The second half of the UEFA Champions League’s league phase starts on Tuesday with matchday 5 action. Three sides enter this round with a perfect record, while another two are without defeat. On the other side, two clubs await their first point, with a further seven having yet to claim a point.
There is little space for error now since there are only three rounds left after this before the knockout stage. With that in mind, here is The Deck’s preview ahead of the football.
UEFA Champions League: Matchday 5
Battle at the Bottom While Chelsea Hosts Barcelona
A tenth ever meeting between Ajax (0 points, 36th place) and Benfica (0, 35th) is set to occur, with both teams looking to get on the board. The Dutch giants have lost 11 of their last 13 in the UCL proper, with Benfica responsible for one of those defeats. That came in the round of 16 in 2021/22. Speaking of the two-time winners from Portugal, it is their third UCL appearance in a row in which they have been beaten at least four times.
Galatasaray (9, 9th) plays host to Union Saint-Gilloise (3, 28th) in what is a meeting between the Turkish and Belgian champions. Victory at home would almost surely ensure that Gala return to the UCL knockout rounds for the first time in 13 years. However, they have never beaten Belgian opposition in Europe. After winning on matchday 1, Union has failed to grab a point since then. They will need to return to winning ways if they wish to advance in their maiden Champions League showing.
A first-time meeting between Bodø/Glimt (2, 29th) and Juventus (3, 26th) will transpire at the Arctic Circle. The Norwegian outfit, currently in a battle for their league title, has fallen in their last two, but they have enjoyed their greatest European moments at the expense of Italian opposition. For Juve, this is their first clash with a Norwegian team since 2001/02. They have never lost such a matchup, winning all four home ties and drawing the four away trips.
Our tie of the round sees Chelsea (7, 12th) face Barcelona (7, 11th) in a huge clash. Remarkably, this game comes a week after the women’s sides battled it out in the Women’s Champions League. Following a shock draw three weeks ago, the Blues look to grab a third win and solidify their chances of progression. Barcelona prevailed against Newcastle on matchday 1 for what became their 37th win versus English sides in European competition.
Villarreal (1, 32nd) is in dire need of three points as they welcome Borussia Dortmund (7, 14th). The Yellow Submarine have scored just twice in the UCL thus far, which is the joint-second fewest. Their last win in the competition came at the quarterfinal stage in 2021/22 at home to Bayern Munich. Dortmund’s games have been goals galore so far, with a total of 24 goals in across their four ties. They also topped Athletic Club to open their league phase campaign.
Manchester City (10, 4th) is up against Bayer Leverkusen (5, 21st) as the Cityzens look for a 25th success over German-based teams. Of course, they beat Dortmund in their last match, which strengthened their position. Top eight is the goal for City, who has advanced from this stage in each season since 2013/14. Leverkusen earned their first win of their UCL campaign last time out, but is just inside the top 24. A win at the Etihad would be key for them to progress.
In France, Olympique Marseille (3, 25th) takes on Newcastle (9, 6th). It has been 14 years since l’OM has successfully negotiated this stage of the competition, with Tuesday’s match going a long way in ending that run. They did knock out their opponents in the UEFA Cup semifinals at the beginning of the century. Newcastle is 3-3-6 against French teams all-time, though they earned a win and a draw against PSG two falls ago.
The Italian and Azeri champions meet as Napoli (4, 24th) meets Qarabağ (7, 15th). It has been a sluggish showing so far from the former, who has already failed to score on two occasions. This will be their first crack versus a side from Azerbaijan, something they will need to make the most of. As for Qarabağ, they have been the surprise package in the Champions League thus far. In what is just their second appearance, they are possibly a win away from getting past this stage for the first time.
Rounding out Tuesday’s games sees Slavia Praha face Athletic Club (3, 27th). It has not been a great UCL return for Slavia, who has yet to claim victory. They have had their troubles against Spanish clubs as well, winning just twice across 15 matches (2-6-7). It has arguably been worse for Athletic, who fell to defeat thrice already. They have never gotten past this round either, with their previous struggles continuing to plague them this autumn.
