Champions League Week 5: Group Stage Showdowns
This week marks game week five of the Champions League group stages, and with many groups still undecided, we have some fantastic matchups ahead. The highlight of the round takes place on Wednesday when two of Europe’s biggest clubs, Juventus and Barcelona, meet. A win for Barcelona would seal the group for them, while a draw or victory for Juventus would take the battle for top spot down to the final match.
Manchester City and Chelsea look to have the easiest games among the English clubs, while Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester United face tougher away fixtures. Manchester City have already qualified, so they may rest players, but should still have enough quality to beat a disappointing Feyenoord team. Chelsea will qualify if they beat FK Qarabag away, and they might even reclaim top spot from Roma.
Meanwhile, Manchester United head to Basel knowing that a draw will secure their qualification as group winners. Basel, however, still have a shot at qualifying, so expect them to push United hard. Liverpool face Sevilla in what is likely a group-deciding game, as both teams fight for the top spot. Lastly, Tottenham, who have already qualified, can further solidify their hold on Group H with a good result away at Dortmund.
Our Predictions
With 16 games spread across two days, there’s plenty of action to enjoy. Here are our predictions for this week’s Champions League matches:
Tuesday
- Besiktas v Porto – Draw
- Spartak Moscow v Maribor – Moscow win
- APOEL Nicosia v Real Madrid – Madrid win
- Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham – Draw
- Manchester City v Feyenoord – Manchester City win
- Monaco v Leipzig – Monaco win
- Napoli v Shakhtar Donetsk – Napoli win
- Sevilla v Liverpool – Sevilla win
Wednesday
- CSKA Moscow v Benfica – Moscow win
- FK Qarabag v Chelsea – Chelsea win
- Anderlecht v Bayern Munich – Bayern win
- Atletico Madrid v Roma – Draw
- Basel v Manchester United – Draw
- Juventus v Barcelona – Juventus win
- PSG v Celtic – PSG win
- Sporting Lisbon v Olympiakos – Lisbon win
What Games Are on TV?
You can catch all the action live on BT Sport this week, with coverage across their platforms, including the red button. Here are the listings for English clubs and the game of the week:
Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham – Tuesday 19:45, BT Sport 3
Tottenham already have a place in the next round and currently lead Group H by three points. They face a tough trip to Germany, where a draw would significantly boost their chances of securing top spot. Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, are fighting for their Champions League lives and must win both their remaining games to have any hope of progressing.
Manchester City v Feyenoord – Tuesday 19:45, BT Sport ESPN
Manchester City have been in superb form, winning all four of their matches so far. They have already qualified, but with a three-point cushion, they’ll be looking to seal top spot with a win against bottom-placed Feyenoord, who have yet to pick up a point.
Sevilla v Liverpool – Tuesday 19:45, BT Sport 2
This is a crucial fixture for Liverpool as they battle with Sevilla for the top spot in Group E. Liverpool hold a slim one-point advantage, but Sevilla will be confident at home. With Spartak Moscow close behind, both teams will be desperate for a win to avoid a tense final group game.
FK Qarabag v Chelsea – Wednesday 17:00, BT Sport 2
Chelsea slipped into second place after losing to Roma, but they can secure qualification with a win against FK Qarabag. Should things go their way in the Roma vs Atletico game, Chelsea could also retake top spot in Group C.
Basel v Manchester United – Wednesday 19:45, BT Sport 2
Manchester United need just a point to qualify as group winners. However, Basel are fighting with CSKA Moscow for second place, and this promises to be a competitive match. Expect Basel to push hard for a result.
Juventus v Barcelona – Wednesday 19:45, BT Sport ESPN
Undoubtedly the game of the week, this heavyweight clash between Juventus and Barcelona will likely decide the winner of Group D. A victory for Juventus would set up a thrilling final round of matches, with both clubs battling for supremacy.
Betting Odds
All odds correct at the time of writing.
Manchester City are priced at 1/8 to beat Feyenoord, making them a near-certainty for accumulator bettors. Other popular teams this week will include Real Madrid (2/11), Napoli (4/9), Chelsea (4/11), Bayern Munich (4/13), and PSG (1/10).
For those looking for value, Liverpool can be backed at 13/8 to win in Sevilla, while their Spanish counterparts are priced at 9/5. Tottenham are 23/10 to win away at Dortmund, with the home team priced at 5/4 and the draw available at 11/4.
Manchester United are 21/20 to win away at Basel, with the draw priced at 13/5 and Basel available at 3/1. In the biggest game of the week, Juventus are 2/1 to beat Barcelona, while the Catalan side are priced at 6/4 and the draw can be backed at 12/5.
Betting Offers
- If you fancy Liverpool to win in Sevilla, Ladbrokes have a fantastic offer for new customers, offering Liverpool at 25/1 to win, with winnings paid out in free bets.
- Coral is offering 25/1 on Manchester City to win against Feyenoord for new customers. Maximum stake is £1, with winnings paid as free bets.
- For accumulator backers, Bet365 offers a bonus on Champions League accumulators starting at 5% for a treble and going up to 100% for 14 teams. This is available to both new and existing customers.
