UEFA Champions League Matchday 7 Predictions Including Tottenham vs Dortmund

Matchday 7 of the UEFA Champions League will set the stage for which teams will have something to play for on the final matchday to close out January. European football has returned at the start of 2026, with Tuesday and Wednesday set aside for Champions League action. Here is your look at Tuesday’s matches including Tottenham vs Dortmund. We also have predictions for matches featuring Arsenal and Real Madrid.

Dortmund at Tottenham

Tottenham supporters are expecting an imminent announcement that manager Thomas Frank has been sacked. If that announcement doesn’t come before this game, anything short of victory would still mean Frank is likely to be asked to leave the North London club. While Tottenham have been atrocious in the Premier League, a mix of injuries and new signings like Xavi Simons failing to gel, their Champions League result has been the lone bright spot of the season. Conor Gallagher, the English international, just joined the club from Atletico Madrid and more moves could come, but Gallagher isn’t registered to the UCL squad. At 3-2-1 in the UCL, Tottenham sit 11th and could nearly avoid a knockout playoff entirely with a win. Dortmund have an identical record, 3-2-1 and are comfortably second in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund’s recent form is far better overall, and though they may miss 2 or 3 first choice players including Marcel Sabitzer for this game, Fabio Silva is in form and the likes of Emre Can have played well enough to leave them favored even while traveling. Tottenham’s XI, which could be missing as many as five or six first choice players is a mismatch of players who struggle to go forward and find goals. Magic is possible, but surely Tottenham can’t be favored to get points in this matchup. Prediction: Dortmund 2 Tottenham 0

Club Brugge at Kairat Almaty

While Kairat Almaty are not yet eliminated from the Champions League, they sit dead last and with just one point in six games, they are effectively out of the tournament. Club Brugge, on four points after six games, badly needs an away win to maintain a chance at a playoff phase berth.

Kairat Almaty have played defensively sound football at times against European competition but overall have looked outclassed, especially in attack. Brugge have slipped to third in the domestic league table in Belgium and lack consistency. Brazilian Lucas Africo will make his debut in the backline for Kairat, Brugge will play their third-choice goalkeeper, and Raphael Onyedika is likely out due to AFCON duty for Nigeria. The traveling won’t be easy for Brugge, but they need a win and won’t want to leave without it. Prediction: Club Brugge 2 Kairat Almaty 1

Manchester City at Bodo/Glimt

Bodo/Glimt’s winless performance in this years Champions League has come as a disappointment. A shock result against Manchester City would give them life for the final matchday but the odds are long.

Manchester City have struggled within England, including a loss in the Manchester derby, but a 4-1-1 record in Europe leaves them with confidence about reaching the final phase without having to play an extra game. Pep Guardiola will have to rotate his lineup with players like Josko Gvardiol, and possibly Phil Foden out, but Erling Haaland will be hungry for goals as he returns to his native Norway, hoping to play his best. Prediction: Manchester City 4 Bodo/Glimt 0

Ajax at Villarreal

Two teams that have endured horrible UCL campaigns, if this match doesn’t produce a winner, both teams will be eliminated from further participation in the tournament. Ajax are a distant third in the Dutch league and have been poor across competitions this season. Villarreal’s third place position with a game in hand in La Liga has been impressive and sets them up to return to this competition next season.

Ajax struggles to defend and brought in Fred Grim as manager. Nicolas Pepe and Georges Mikautadze will be dreaming of goals against a weak Ajax backline, playing at home, expect Villarreal to look the stronger side. Prediction: Villarreal 3 Ajax 1