The UEFA Champions League roars back into action on Tuesday and Wednesday, signalling the start of the decisive second half of the league phase. With just four games remaining in the league phase, the stakes are beginning to climb higher than ever as teams fight for qualification.
We take a look at five key talking points ahead of the anticipated return of the Champions League:
Bayern Munich & Paris Saint-Germain fight for crucial points
These two sides would have been tipped to comfortably finish inside the top eight and secure automatic qualification to the round of 16 ahead of the league phase kicking off, but both have struggled thus far.
Bayern are 17th with six points, from two wins and two defeats, but could see themselves jump into the top eight if they secure an important win here, depending on results elsewhere. PSG are faring even worse, sitting outside the qualification places altogether in 25th with just four points, leaving them in desperate need of victory if they are to salvage a top-eight place.
With both fighting for crucial points in an attempt to secure qualification, expect this game to be full of action and drama.
Winless Leipzig face undefeated Inter
This will be a contest between two teams having starkly contrasting campaigns in the league phase thus far, with visitors Leipzig yet to secure a single point from their opening four matches, losing to Celtic, Liverpool, Juventus and Atletico Madrid. That leaves them already trailing the top 24 by five points, meaning they must be significantly improved in the final four fixtures if they have any hope of qualifying.
Inter, on the other hand, are fifth in the standings with 10 points from four games, having won three and drawn one. They remain as one of just two sides, alongside Atalanta, yet to concede a goal in the four matches, and they will be looking to extend that run in this one.
Can Manchester City bounce back?
Man City suffered a devastating 4-1 defeat to Sporting in their last Champions League fixture, initially taking the lead after just four minutes before a second-half collapse saw them concede three times, an extremely surprising result. They were also thrashed 4-0 at home to Tottenham on Saturday.
That defeat is their fifth in a row, the first time Pep Guardiola has ever suffered that in his career, and the manager will be desperate to return to winning ways in the Champions League when they take on Feyenoord.
Will Sporting replicate Man City win vs Arsenal?
As already mentioned, Sporting secured a remarkable 4-1 victory over Man City in their last outing in this competition, coming from behind to humiliate Guardiola’s side in what was Ruben Amorim’s final home game in charge of the club.
Joao Pereira has taken charge of the side since the former manager’s departure, and he will be hoping his side can replicate their famous win over the Citizens when they host Arsenal on Tuesday, a team that have struggled in recent weeks. Sporting currently possess the most in-form striker in Europe, with Viktor Gyokeres on 33 goals in 25 matches for club and country in 2024/25 and will be good value to continue this run on Tuesday.
Celtic to continue strong qualification run?
Celtic have failed to progress to the knockout rounds of Champions League football since 2013, when they were convincingly defeated 5-0 on aggregate by Juventus in the round of 16. However, the Bhoys have made a positive start to their qualification attempts this year, sitting 15th in the table with seven points from two wins, one draw and one defeat.
They have already secured their biggest Champions League victory in history with a 5-1 win against Slovan Bratislava, as well as a phenomenal 3-1 win against RB Leipzig and a 0-0 draw with Atalanta. Admittedly they did lose 7-1 to Borussia Dortmund in their second fixture, but they have quickly recovered from that defeat, and they will be looking to strengthen their qualification attempt with a win against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
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