The UEFA Champions League returns this week for matchday six, marking a critical phase in the league phase where every point could define a team’s season. With just three games left to determine who progresses to the knockout stages and who falls short, the stakes are rising ever higher.
In this article, we explore five key talking points ahead of matchday six of the UCL:
Liverpool bid to remain flawless
Arne Slot’s side have made a brilliant start to the 2024/25 season, sitting top of the English Premier League table and enjoying a flawless run in the Champions League. They remain the only side in the competition to have won all five of their games, and the Reds will now be looking to maintain their flawless run when they take on Girona on Tuesday, a side that have just three points.
Real Madrid must win
Real Madrid were many people’s predicted winners this year, having won last season’s competition before adding Kylian Mbappe to the squad during the summer transfer window.
However, their start to this year’s edition has been far from ideal, winning two and losing three to leave them sitting 24th in the table, the final qualification place. That leaves their upcoming game against in-form Atalanta as a must-win for Los Blancos, who risk dropping out of the qualification places entirely if they fail to record three points.
Paris Saint-Germain staring at shock exit
PSG find themselves in a similar situation to Real Madrid, though the French giants are even worse off as they sit outside the qualification places altogether in 25th.
READ: Today’s best booking code after yesterday’s successful bet!
They have won just one of their five Champions League fixtures, coming on the opening matchday, followed by three defeats and a draw, leaving them staring at the possibility of a shock league phase exit.
Similarly to Real Madrid, that leaves PSG’s upcoming match against 32nd-placed RB Salzburg as a must-win for Luis Enrique’s side.
Aston Villa to push for top eight spot?
After a phenomenal start to the Champions League, winning their first three, Aston Villa’s form has declined in their past two outings, coinciding with a dismal eight-game winless run across all competitions.
The Villans finally put that run to bed with a 3-1 win over Brentford, followed by beating Southampton last time out, and they will now aim to return to form on the continent when they take on RB Leipzig, who are yet to record a point with five losses in the Champions League.
A win for Villa could be crucial as they sit joint on 10 points with six other sides, three of which are occupying the top eight, while it could see them climb as high as second depending on results elsewhere.
Manchester City’s torrid time to continue?
No one could have expected the torrid run of results that Man City have endured over the past weeks, managing just one win in their last nine matches across all competitions, including a 4-1 loss to Sporting and a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, which they led 3-0 before a late collapse saw them drop points.
They looked to have ended the run when they convincingly beat Nottingham Forest 3-0, but a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace followed, leaving them aiming to bring an end to the streak for good on Wednesday.
However, a challenging clash against Juventus in Italy awaits Pep Guardiola’s men, posing the question: could their torrid time continue, or will they rise to the occasion in Turin?
Bet on the most markets in Nigeria for matchday six of the UCL! – Bet Here
