The Champions League league phase draws to an exciting conclusion on Wednesday with all 18 games kicking off simultaneously at 8pm.
Come the end of the night, the final top-8 will each secure automatic qualification into the knockout stages, while the 16 clubs that finish between 9th and 24th will fight it out via the play-offs. As for the remaining eight teams (24th to 36th), they will each exit the competition.
Below, we take a closer look at the key statistics and potential records that could be set in Gameweek 8, focusing on matches involving the six Premier League clubs.
Stats you might see
Arsenal vs Kairat – Perfect 8
- Arsenal can become only the second English side to win eight straight European Cup/Champions League matches, and the first club ever to do so by a 2+ goal margin in each.
Fortunately for Arsenal, there is little time to dwell on their disappointing Premier League defeat to Manchester United, with attention quickly turning to Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Kairat Almaty.
Having already secured qualification for the knockout stages, the Gunners are now pushing to top the league phase and could make history in the process. Mikel Arteta’s side are aiming to become just the second English club to win eight consecutive European Cup/Champions League matches, following Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who achieved a run of 10.
They could also set a new benchmark by becoming the first club to win eight straight games in the competition by a margin of two or more goals. The odds appear firmly in their favour at the Emirates, with visiting Kairat sitting rock-bottom in 36th place on just one point and having conceded a joint-high 19 goals so far.
Napoli vs Chelsea – St McTominay
- Napoli’s Scott McTominay could become the first Scotsman to score five goals in a single European Cup/Champions League season since Mo Johnston in 1990-91.
Chelsea, 8th, are one of eight clubs locked on 13 points heading into the final round. They travel to Italy, where they’ll face their former boss Antonio Conte, whose Napoli side (25th) have to pick up points as they fight to finish in the top-24.
Napoli will look to the former Premier League duo of Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund, who have six Champions League goals between them this season.
McTominay has been particularly fruitful in front of goal, having scored four goals in his last five appearances in the competition. If the midfielder scores on Wednesday, he’ll become the first Scotsman to score five goals in a single European Cup/Champions League season since Mo Johnston in 1990-91 for Rangers.
PSG vs Newcastle – Gordon goalshow
- Anthony Gordon can become the first English player to accumulate nine Champions League goal involvements in a single season for an English club since 2019-20.
Parc des Princes plays host to the top-8 clash between PSG (6th) and Newcastle (7th) who are both on 13 points. The defending champions suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Sporting CP in their last outing, meaning they’ve now only won once in their last four, while Newcastle arrive in France looking for their first away win in the competition since October.
Only Kylian Mbappe (11) and Harry Kane (7) have scored more Champions League goals this season than Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon (6), who has been directly involved in eight goals.
A goal or assist on Wednesday would see him become the first English player to record nine goal involvements in a single Champions League season for an English club since Raheem Sterling did so for Manchester City in 2019–20.
Manchester City vs Galatasaray – Haaland’s home comforts
- If Erling Haaland scores two goals he will equal Sergio Aguero’s record of 23 Champions League goals at the Etihad, while a hat-trick would see him surpass the club legend.
Manchester City dropped out of the automatic qualification places after a costly 3-1 defeat away to Bodø/Glimt, who claimed their first win of the campaign. The result leaves City’s hopes of a top-eight finish hanging in the balance, with qualification now set to be decided in a final home showdown against Galatasaray – a side they have never faced before.
Erling Haaland has scored a whopping 35 goals in just 27 Champions League home games, including 21 in 18 at the Etihad for Man City. His sights will now be set on breaking Sergio Aguero’s club record of 23 home goals in the competition.
Frankfurt vs Tottenham – European refuge for Spurs
- Tottenham can win three straight Champions League games for the first time since 2019.
Tottenham may be labouring through another underwhelming Premier League campaign, but once again the club have sought solace in European competition. Last season’s Europa League winners sit 5th in the Champions League table with 14 points from seven matches.
This is likely what’s keeping Thomas Frank in the job. The Dane will be desperate to guide Spurs into the round-of-16, with his side making the trip over to Frankfurt chasing three consecutive victories in the competition for the first time since November 2019.
Liverpool vs Qarabag – Slot’s solace
- Since he took charge of Liverpool, no manager has a current better Champions League win rate (10+ games) at a single club than Arne Slot, a figure he can enhance to 77.8% with victory against Qarabag.
Liverpool climbed to 4th place after an impressive 3-0 victory away at Marseille, a result that means a win at Anfield against Qarabag will secure their place in the last 16.
Since Arne Slot took charge, Liverpool boast the highest win percentage of any team in the Champions League (10+ games), having won 13 of their 17 matches under the Dutchman (76.5%) since 2024. Victory on Wednesday would see that figure rise to 77.8%.
