2' min
The Champions League returns after almost a month with Matchday 5 of the group stage. The competition is heating up, and every point from now on will weigh heavily in shaping the standings. The top eight teams will advance directly to the Round of 16, while the remaining 16 will face the playoffs.
Today's schedule features several intriguing and high-stakes clashes. One such matchup is Barcelona vs. Brest at Camp Nou. It's an unprecedented encounter, with Flick's side taking on the surprise package of this Champions League campaign. Brest, with three wins and a draw so far, arrives in Spain eager to shock the football world despite facing a star-studded Barça team ready to shine.
The marquee match of the day is Bayern Munich vs. PSG, even if the current standings suggest otherwise. Kompany's Bayern could severely dent Luis Enrique's PSG hopes, as the Parisians sit on just 4 points and are currently out of contention. PSG has only won twice in their last eight meetings (most recently in 2021).
Another fascinating matchup pits Sporting CP against Arsenal. The Portuguese side, bolstered by their second-place standing and a recent win over City, aims to assert themselves against the Gunners in a rematch of the 2023 Europa League Round of 16. Despite losing manager Rúben Amorim to Manchester United, Sporting looks to maintain momentum and secure their place among the top eight.
Guardiola's Manchester City, meanwhile, needs to regain stability after a rough patch of five consecutive losses. They face Feyenoord, a team they’ve never lost to in two previous meetings. The Italian clubs are also in action: Milan faces a seemingly straightforward task against Slovan Bratislava, while Atalanta must contend with the synthetic turf at Young Boys (their last meeting ended 3-3). Inter, on the other hand, hosts Leipzig at the San Siro. Both Atalanta and Inter are the only teams yet to concede a goal in this season's Champions League. Other matches include Sparta Prague vs. Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen vs. Salzburg.
On Wednesday, all eyes turn to Liverpool vs. Real Madrid. The Reds, the only team with a perfect record, are riding high on their Premier League success under new manager Slot. This is an enticing fixture, as Liverpool hasn’t beaten Los Blancos since 2009, when Gerrard, Dossena, and Torres were among the scorers. Despite the contrasting forms of the teams, this game could prove pivotal for both in their Champions League journeys.
Other key matchups include Aston Villa vs. Juventus. The English side, on 9 points, suffered their first defeat in the previous round, while the Bianconeri, on 7 points, must grapple with injuries and uncertainties over Vlahović’s availability. Bologna aims for a historic first Champions League win against Lille to keep their playoff dreams alive. Monaco, too, seeks to hold onto third place in a promising clash against Benfica, which could deliver surprises.
Additional fixtures: Red Star Belgrade vs. Stuttgart, Sturm Graz vs. Girona, Celtic vs. Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb vs. Borussia Dortmund, and PSV vs. Shakhtar.
