The final round of UEFA Champions League 2025 fixtures in the League Phase promises high drama across Europe. On 9 and 10 December, the last matchday of the calendar year features decisive games that will shape the league table and knockout-stage picture. At the centre of attention is the blockbuster clash in Madrid, where Real Madrid host Manchester City in a meeting of two modern giants of European football. But across the continent, there are storylines, milestones and critical battles in almost every fixture.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City: blockbuster night at the Bernabéu
Real Madrid and Manchester City meet on 10 December in what is arguably the headline game of the entire League Phase. Only two points separate the teams heading into this match, and both sides know that a strong result could be decisive for their position and seeding ahead of the knockout rounds.
Real Madrid enter the game in a troubled spell. Since 1 November, the Spanish vice-champions have managed just three wins, three draws and two defeats in all competitions. More worrying for Xabi Alonso, his team have not won at the Santiago Bernabéu for more than a month. Their latest La Liga outing ended in a shock 0–2 home defeat to Celta Vigo, with Madrid conceding twice in the second half and finishing with two red cards. The home crowd responded with whistles, and Alonso will demand a strong reaction on this Champions League night.
Manchester City, by contrast, arrive in superb attacking form. Recent scorelines tell the story: 3–2, 5–4, 3–0. In their most recent win, City scored three goals without even needing Erling Haaland to take centre stage. Central defenders contributed two of the goals, with Rúben Dias smashing in a long-range strike, while Phil Foden produced a goal and an assist. The third goal was a spectacular move, as Rayan Cherki delivered a rabona cross from the right for Foden to finish acrobatically. Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Madrid full of confidence and goals.
Over their last ten matches, City have scored 25 goals, while Real Madrid have netted 17. With so much attacking quality on the pitch and both teams chasing a statement win, this fixture has all the ingredients for a high-scoring classic.
Key fixtures and stats – 9 December
Kairat vs Olympiacos (16:30)
Kairat are still searching for a breakthrough in Europe. The Kazakh club have not won in their last eight UEFA club competition matches (three draws, five defeats) and are winless in 11 group/league stage games across UEFA competitions (three draws, eight defeats). There is, however, a defensive base to build on: Kairat have kept clean sheets in five of their last six home European matches.
Olympiacos bring their own issues into this contest. The Greek side have won just two of their last 25 Champions League group/league phase matches (four draws, 19 defeats) and are winless in ten such games since a 1–0 home win against Olympique on 21 October 2020. Away from home, their record is even more concerning: 12 consecutive away defeats in the Champions League group/league phase, with their last away win dating back to October 2015 against Dinamo Zagreb. Olympiacos have faced Kazakh opposition once before, meeting Astana twice in the 2016/17 Europa League group stage (4–1 home win, 1–1 away draw).
Bayern Munich vs Sporting CP (18:45)
Bayern have historically dominated Sporting in Europe. The German champions are unbeaten in four European meetings with the Lisbon club (three wins, one draw), scoring 13 goals and conceding only once. Their last encounters came in the 2008/09 Champions League round of 16, where Bayern won 5–0 away and 7–1 at home for a 12–1 aggregate.
Against Portuguese opposition in general, Bayern have lost only two of 31 European matches (20 wins, nine draws) and remain unbeaten in 15 home games against clubs from Portugal (13 wins, two draws). Harry Kane has been ruthless at home in this competition, scoring 16 goals in 15 Champions League home appearances for Bayern.
Sporting, meanwhile, have struggled on German soil, winning just one of 17 European away games in Germany (two draws, 14 defeats). That lone victory came in September 2022, a 3–0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite that, Sporting have scored in each of their last 21 group/league phase matches in UEFA competitions and opened the scoring in four of their five Champions League fixtures this season. Giovani Kenda, at 18 years and 210 days, became the youngest Portuguese player to reach 15 Champions League main-stage appearances in Matchday 5, surpassing Rúben Neves.
Monaco vs Galatasaray
Monaco and Galatasaray renew a European rivalry that has seen six previous meetings. The French side have three wins to the Turkish club’s two, with the last encounters coming in the 2000/01 Champions League group stage. On that occasion, both teams won at home: 3–2 to Galatasaray in Istanbul and 4–2 to Monaco in Monte Carlo.
Monaco have won four of their last five European home games against Turkish clubs, scoring at least three goals in each victory. They are unbeaten in their last four Champions League matches (one win, three draws) and have lost only four of their last 16 home games in European competition (seven wins, five draws). Galatasaray, for their part, have just two wins from 11 European matches in France and have not won there since 2001. They do, however, have the opportunity to record back-to-back away wins in the Champions League main stage for the first time since 2012/13. One of Monaco’s attacking weapons, Victor Osimhen, has scored in eight consecutive European matches, netting 12 times in that span, while defender Wilfried Singo could face his former club after making 60 appearances for Monaco over the previous two seasons.
Atalanta vs Chelsea
Atalanta have turned their home ground into a difficult destination in European competition. They have lost just one of their last nine home group/league stage matches (four wins, four draws) and only two of their last 19 home European games overall (11 wins, six draws). Defensively, the Italians are in good shape, keeping three consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League, with all six of their goals in the League Phase so far coming after half-time. Ademola Lookman has found the net in five of his last eight Champions League appearances.
