UEFA Champions League Play-Offs: Key Injuries, Team News And Predicted Lineups For Tuesday Matches

Istanbul’s Rams Park will stage the headline act on Tuesday as Galatasaray welcome Juventus for a first-leg that feels laced with historical baggage. The hosts are back in the knockout bracket for the first time in 12 years, while the Bianconeri arrive trying to halt a run of five consecutive defeats in Champions League knockout ties. Gala’s recent domestic form is ominous—13 goals in their last four home fixtures—yet their European scoring has dried up: only one goal in four group-stage matches this term. Victor Osimhen, who boasts five wins from seven career clashes with Juve during his Napoli days, is expected to lead the line behind a creative quartet of Leroy Sané, Yunus Akgün, Barış Alper Yılmaz and Sara. Lucas Torreira will sit in front of a back four marshalled by Davinson Sánchez and Abdülkerim Bardakçı, but Gala will be without suspended duo Metehan Baltaci and Mario Lemina, while Enes Emre Buyuk remains sidelined with a shoulder complaint.

Juventus, who have kept three clean sheets in their last four continental outings, conceded eight times across their previous three competitive fixtures. Michele Di Gregorio is set to start in goal behind a back line of Pierre Kalulu, Bremer, Lloyd Kelly and Andrea Cambiaso. Manuel Locatelli and Weston McKennie anchor midfield, with Francisco Conceição and Kenan Yıldız supporting Lois Openda. Arkadiusz Milik is doubtful with physical discomfort, Dusan Vlahovic is nursing a tendon issue, and Emil Holm is out with a calf strain.

At the Estadio da Luz, Benfica will look to repeat their eye-catching 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in last season’s group stage. Anatoliy Trubin keeps goal behind a defence of Amar Dedic, Tomas Araujo, Nicolas Otamendi and January arrival Samuel Dahl. In midfield, Leandro Barreiro and Enzo Barrenechea will try to shield a back line that faces the tournament’s most explosive forward line. Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler are tipped to start behind a midfield trio of Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga. Thibaut Courtois returns in goal, but Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo are hamstring absentees, Eder Militao is still building fitness after a tendon problem, and Raul Asencio is suspended. Benfica, meanwhile, monitor Joao Veloso (shoulder) and Samuel Soares (muscle) as doubtful, while Olivio Tome sits out through suspension.

Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion hosts the day’s third tie as the 1997 champions take on an Atalanta side hunting a first quarter-final berth since 2020. Dortmund have won only once in their last seven Champions League meetings with Italian opposition and are coping with a lengthening injury list: Emre Can (adductor), Nico Schlotterbeck (muscle) and Niklas Süle (thigh) are ruled out, while Filippo Mane is doubtful. Gregor Kobel starts behind a back four of Julian Ryerson, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini and teenage full-back Daniel Svensson. Felix Nmecha, Jobe Bellingham and Marcel Sabitzer form an energetic midfield, with Julian Brandt floating behind striker Serhou Guirassy. Bensebaini and Karim Adeyemi must avoid yellow cards or they will miss the return leg in Bergamo.

Atalanta arrive in Germany on the back of a 3-0 Coppa Italia rout of Juventus but have lost their last five Champions League knockout fixtures. Gianluca Scamacca is expected to spearhead the attack, supported by Lazar Samardzic and Nicola Zalewski. Marten De Roon anchors midfield alongside Ederson, with Lorenzo Bernasconi and Davide Zappacosta providing width. Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori are unavailable with knee and thigh issues respectively, while De Roon and Yunus Musah must tread carefully having already accrued bookings.

The night’s final first-leg is a Ligue 1-flavoured affair at Stade Louis II, where Monaco welcome Paris Saint-Germain. Philippe Clement’s side will draw belief from November’s 1-0 league win over the Parisians on the same ground, but they are decimated by injuries: Pape Cabral, Eric Dier, Lukas Hradecky, Christian Mawissa, Takumi Minamino, Kassoum Ouattara, Paul Pogba and Mohammed Salisu are all out, while Phillip Köhn is set to start in goal. Vanderson, Wout Faes, Jordan Teze and Caio Henrique comprise the back four, with Lamine Camara and Denis Zakaria in midfield. Simon Adingra, Aleksandr Golovin and Mamadou Coulibaly will support striker Folarin Balogun. Camara, Golovin and Thilo Kehrer are one booking away from a second-leg ban.

PSG, meanwhile, have won three of their last six Champions League fixtures and will start with Matvey Safonov in goal behind a back four of Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho and Nuno Mendes. Vitinha, Warren Zaire-Emery and Joao Neves bring energy to midfield, while Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola form a fluid front three. Fabian Ruiz, Senny Mayulu and Quentin Ndjantou are sidelined, and Nuno Mendes must avoid a caution that would rule him out of the return leg in the French capital.

With away goals no longer a tie-breaker, every strike, save and tactical tweak on Tuesday could resonate when the ties conclude next month.