Super Cup Rematch Highlights Wednesday’s Fixtures
FC København (1, 33rd) and Kairat Almaty (1, 34th) look for a first win as the sides square off in the Danish capital. It was the fourth season in a row where FCK failed to win any of their opening three group phase fixtures, but now after a defeat in North London three weeks ago, they are already in danger of elimination. A similar thing can be said for Kairat, who has scored just twice in their maiden UCL showing. They were eliminated by Esbjerg in the 2014/15 Europa League qualifiers.
Another side who has surprised thus far, Paphos (5, 20th) is up against AS Monaco (5, 19th). The Cypriot champions will fancy their chances at home, where they are 9-2-2 all-time. This is their first crack at a French team. For Monaco, they have had quite the struggle of late. They have lost their last three league games, with their success at Bodø being their only win during that time. They are hoping to get past this stage for the second year running.
One of Wednesday’s high-profile clashes pits together Arsenal (12, 2nd) and Bayern Munich (12, 1st). The Gunners have yet to concede in this season’s competition, scoring 11 times in that run. They hold a 16-6-16 record against German sides. Meanwhile, it is the second round in a row where Bayern face a club with a perfect record, on the road. The Bavarians have yet to be toppled in any match this campaign, winning all but one. They have an 8-3-3 record versus Arsenal across 14 previous games.
Atlético Madrid (6, 17th) looks to inflict more pain on Internazionale (12, 3rd) as the teams do battle in Spain. Los Colchoneros prevailed at the round of 16 two years ago on penalties in what remains the only previous meeting between the two. They have won their last five at home in the UCL. Inter has conceded just once in the league phase, which came last time out. The Nerazzurri knocked off Barcelona in the semifinals last spring before losing their second final in three years.
Eintracht Frankfurt (4, 23rd) has an Italian team once more as Atalanta (7, 16th) makes the trip to Germany. Die Adler drew at Napoli last time out, keeping them in the top 24. They have a strong 10-5-6 record versus teams from Italy, and if they can make it 11 on Wednesday night, their chances of moving on will certainly increase. Atalanta is unbeaten in the UCL since their 4-0 drubbing on matchday 1. They have beat Stuttgart away last term at this stage.
The defending champions of England and Netherlands meet as Liverpool (9, 8th) hosts PSV Eindhoven (5, 18th). The Reds’ only defeat in last season’s league phase came at the hands of their Dutch opponents, who denied them of a perfect record. It was just a second loss for Liverpool against team from the Netherlands. PSV earned all five of their points in their last three outings after falling at home to commence their league phase.
In Greece, Olympiakos Piraeus (2, 31st) plays host to Real Madrid (9, 7th). The Greeks took a battering on matchday 3 at Barcelona, and will hope to avoid the same fate this time around. They have not enjoyed knockout football in the Champions League since 2013/14. Real, meanwhile, as lost at Merseyside last time out, ending their perfect start. They have only lost twice to a Greek team across 14 matches all-time (6-6-2).
In what is a repeat of the UEFA Super Cup, Paris Saint-Germain (9, 5th) meets Tottenham (8, 10th). Les Parisiens have looked quite strong in their title defence, scoring 14 times. They will, however, want to avoid successive home reverses in the UCL, even if they are likely to move on. Spurs, who won a European trophy for the first time in four decades last May, drew against Monaco on matchday 3. Of the five unbeaten sides left, they are the lowest ranked.
Just as was the case last season, Sporting CP (7, 13th) faces Club Brugge (4, 22nd). The club from Portugal has quietly built a good record in this season’s UCL, with a win at home likely to see them not only advance, but challenge for a top eight place. As for Club, they earned a solid result at home against Barcelona three weeks ago. Having won their meeting with Sporting last term, Blauw-Zwart will aim to work that magic yet again.