Atlético Madrid, Bayern München, Juventus, Manchester City, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain could clinch Champions League round of 16 places with two games on Match Day 4 with positive results in their matches and outcome from centers. Chelsea need to revive their home form in the Champions League having won twice on the road to level with Ajax. Inter Milan solid victory over Borussia Dortmund has kept their hopes alive in the race for qualification in the group of death – Group F and Real Madrid can pull further away from Galatasary and Club Brugge with a home win against Turkish giants in the race for second place behind Paris Saint-Germain in Group A.
Here is our preview of some matches across the eight groups.
Group E;
NAPOLI v SALZBURG – TUE. 05 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Napoli will look to replicate similar result earned at Red Bull Arena a fortnight ago as they edge the Austrian outfit in a five-goal thriller. Since that victory at Wals-Siezenheim, Carlo Ancelotti’s troops haven’t won a game in the Serie A while Salzburg have enjoyed the opposite run winning all three domestic matches and scoring 11 goals in the process. The Serie A runners-up last season will hope to keep their positive home run in the Champions’ League group stage going; they picked up seven points from three games at the San Paolo.
VERDICT – Napoli will face the competition leading scorer – Erling Braut Haaland (six goals) with a leaky defense that has managed just one clean sheet in the last five. The Partenopei can book a place in the next round with a victory at home and that should serve as enough motivation for the Naples club. Both teams have enough quality in attack to hurt each other; both teams to score.
Group F;
BORUSSIA DORTMUND v INTER MILAN – TUE. 05 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Borussia Dortmund can get their competition aspiration back on track at Signal Iduna Park on Match Day 4 when they host Inter Milan. The Germans suffered defeat in the reverse fixture two weeks ago and will need to turn the tables on the Italian club. With both teams’ level on points (four points each), the margin for error is very slim in a game that will be played as a cup final for both teams in Dortmund. Since their last meeting at the San Siro, both teams have picked up two wins and a draw in domestic competitions.
VERDICT – Lucien Favre’s side kept three clean sheets in the group stage last season and they shut Barcelona out on opening night in this season group game. However, their record against Inter is poor (1W, 1D, 3L) and BVB have not scored in the last three home matches in the Champions League. Dortmund are very strong at home and they are not likely to lose in front of their passionate fans.
Group H;
CHELSEA v AJAX AFC – TUE. 05 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Chelsea will look to pick their first point at home in the competition after winning twice on the road at Lille and Ajax. The Blues fell at home to Valencia on Match Day 1 but will need to avoid similar situation when last season semi-finalist Ajax arrive in London in search of three points and revenge having lost the reverse fixture to a late Michy Batshuayi’s winner. Chelsea have been improving under the tutelage of Frank Lampard with the Blues on a good run in the Premier League though they suffered a surprise defeat in a domestic cup competition to Manchester United last week. Erik ten Hag has revolutionized de Godenzonen; the Dutch champions have been impressive and can be confident in upsetting their host like they managed at Valencia on Match Day 2.
VERDICT – Ajax record in their last three games in London is one win and two draws but they are up against just one of their last 18 matches in UEFA competitions. With both sides level on point, it is a winner takes all game for the leadership of Group H. There isn’t much to separate both teams and a draw might just be on the cards at Stamford Bridge.
Group A;
REAL MADRID v GALATASARY – WED. 06 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Real Madrid had to wait till Match Day 3 to record their first win of the campaign and they can take a significant step towards qualification with another victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish giants are five points behind leaders PSG and a win over Galatasary is likely to end the Turkish club run in the competition. Fatih Terim’s side is the only team yet to score in this season’s group stage; they have their work cut out against a team that has shut the opposition out in their last three outings. Is an upset on the cards in the Spanish capital on Wednesday night?
VERDICT – Real Madrid have won five of their last six matches against Turkish opposition while Galatasaray are on a five-game losing streak against Spanish clubs. Los Blancos have won their last three matches against Gala in Madrid and are favorites for this game.
Group B;
CRVENA ZVEZDA v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – WED. 06 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Crvena zvezda will attempt to recover from a heavy defeat at Tottenham as the teams meet again in Belgrade, where the Serbian champions can draw inspiration from a famous win against Liverpool in last season’s group stage. Mauricio Pochettino’s side climbed above their opponents on to four points, one above Crvena zvezda and three ahead of bottom side Olympiacos with the win in London. On the road, Spurs have struggled for form and having let a two-goal lead slip at Olympiacos, the Serbians will fancy themselves at home to against another big English opposition.
VERDICT – Tottenham picked up only two points on their travels in the 2018-19 group stage, and have won only three of their 13 away group matches in the Champions League – and one of the last six. Crvena won their only home group game at this season against Olympiacos, the Serbians will provide Spurs with a stern test in Belgrade. This match could go either way.
Group C;
DINAMO ZAGREB v SHAKHTAR DONETSK – WED. 06 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Dinamo and Shakhtar face each other for the second time in two weeks following the 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture. The draw kept both teams’ level on four points apiece as the resume rivalry for second position in the group behind leaders Manchester City. Both teams had the opportunity to take all three points in Kharkiv but settled for a share of the spoils. Before the draw on Match Day 3, the Croatian club had lost their last 13 group away games and will look to build on the positive result at Stadion Maksimir on Wednesday.
VERDICT – Dinamo is yet to win against Shakhtar in three meetings. Dinamo and Shakhtar met in the Champions League third qualifying round with Shakhtar winning both matches. The Ukrainian side triumphed 2-0 in the Donetsk first leg, before a 3-1 success in Zagreb. The Blues are unbeaten in their last five outings while the Miners suffered one defeat in the last five. Similar to the reverse fixtures, we expect both teams to score at Stadion Maksimir.
This wraps us our Match Day 3 Focus; predict and win big in this money-spinning competition by visiting our Sports shop Babaijebu.ng for mouthwatering offers in all 16 matches for Match Day 3. The UEFA Champions League preview returns in a fortnight.