Which teams will join Bayern München, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain in the next phase of the competition with one game to spare in the group stage? Real Madrid, last season finalist Tottenham Hotspur, current champions Liverpool, Barcelona and RB Leipzig can all seal their passage to the next round with wins in their Match Day 5 encounters. It is very interesting in Group H; Ajax AFC, Chelsea and Valencia are all tied on seven points in a three-team head-to-head in the race for the top two spots in the group.
Here is our preview of some matches across the eight groups.
Group A;
REAL MADRID v PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN – TUE. 26 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Real Madrid have recovered from Match Day 1 heavy defeat in Paris and require just a point to book passage to the next phase. PSG have had a perfect run in the competition to date, winning four games from four, scoring 10 goals and conceding none while racing to qualification from Group A with two games to spare. Zinedine Zidane and team need to pick themselves from where they stopped against Galatasary last time out in this competition as they take on a side that has excelled so far. Angel Di Maria and Keylor Navas will be returning to their old club but the reception both players will receive might be different.
VERDICT – Real Madrid will want to keep their slim hopes of winning Group A alive with a victory at home. The Spanish club will want a revenge on the heavy defeat suffered in Paris. With the wealth of attacking talent at both clubs, it’s hard to see anything other than goals in this game. We’re backing a goal fest at the Santiago Bernabeu; over 3.5 goals.
Group B;
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR v OLYMPIACOS – TUE. 26 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Tottenham Hotspur will seal qualification to the knockout stage of the competition under new manager – Jose Mourinho at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night. It has been a tough campaign for Olympiacos in the Champions League; the Greek club is bottom of the standings, picking up only one point from four matches. Thrylos produced a memorable fightback at home against Spurs on Match Day 1, salvaging a draw – a rare highlight for Olympiacos this season, however, with defeats in their next three fixtures.
VERDICT – Spurs will ride the wave of confidence that followed the arrival of their new manager and will look to secure a big result in front of their fans. Pedro Martins’s team has lost their two group games away from home and it is hard seeing Erythrolefki getting anything from this game.
Group D;
JUVENTUS v ATLETICO MADRID – TUE. 26 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Atlético Madrid can join already qualified Juventus in the last 16 with a victory in Turin but that is easier said. The Old Lady of Turin is yet suffer defeat in any competition this season and they will be looking for a repeat of last season’s dominant home success against Atlético Madrid when the teams meet on Matchday 5. Juventus can wrap up first place in Group D on Tuesday; the Italian champions are on a great run and they come into one against an Atlético Madrid side winless in their previous five away trips. History doesn’t seem to favor the visitors in this clash. Atlético Madrid have registered just three wins in their 10 previous encounters with Juventus in all competitions (3W, 2D, 5L)
VERDICT – Juventus have not lost at home in any competition this season (8W), Atletico have not kept a clean sheet in their last five matches and which pretty strange by their high standards. Will Cristiano Ronaldo face one of his old nemesis? The Portuguese striker didn’t feature for Sarri over the weekend. Diego Simeone will have several players back with a number missing the draw at Granada. Juventus are favorites at home and we do not see them losing in front of their fans.
Group H;
VALENCIA v CHELSEA – WED. 27 NOV 2019, 18.55HRS
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Valencia provided the surprise result in Group H on Match Day 1 beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but will be wary of the English side record of not losing at the Mestalla in all previous visits. Los Che spoilt Frank Lampard’s European debut as Chelsea manager but the Blues have recovered from the opening day setback to pick up seven points in the next three games. On the other hand, Valencia have given themselves a chance to book a place in the knockout stages as well. They along with Chelsea and Ajax are locked in a three-way head to head in this group.
VERDICT – Both teams are abundantly clear and well informed that a defeat in this game is a setback for them in a bid to secure qualification. This is game with very little margin for error and it could be a tight affair with neither side ready to lose. Chelsea will hope to keep their excellent Mestalla record intact but we believe both teams will get on the scoresheet with their defenses not particularly very strong.
Group E;
LIVERPOOL v NAPOLI – WED. 27 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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Liverpool lead the way in Group E and for the second season in a row finish their home fixtures against Napoli. The Italian club are unbeaten in the group and are hot on the heels of the leaders at the top of the standings. Napoli recorded a 2-0 success against the holders in Naples on Match Day 1 but the Reds have bounced back winning all three games since to move on to nine points, one more than their opponents. Both teams head into this game in contrasting form; Jurgen Klopp’s men have won their last five matches in all competitions while the Partenopei are without a victory in the last five as they head to Anfield.
VERDICT – Each side recorded a 1-0 home win in last season’s group stage; the Reds will be in no sympathy mood when they host Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Mohamed Salah is expected to return, he was an unused substitute over the weekend and he score the winner against Napoli last season. Napoli’s current form and recent mutiny from the players does not inspire confidence from the Southern Italian club. It is Liverpool’s three points to lose.
Group F;
BARCELONA v BORUSSIA DORTMUND – WED. 27 NOV 2019, 21.00HRS
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It is a winner takes all game at the Camp Nou between FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund; either side will qualify with a win in Catalonia. A goalless draw was the outcome of Match Day 1 in this reverse fixture at Signal Iduna Park in a game Dortmund skipper Marco Reus missed a spot kick with Barcelona’s German goalkeeper making several saves to keep his team in the game. Both teams are separated by a single point in the standings as they eye a place in the knockout phase. Barcelona are unbeaten in Group F but were held to a draw at home last time out against the supposed weak team in the group – Slavia Prague.
VERDICT – Both managers are increasingly under pressure for their team’s inconsistent performances this season. Gerard Pique suspension leaves Barcelona short of leadership at the back with former player – Paco Alcacer looking to get one over his old club. Dortmund have poor record in Spain with no victory in the last 11 visits (4D, 7L). The German side away form is a bit poor and Barcelona’s strong home record in this competition sees them as favorites for this game.
This wraps us our Match Day 5 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 5. The UEFA Champions League preview returns in a fortnight.