Matchday 8 brings a packed Wednesday slate, and while many teams arrive close to full strength, there are several notable absences and lingering fitness doubts that fantasy managers need to factor into their plans.
Below is a fixture-by-fixture breakdown, with the emphasis squarely on players who are ruled out or facing late fitness tests.
Ajax vs Olympiacos
Ajax will be without Berghuis, who is sidelined with a groin injury and won’t feature in MD8. There are no additional injury concerns for the Dutch side, making
their lineup relatively settled outside of that absence.
Olympiacos arrive in Amsterdam with a clean bill of health. There are no reported injuries or doubts in their squad, which should offer fantasy managers confidence in selecting starters from either end of the pitch.
Arsenal vs Kairat Almaty
Arsenal’s midfield and depth take a hit heading into MD8. Dowman remains out with an ankle injury, while Merino and Rice are both unavailable due to suspension.
There are also two key doubts to monitor, with Calafiori dealing with a muscular issue and Havertz nursing a knee problem.
Kairat Almaty will be without Satpayev, who misses out due to a stomach issue. Tuyakbaev is listed as doubtful after picking up a nose injury and will need to be monitored closer to kickoff.
Athletic Club vs Sporting CP
Athletic Club are among the more affected sides this round. Jauregizar is suspended, while Laporte (hamstring), Sannadi (knee), and I. Williams (calf) are all sidelined through injury.
There are no doubts, but the confirmed absences are significant, especially in defense and attack.
Sporting CP also travel with a lengthy injury list. Salvador Blopa (muscular), Ioannidis (knee), Geovany Quenda (foot fracture), Eduardo Quaresma (fractured cheekbone), and Nuno Santos (knee) are all ruled out. No players are currently listed as doubtful.
Atlético de Madrid vs Bodø/Glimt
Atlético will be missing Griezmann, who is out with a muscular issue, a notable blow for fantasy managers targeting attacking returns. Lenglet is also a doubt due to a knee problem and remains a late decision.
Bodø/Glimt have no injury or fitness concerns and are expected to line up at full strength.
Barcelona vs Copenhagen
Barcelona’s injury list remains crowded. Christensen is out with a knee injury, De Jong is suspended, while Gavi (fitness), and Pedri (hamstring) are also unavailable.
Ferran Torres is the lone doubt, dealing with a hamstring issue.
Copenhagen will be without Delaney, who is suspended, and Mattsson, who remains out with a knee injury. There are no doubts reported.
Benfica vs Real Madrid
Benfica are missing Bah (knee), Lukébakio (ankle), and Ríos (shoulder), limiting their options across the pitch. No players are listed as doubtful.
Real Madrid continue to manage several defensive absences. Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Éder Militão (hamstring), Mendy (muscular), and Rüdiger (muscular) are all ruled out. There are no doubts reported for MD8.
Borussia Dortmund vs Inter
Dortmund will be without Sabitzer, who is sidelined with a calf injury, while Svensson misses out through suspension. No further injury issues have been flagged.
Inter travel without Çalhanoğlu (calf) and Dumfries (ankle), both of whom remain unavailable. There are no doubts to monitor for the Italian side.
Club Brugge vs Marseille
Club Brugge are missing Audoor due to a torn muscle and Tzolis, who is sidelined with a back issue. No doubts are listed.
Marseille will be without Emerson (thigh) and Pavard, who is suspended. Kondogbia is a doubt due to a physical issue and will require a late check.
Frankfurt vs Tottenham
Frankfurt are without Baum (knee) and Burkardt (calf), with no other fitness concerns reported.
Tottenham have several key players unavailable. Bentancur, Kudus, and Richarlison are all out with thigh injuries, while Bergvall (ankle) and Davies (leg) also miss out.
João Palhinha is listed as doubtful after picking up a knock.
Leverkusen vs Villarreal
Leverkusen are dealing with multiple injuries, with Ben Seghir (ankle), Flekken (knee), Tapsoba (muscular), and Tella (foot) all ruled out. There are no doubts reported.
Villarreal will be without Foyth (Achilles), Kambwala (hamstring), and Mouriño, who is suspended. No doubtful players are listed.
Liverpool vs Qarabağ
Liverpool are missing Bradley (knee) and Isak (leg). There are several players to monitor, with Chiesa (muscular), Gomez (knock), and Konaté (compassionate leave) all listed as doubtful.
Qarabağ will be without Kady, who remains sidelined with a knee injury. No other issues are reported.
Manchester City vs Galatasaray
Manchester City’s injury list is extensive. Bobb and Rúben Dias are both out with hamstring injuries, while Gvardiol (leg), Kovačić (ankle), Savinho (muscular), and Stones (muscular) are also unavailable.
Rodri misses out due to suspension. There are no doubts listed.
Galatasaray will be without Metehan Baltacı (suspended), Enes Büyük (muscular), and Arda Ünyay (thigh). Singo is a doubt with a thigh issue.
Monaco vs Juventus
Monaco are missing Hradecky, Minamino, and Salisu, all out with knee injuries, while Pogba is sidelined due to a calf issue. Dier (thigh) and Mawissa (fitness) are both listed as doubtful.
Juventus will be without Rugani (calf) and Vlahović (muscular). Rouhi is a doubt due to a muscular problem.
Napoli vs Chelsea
Napoli are heavily impacted by injuries, with Anguissa (thigh), Gilmour (groin), Milinkovic-Savic (muscular), Neres (ankle), Politano (muscular), and Rrahmani (muscular) all ruled out. No doubts are listed.
Chelsea will be without Adarabioyo (hamstring) and Essugo (unspecified). Jørgensen and Palmer are both doubts, with unspecified and thigh issues respectively.
Pafos vs Slavia Praha
Pafos are missing Šunjić, who is suspended. There are three doubts to monitor, with João Correia (muscular), David Luiz (knee), and Goldar (muscular) all facing late fitness tests.
Slavia Praha will be without Holeš (muscular) and Moses (unspecified). No doubts are reported.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Newcastle United
PSG will be without Safonov, who is sidelined with a hand injury. There are several key doubts, including Hakimi (fitness), Lee Kang-in (thigh), João Neves (fitness), and Fabián Ruiz (knee).
Newcastle’s injury situation is more severe. Burn (rib) and Schär (ankle) are ruled out, while Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton, Krafth, Lascelles, Livramento, Murphy, and Osula are all listed as doubtful with various issues.
PSV Eindhoven vs Bayern München
PSV will be without Boadu (knee), Gasiorowski (suspended), Olij (groin), Pepi (arm), and Pléa (knee). Salah-Eddine is a doubt with a knock, while Til is also questionable due to a knee issue.
Bayern Munich are missing Boey (illness), Kim (suspended), Laimer (calf), and Stanišić (ankle). Guerreiro is listed as doubtful with a muscular concern.
Union Saint-Gilloise vs Atalanta
Union Saint-Gilloise will be without David, who is suspended, and Rodriguez, sidelined with a back injury. There are no doubts listed.
Atalanta arrive without Bellanova, who is out with a hamstring injury. No other fitness concerns have been reported.
