Round 8 of the Champions League has arrived and the powerhouse clubs are still fighting for transparency in a crowded league table. In Lisbon, Jose Mourinho’s Benfica welcomed Real Madrid for a meeting that was filled with personal history, European interests and a lack of margin for error for either team.
Benfica sit 29th in the expanded 36-team standings, two points outside of the final qualifying spots. The team lost their first four games in a row, but after regaining hope with back-to-back wins against Ajax and Napoli, a heartbreaking loss at Juventus left their fate in the hands of outside help.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have moved into third place in the Champions League, but are far from safe. Only two points separate them from the mid-table pack, meaning they could be dragged into the play-off zone if they slip. Kylian Mbappé’s brace against Monaco took him to 11 goals in this competition, equaling the league record for a single season.
This night’s drama isn’t limited to Lisbon. Borussia Dortmund hosted Inter, a matchup in which both teams remain in the top eight. Napoli welcome Chelsea believing that only a win can keep their European hopes realistic. Chelsea are in the automatic qualification spots based on goal difference alone, making this one of the most volatile fixtures of the night.
PSG, Manchester City and Barcelona are also in a precarious position, underscoring how little distance there is across the table. By the end of the night, some Giants will be able to breathe easier, others will be forced into playoff contention, and some may feel their European ambitions suddenly closed.
Champions League 2025/26 Matchday 8 LIVE: Get all the results and latest news from the final day of the group stage
Where can I watch Round 8 of the Champions League?
In the US, you can watch every match of Round 8 of the Champions League on Paramount+. Analysis courtesy of the CBS Sports Crew, Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher. ??
Matchday 8 of the Champions League is available to watch in the UK on TNT Sports.
What time does Champions League Round 8 start?
All matches of Matchday 8 of the Champions League start at 21:00 CET. For UK fans, the match starts at 20:00 GMT.
Departs in the US at 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT.
