If you haven’t yet been convinced by the new ‘league phase’, the Champions League is now entering the period of competition that is sure to change your mind.
The table of 36 teams takes shape after five games, only three remain. The sixth day is the last of 2024, with the extended format dragging into the new year.
There may have been times during the league stage so far when you’ve looked up the importance of each result. “But what does it all mean?!” some were dismissed after Brest ousted Sparta Prague in matchday four and Sturm Graz beat Girona in matchday five.
As we approach the finals of the first phase, these games will certainly feel a little more important and some excellent ties are heading our way this week.
Here’s how 90 minutes projects the nine meetings of the sixth day of Tuesday.
There are a couple of British representatives in early action as Celtic travel to the Croatian capital and Liverpool face Girona.
The Reds currently sit top of the table and remain the only team in the competition with a 100% record. After enjoying the weekend off after the postponement of Saturday’s Merseyside derbyArne Slot’s team face their next nice and fresh duel. They could reserve their place in the round of 16 with a win in Catalonia.
Celtic would be delighted with a play-off place and sit 20th in the table having lost just once in the league stage so far. However, they will be usurped Dinamo Zagreb if they are defeated on Tuesday and they could be in the top 24 together.
|
Start Time (GMT) |
fixation |
prediction |
|---|---|---|
|
5:45 p.m |
Dinamo Zagreb vs Celtic |
1-1 |
|
5:45 p.m |
Girona vs Liverpool |
1-4 |
|
20:00 |
Atalanta vs Real Madrid |
1-2 |
|
20:00 |
Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter |
1-2 |
|
20:00 |
Brest vs PSV Eindhoven |
0-1 |
|
20:00 |
Club Brugge vs Sporting CP |
2-2 |
|
20:00 |
RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa |
2-1 |
|
20:00 |
RB Salzburg vs PSG |
0-1 |
|
20:00 |
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich |
1-4 |
Later, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen Scudetto face holders Inter in Germany Both teams have emerged as chasers in their respective domestic leagues this term, but the pair reside in the top eight with five games to go.
Real Madrid could really do with three points to ease any doubts about theirs Champions League campaign that ends in January. Madrid have picked up just six points so far and face a huge challenge this week when they face the Serie A leaders Atalanta away from home La Dea are one of only three unbeaten teams in the Champions League, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side having conceded just once in the competition.
PSG they also need the win to not get off to a difficult start to the league stage. However, they face a RB Salzburg team sitting 32nd in the table having won just once in the competition.
Aston VillaThe continental campaign has stuttered after an excellent start and crashed out of the top eight after losing to Club Brugge and drawing at home to Juventus. The Villans travel to one less point RB Leipzig full-back, but Marco Rose’s side are a dangerous team capable of bursting into life at any moment.
Shakhtar Donetsk they are also on the outside looking in, but the Ukrainians have impressed in a couple of their league stage outings. They will have to be at their best and some to get a point Bayern Munich tuesday though
Life without Ruben Amorim has been bleak sports CP so far and they were comfortably defeated by Arsenal on Matchday 5 which saw them drop to tenth in the table after an almost perfect start. Club Bruges They have already beaten Villa at home this season and they will aim to inflict more misery on Joao Pereira.
Finally, Brest They have been among the surprise packages of the competition for five matches, although their domestic indifference points towards the French outfit drifting down the table before the league stage ends. PSV they will overcome their next opponents with an away win.
