The UEFA Champions League continues this Wednesday and Thursday morning and with just two matchdays left in the group stage, tensions are beginning to rise as teams fight for the remaining places in the knockout phase. We take a look at some of the key matchups in Week 5 of the UCL below.
Borussia Dortmund vs Tottenham Hotspur (Wednesday 6.45am AEDT)
Dortmund will need to win their remaining two games and hope that Real Madrid lose both of their games if the German club wish to advance alongside Tottenham to the knockout stage. Tottenham have already booked their place in the next round but will be looking for at least four more points to secure the coveted first spot in the group.
Tottenham have lost two of their last three matches in the EPL to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively. Another away team here against Borussia will be a tough task, even if the German giants have been struggling in the Bundesliga so far. Dortmund have just six wins through their opening 12 games and sit 5th on the table.
Dortmund has a great record against English clubs at home. They have lost just once in eight matches against English sides in Germany and have a 2-1 record over Tottenham in European competitions. There’s still a slim chance for Dortmund to qualify here so they will be playing as hard as they can, we like them to come away with a win here.
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Juventus vs Barcelona (Thursday 6.45am AEDT)
Blockbuster matchup here as Spanish juggernauts Barcelona take on Juventus in Italy on Thursday morning. Barcelona need just one more point to lock in a knockout stage berth while Juventus sit just three points ahead of third placed Sporting Lisbon in Group D. Barcelona were 3-0 winners with the two teams met in Week 1 of the UCL but they should be more competitive on home soil here with more on the line.
Barcelona have been near faultless in their La Liga campaign so far, securing 11 wins and a draw from their 12 games while Juventus’ domestic record is nothing to snigger at either. The reigning Serie A Champions sit third on the table with 10 wins from their 13 games and can all but secure their passage to the knockout stage with a win here.
Really tough game to call here. Juventus got the better of Barcelona in the quarter finals of last years Champions League, defeating them 3-0 at home in the first leg before holding out for a 0-0 draw to see them advance. They also have one of the more impressive home records in European competitions, losing just once in their last 29 matches against Spanish opponents. Barcelona will bank on securing at least one point in matchday six against Sporting Lisbon so they might not take this one as seriously. Look for Juventus to hold firm at home.
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Atletico Madrid vs Roma (Thursday 6.45am AEDT)
There’s still a lot to play for in Group C of the Champions League. Roma currently hold top spot with eight points while Chelsea are hot on their tails with seven and have the easy game against FK Qarabag this week. Atletico Madrid will need to win both of their games and hope that Roma also lose to Qarabag in Matchday 6 to advance.
Atletico are still undefeated through the first 12 games of the La Liga, although six of those games have ended in a draw. They currently sit fourth on the table behind rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid and surprise packet Valencia. Roma also sit fourth on their respective domestic league table, with 10 wins and two losses from their 12 games.
The two sides have only met three times in all competitions, with Madrid taking out the first two encounters 2-1 before a 0-0 draw was played out in Matchday 1 of this year’s UCL. Madrid are masters of grinding out results away from home which is what we saw in Matchday 1. They should be much more competitive at home this time around, especially with so much on the line.
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