We’re approaching the halfway point of the 2023/24 Champions League group stages.
After Tuesday and Wednesday’s fixtures, each side would’ve played three out of their six group games, although the desperation for some crept in after matchday two. While there’s still a long way to go, we should start to see the groups take shape after the latest round of action.
Premier League clubs Manchester United and Arsenal are in need of points in their upcoming ventures, while Manchester City are once again cruising. Newcastle, meanwhile, could take full control of Group F by beating Borussia Dortmund on home soil.
Here’s how 90min sees this week’s Champions League fixtures panning out.
Tuesday 24 October
Matchday 3 kicks off with Galatasaray hosting group stage phenoms Bayern Munich, and last season’s finalists Inter taking on RB Salzburg at San Siro.
Bayern are currently enjoying a 36-game unbeaten run in Champions League group stage fixtures and have won their last 15 on the bounce. Victory in Istanbul on Tuesday and they’ll become the first club to ever win eight away group stage fixtures in a row.
While RB Salzburg got on the board with a win over Benfica on matchday one, Inter will be looking to produce a similarly controlled performance against the Austrian giants as they did against Roger Schmidt’s side on matchday two.
Manchester United must beat Kobenhavn at Old Trafford if they’re to have any chance of progressing from Group A, while Arsenal could do with points in Seville after losing to Lens last time out.
|
Kick-off time (BST) |
Fixture |
Group |
Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
|
17:45 |
Galatasaray vs Bayern Munich |
A |
2-2 |
|
17:45 |
Inter vs RB Salzburg |
D |
1-0 |
|
20:00 |
Manchester United vs Kobenhavn |
A |
2-1 |
|
20:00 |
Sevilla vs Arsenal |
B |
1-1 |
|
20:00 |
Lens vs PSV |
B |
2-1 |
|
20:00 |
Union Berlin vs Napoli |
C |
2-3 |
|
20:00 |
Braga vs Real Madrid |
C |
1-1 |
|
20:00 |
Benfica vs Real Sociedad |
D |
1-2 |
The Ligue 1 side endured a wretched start to the campaign, but their form notably improved before they break. Lens host PSV on Tuesday night with Peter Bosz’s side hoping to secure their first win of the group stage having won nine out of nine in the Eredivisie.
Back-to-back wins have seen Real Madrid take full control of Group C, but a tricky away trip across the Iberian Peninsula to Braga awaits. After falling to Madrid on matchday two in a thrilling back-and-forth encounter, Napoli take on the winless Union Berlin. The debutants have lost both of their games in a crushing fashion thus far.
Real Sociedad have been one of the standouts of the competition so far despite amassing four instead of six points. Up next for the Spaniards is an away trip to Lisbon with Benfica desperately needing to get their campaign up and running.
Wednesday 25 October
Barcelona have hardly enthralled the masses as of late with their injury list continuing to grow, but results are all they need in this competition and that’s exactly what they’ve produced so far. They’ve got a 100% record to preserve when they host Shakhtar Donetsk in one of two early kick-offs on Wednesday.
Lazio have struggled in Europe since returning to continental relevancy, but they’ve made a promising start to a tightly-packed Group E. However, a mightily tough away fixture beckons as they face Feyenoord at De Kuip.
Celtic‘s Champions League campaign has been miserable thus far, and a big boy is coming to town on Wednesday in the form of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. The Spaniards have had to work hard for their points thus far, but they nonetheless sit top of the group through two games.
|
Kick-off time (BST) |
Fixture |
Group |
Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
|
17:45 |
Feyenoord vs Lazio |
E |
2-1 |
|
17:45 |
Barcelona vs Shakhtar Donetsk |
H |
2-0 |
|
20:00 |
Celtic vs Atletico Madrid |
E |
0-1 |
|
20:00 |
Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmind |
F |
3-1 |
|
20:00 |
PSG vs Milan |
F |
3-1 |
|
20:00 |
RB Leipzig vs Red Star Belgrade |
G |
3-0 |
|
20:00 |
Young Boys vs Man City |
G |
0-2 |
|
20:00 |
Royal Antwerp vs Porto |
H |
0-1 |
The best of the action is set to arrive in the ‘Group of Death’ once again with a rampant Newcastle hosting Borussia Dortmund. The Bundesliga outfit have enjoyed an upsurge in recent weeks after a slow start to the season, but will they be able to fight fire with fire against the Premier League’s most potent attacking force in front of a fervent St. James’? The odds are stacked against them.
The other game in Group F sees contemporary behemoths PSG host historical giants Milan in Paris. Milan are winless through two games, while PSG need a bounce-back performance after succumbing on Tyneside.
Man City‘s waltz to top spot in Group G continues away at Young Boys as RB Leipzig host Red Star Belgrade. Finally, Royal Antwerp, who were so cruelly denied points last time out, host Porto in Belgium on Wednesday night.
READ 90MIN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHDAY 3 PREVIEWS
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