Chelsea have an impressive record against Italian opposition in Europe, winning their last three matches without conceding and claiming 13 victories in their last 15 group/league stage fixtures (one draw, one defeat). Estêvão, at 18 years and 215 days, recently became the second-youngest player to score in three consecutive Champions League matches, behind only Kylian Mbappé. Full-back Davide Zappacosta is set for a meeting with his former club, having played 52 games for Chelsea and winning the Europa League in 2018/19 before returning to Atalanta in 2021.
Other standout fixtures
Barcelona vs Eintracht Frankfurt brings together a Catalan side with a strong home record against German clubs (16 wins in their last 20 home European games against Bundesliga teams) and an Eintracht team that has enjoyed recent success on Spanish soil. Inter vs Liverpool is another high-profile tie, with Liverpool historically leading the head-to-head but Inter currently on a long unbeaten home run in the Champions League and boasting an excellent home defensive record. Lautaro Martínez has scored in each of Inter’s last five Champions League home games, eight goals in total.
PSV vs Atlético Madrid pairs two sides with impressive recent European form. PSV are unbeaten in their last four matches against Spanish teams (three wins, one draw) and have scored in 17 of their last 18 Champions League group/league phase games. Atlético remain undefeated in six previous European meetings with PSV, conceding only once in that series, but arrive after three consecutive away defeats in the Champions League.
Union vs Olympique Marseille is a key fixture for both clubs’ ambitions. Union have struggled at home recently in Europe, with just two wins in their last ten home games, but come into this match on the back of a clean sheet against Galatasaray. Marseille, meanwhile, have a strong record against Belgian clubs but a poor recent away record in European competition, losing 12 of their last 13 away games in the Champions League.
Tottenham vs Sparta (Czech visitors) sees Spurs defending a long unbeaten home run in Europe. Tottenham have not lost in 22 home European matches (18 wins, four draws) and have kept clean sheets in both of their Champions League home games this season. Their next goal will be their 100th in the Champions League main stage. Sparta, on the other hand, have not won in 16 main-stage Champions League games since 2007 and have failed to score in their last four matches.
Highlights from 10 December fixtures
Qarabag vs Ajax features a Dutch side looking to end a historic losing streak. Ajax have lost their last eight European matches, the longest such run in the club’s history, but are closing in on a milestone: they have 397 goals in the European Cup/Champions League and need three more to become the first Dutch club to reach 400. Qarabag have been strong at home this season, losing just one of five home European matches and scoring at least twice in four of them.
Villarreal vs Copenhagen gives the Yellow Submarine a chance to bounce back after eight winless Champions League main-stage games, including three straight defeats without scoring. Villarreal have an excellent home record against Danish clubs, winning all three previous meetings in Spain. Copenhagen are chasing back-to-back Champions League main-stage wins for the first time since their strong campaigns in 2006/07 and 2010/11, while young forward Viktor Dadason has already made history as the youngest player to score in two Champions League main-stage matches.
Athletic vs Paris Saint-Germain brings together one of the most formidable home records in Europe with the firepower of the defending champions. Athletic have lost only two of their last 16 home group/league stage games in UEFA competitions and have won seven of their last eight at home. PSG, however, are in prolific form, scoring four or more goals in five of their last seven League Phase matches and enjoying a strong recent record against Spanish clubs. João Neves could become the youngest Portuguese player to reach 30 Champions League main-stage appearances, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Newcastle United is a meeting of two sides with contrasting European momentum. Leverkusen have lost only one of their last six matches against English clubs and recently kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 win over Manchester City. Patrick Schick has scored in his last two Champions League outings, after managing only one goal in his first 28 main-stage games. Newcastle started strongly in Europe against German opposition historically but have struggled in recent seasons and have just two wins in their last 13 away games in UEFA competition.
Club Brugge vs Arsenal pits a home side with a solid recent record in European home matches against an Arsenal team in outstanding Champions League form. Brugge have lost only two of their last 19 home European games and are unbeaten in their last five Champions League League Phase home fixtures. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine games against Belgian clubs and have won their last nine League Phase matches, conceding only three goals. They are also closing in on another milestone, needing four goals to reach 400 in the European Cup/Champions League, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring in each of his last four Champions League appearances.
Juventus vs Pafos completes the round with a meeting between a traditional powerhouse and an in-form Cypriot side. Juventus have won all six of their previous matches against Cypriot opponents and lost only two of their last 11 home European games. Interestingly, the Bianconeri have conceded first in all five of their Champions League matches this season. Pafos have been one of the surprise packages in Europe, losing just one of their 11 UEFA games this season and keeping four clean sheets in their last five away fixtures. Veteran defender David Luiz became the second-oldest scorer in Champions League history at 38 years and 218 days when he headed in against Monaco on Matchday 5.
What comes next
Matchday 6 will not only shape the League Phase table but will also set the tone for early 2026. Defensive performances from clubs like Inter and Arsenal will be closely watched; Inter had the best defensive record in last season’s League Phase with just one goal conceded in eight games, while Arsenal have allowed only one goal after five rounds this season. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé, who burst onto the Champions League stage with Monaco in 2016/17 and now leads the scoring charts, will look to extend his tally when Real Madrid meet his former club later in the campaign. All contenders will also be eyeing Matchday 8 on 28 January, when every game kicks off simultaneously at 21:00 CET in what promises to be one of the most dramatic nights of the season.
