Once again, this week brings a lineup of exciting matches. Across Europe, top clubs compete for points in various competitions, both domestic and international. Not only will some major names from the Champions League be in action, but the Europa League also promises plenty of excitement. Check out the most interesting matches of the week here.
International Competitions Calendar
The international UEFA competitions are gradually reaching the end of the new League Phase, an innovation in the revamped competition format. Both the Champions League and the Europa League are entering matchday 7 of 8 this week, while the last matches in the Conference League were already played in December.
The top 8 teams qualify directly, while those finishing in positions 9 through 24 will play a playoff round to secure the remaining spots. This makes these final matches even more crucial and intriguing, as they determine the definitive rankings.
Tuesday, January 21
Tuesday evening kicks off with a top clash between two teams currently enjoying strong runs. Juventus remains unbeaten this season in Serie A, with no defeats in 21 matches. However, “La Vecchia Signora” is enduring a less successful campaign, as many of their games have ended in draws. In the Champions League, Juventus is also underperforming, sitting in 14th place with 11 points. Nevertheless, they remain the favorites when visiting Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Brugge, meanwhile, is also on an impressive 18-match unbeaten streak. They are co-leaders with Genk in the Jupiler Pro League and currently rank 19th in the Champions League. Everything is still to play for, and against an out-of-form Juventus, Brugge might just seize the upper hand.
Wednesday, January 22
On the edge of the qualification zone, PSG and Manchester City face off in a battle for a spot in the next round. This is matchday 7 of 8, and the tickets are nearly finalized. To secure continued European football, these teams urgently need points. PSG, for instance, is already outside the qualifying zone and is currently eliminated. The Parisians face a tough challenge this week at their home ground, Parc des Princes, against the Cityzens. The team featuring Belgian stars Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku was in a terrible slump weeks ago but seems to have stabilized. Picking a favorite in this crucial encounter is challenging, but it’s clear that this showdown between two top clubs will be intense, with every point fiercely contested.
Thursday, January 23
Anderlecht continues to perform well at the top of the Europa League rankings. Only Lazio and Athletic Bilbao are ahead, each with just two points more than the Brussels side. This means the Mauves are currently outpacing teams like Manchester United, Tottenham, and Ajax. Domestically, Anderlecht is also in good form, sitting in 4th place with 36 points. Catching up to Genk and Club Brugge might be tough, but a win this week against Viktoria Plzen would be a significant boost for coach David Hubert’s side. The Czech team also needs points, as they sit precariously in 17th place with 9 points. Viktoria Plzen is 2nd in their domestic league, just behind Slavia Prague.
Union, on the other hand, is dealing with a notable number of absentees for their crucial Europa League match against Braga. Coach Sébastien Pocognoli faces the challenge of replacing key players like Loïc Lapoussin and Promise David, who are unavailable. In total, about 12 players will miss the match against the Portuguese side. Union desperately needs these points to secure their provisional qualification, which they could lose to Braga, a team with one point less and just outside the qualification zone. However, the Portuguese face a tough task as Union boasts a 10-match unbeaten streak and only 19 goals conceded so far.
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