Champions League Preview August 20, 2025

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Champions League Preview August 20, 2025 – 20.8.2025

Basel vs Copenhagen (21:00)

Tip: draw or Copenhagen win

The atmosphere of great European nights returns to St. Jakob-Park as Basel host Danish champions FC Copenhagen in the first leg of the Champions League playoff. The Swiss club return to this stage after many years and the home fans are hoping that the team can rediscover its former strength, when it was a regular participant in the group stage. Coach Ludovic Magnin has at his disposal the experienced leader Xherdan Shaqiri, who shone at the weekend with a goal and an assist, and will once again be a key figure in the attack. Basel have not started the season ideally and already have two league defeats, but they look much more confident at home, which could play an important role. Copenhagen, on the other hand, are on a winning run and their path past Drita and Malmö showed that Jacob Neestrup’s side has solid quality both in attack and defense. The Danish champions have yet to concede in qualifying, thanks in part to solid defensive organization led by an experienced central defensive duo. In addition, they can rely on the good form of their forwards, who are scoring regularly in the domestic league. The match promises to be a balanced contest between tradition and current form – Basel will rely on the support of the crowd and Shaqiri’s individual quality, while Copenhagen will count on compactness, confidence, and an away run of nine matches without defeat.

Bodo/Glimt vs Sturm Graz (21:00)

Tip: Bodo/Glimt win

At the Aspmyra Stadium in Bodø, the home side face one of their most important matches in recent years as they take on Austrian side Sturm Graz. Bodo/Glimt, after their sensational run to the Europa League semi-finals, are determined to finally reach the Champions League group stage, which would be a historic first in the club’s history. Coach Kjetil Knutsen’s team is known for its attacking philosophy and relentless tempo, which can overwhelm opponents even in European matches. The biggest star is striker Kasper Høgh, who already has 16 goals and five assists in the Norwegian league, making him not only a scorer but also a creator. Visiting Sturm Graz, under Jürgen Samuel, experienced a mixed season in European competition, but wins over RB Leipzig and Girona showed that underestimating the Austrian team would be a mistake. The key man will be midfielder Otar Kiteishvili, who has also found his scoring form in the league and is capable of deciding matches with his creativity. The Norwegians boast a nine-match unbeaten run in competitive fixtures, while Sturm have strengthened over the summer and are keen to prove that last year’s participation among Europe’s elite was no accident. The key to the match will be whether the Austrian defense can withstand the pressure of the Norwegian champions, who regularly score more than two goals per game at home.

Celtic vs Kairat (21:00)

Tip: Celtic win

Celtic Park will host a clash between a traditional European name and one of the surprises of this year’s qualifying campaign, Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty. Celtic, under Brendan Rodgers, have started the season excellently and look confident both in the domestic league and in the cup, where they beat Falkirk 4-1 at the weekend. The main attacking asset is Swedish midfielder Benjamin Nygren, who has shown strong form in recent matches, and big hopes are also placed on the return of experienced forward Kyogo Furuhashi to the starting lineup. The Scots have extensive experience of traveling to Kazakhstan and will therefore want to rely on home advantage and secure a significant lead before the demanding second leg in Almaty. Kairat, however, showed immense fighting spirit when they knocked out favored Slovan Bratislava in the previous round after a dramatic penalty shootout. The key man for the team is 17-year-old Dastan Satpaev, who already has a confirmed transfer to Chelsea, and his composure in key moments inspires both fans and teammates. Together with Jorginho, who has recorded nine goals and nine assists this season, he forms a dangerous attack capable of surprising any defense. Celtic, however, will want to demonstrate their quality and leave nothing to chance, especially since they face the prestigious Old Firm derby against Rangers at the weekend.

Fenerbahce vs Benfica (21:00)

Tip: Benfica win

One of the most attractive ties of the playoff round is the clash between Fenerbahce and Benfica. The Turkish giant last appeared in the Champions League group stage in the 2008/09 season, and a return to the elite is a huge dream for their fans. Under the experienced coach José Mourinho, the “Canaries” managed to get past Feyenoord with an aggregate score of 6-4, after a wild second leg in which the attacking duo of Youssef En-Nesyri and Jhon Durán shone. However, their league start has been unconvincing, with a goalless draw at Göztepe suggesting that the team is still searching for its best form. Benfica, on the other hand, look very stable and under Bruno Lage have yet to drop a match this season, and have not conceded a goal. The main star is Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who scored 30 goals last season and has already added two more this term. Alongside him, summer signing Franjo Ivanović is gradually settling in, with high expectations surrounding him. History, however, does not favor Benfica in Turkey, as they have never won at Fenerbahce’s Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. The match therefore promises huge emotions – the Turkish team with the passionate support of the crowd against the favorite, who have the quality and experience but must deal with their poor record in Istanbul.

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