern Munich – 15 pts
- AC Milan – 15 pts
- PSV Eindhoven – 14 pts
- Paris Saint-Germain – 13 pts
- Benfica – 13 pts
- AS Monaco – 13 pts
- Brest – 13 pts
- Feyenoord – 13 pts
- Juventus – 12 pts
- Celtic – 12 pts
- Manchester City – 11 pts
- Sporting Lisbon – 11 pts
- Club Brugge – 11 pts
Teams ranked 25th and below have been eliminated and will not feature in European competition for the rest of the season.
Matchday 8 Recap: Biggest Results & Talking Points
Manchester City Survive Brugge Scare (Man City 3-1 Club Brugge)
Manchester City needed a victory to keep their Champions League hopes alive, and despite a shaky performance, they delivered. Goals from Mateo Kovacic and substitute Savinho, plus a Brugge own goal, secured City’s passage into the knockout playoffs.
Lille Humiliate Feyenoord to Secure Last 16 Spot (Lille 6-1 Feyenoord)
Lille produced the performance of the round, thrashing a hapless Feyenoord side. This stunning victory ensured their direct qualification into the Round of 16.
Atletico Madrid Crush RB Salzburg to Secure Top 8 (RB Salzburg 1-4 Atletico Madrid)
Atletico Madrid delivered a commanding performance in Austria. Antoine Griezmann scored twice as they sealed their automatic spot.
AC Milan Fall Short Despite Pulisic’s Effort (Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 AC Milan)
AC Milan needed a win to automatically qualify, but a stunning late goal from Dinamo Zagreb means they must now go through the knockout playoff round.
Dembele Hat-trick Inspires PSG Past Stuttgart (Stuttgart 1-4 PSG)
Ousmane Dembele was the star of the show as PSG secured a crucial win, keeping their Champions League hopes alive.
Arsenal’s Late Show Seals Round of 16 Place (Girona 1-2 Arsenal)
Trailing 1-0, Arsenal completed a stunning comeback with late goals from Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri, confirming their spot in the Last 16.
Barcelona Blow Chance to Finish Top (Barcelona 2-2 Atalanta)
Barcelona missed the chance to finish top of the standings after conceding late against Atalanta. However, they were already safely into the Round of 16.
Inter Milan’s Captain Fantastic – Martinez Hits Hat-trick (Inter Milan 3-0 Monaco)
Lautaro Martinez scored a brilliant hat-trick as Inter Milan breezed past Monaco.
Conclusion
With the group stage wrapped up, we now look forward to the high-stakes knockout rounds. Can Manchester City survive another scare? Will Real Madrid and Bayern Munich recover from their poor finishes? And can Liverpool maintain their dominance? The UEFA Champions League drama is far from over!
