European football takes center stage this week as the last round of the 2025 Champions League group stage fixtures kicks off, promising drama, high stakes, and pivotal moments that could define the season.
Two matches, in particular, stand out. On Tuesday, all eyes turn to the San Siro, where Inter Milan host Liverpool. Both clubs are still chasing a top-eight finish, but the Premier League side arrive three points behind the Italians and outside the qualification spots. Inter, sitting fourth with 12 points, have momentum on their side after a 4–0 win over Como, while Liverpool face turmoil off the pitch. Mohamed Salah’s weekend fallout with the club following a 3–3 draw at Leeds saw him accuse Liverpool of “throwing him under the bus,” and he has now been ruled out of the trip to Milan. The absence of the Egyptian forward adds to the pressure on manager Arne Slot as his squad faces a confident Simone Inzaghi-led side. A victory for Liverpool would level them with Inter, but defeat could deepen their season-long struggles.
On Wednesday, the spotlight shifts to Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid host Manchester City in what has become one of Europe’s most compelling modern rivalries. Real enter the match under scrutiny; whispers of unrest around Xabi Alonso’s management of the dressing room have intensified, especially after the team collected just four points from their last three La Liga matches and currently trail Barcelona by the same margin. Defensively, questions loom after a recent 2–0 home loss to Celta Vigo.
Manchester City, by contrast, arrive in confident form, having closed the Premier League gap to two points with a 3–0 victory over Sunderland. Pep Guardiola’s forward quartet—Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki, and Erling Haaland—are firing on all cylinders, turning what was once a Haaland-centric attack into a fluid and dangerous unit. Real Madrid will need to tighten defensively to withstand City’s potent attack, as the match carries implications not only for the Champions League but also for the domestic title race.
Across Europe, supporters are in for a week of high drama, but Milan and Madrid promise the most riveting narratives.
Final Champions League Group Fixtures – 2025
Tuesday, December 9
- Kairat vs Olympiacos – 4:30 p.m. CET
- Bayern vs Sporting – 6:45 p.m. CET
- Atalanta vs Chelsea – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Monaco vs Galatasaray – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Union Saint-Gilloise vs Marseille – 9:00 p.m. CET
- PSV vs Atlético Madrid – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Barcelona vs Eintracht Frankfurt – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Inter vs Liverpool – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Tottenham vs Slavia Praha – 9:00 p.m. CET
Wednesday, December 10
- Villarreal vs Copenhagen – 6:45 p.m. CET
- Qarabag FK vs Ajax – 6:45 p.m. CET
- Leverkusen vs Newcastle – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Real Madrid vs Man City – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Benfica vs Napoli – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Club Brugge vs Arsenal – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Athletic Club vs PSG – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Juventus vs Pafos – 9:00 p.m. CET
- Dortmund vs Bodø/Glimt – 9:00 p.m. CET
These fixtures mark a decisive end to the group stage, with qualification spots and momentum for the knockout rounds hanging in the balance.
