OneFootball
Alex Mott·10 décembre 2024
OneFootball
Alex Mott·10 décembre 2024
The new Champions League group stage is entering its home straight with matchweek six which is a potentially vital one for some sides.
Here's what you can expect from Tuesday's matches.
There's a case to be made for Atalanta being the best team in Europe right now.
The Italian underdogs are currently top of Serie A having beaten Milan over the weekend and are on a frankly ludicrous run of 12 wins in their last 14 games.
Legendary coach Gian Piero Gasperini has the Bergamo outfit humming with Ademola Lookman and Belgian sensation Charles De Ketelaere in the form of their lives.
Atalanta are, rightly, scared of no one and host Real Madrid in what promises to be a brilliant occasion at the Gewiss Stadium.
Los Blancos may have overcome their recent blip with an impressive win at Girona on Saturday but with Jude Bellingham a serious doubt for the game, the holders could well be in for another tough night in the Champions League.
📸 PIERO CRUCIATTI - AFP or licensors
CBS Sports pundit Jamie Carragher revealed during the last Champions League matchweek that Inter are his pick to win the whole thing come May.
And right now it's hard to disagree with the Liverpool legend as Simone Inzaghi's side sit second only to the Anfield giants in this expanded group stage.
The Nerazzurri have hardly put a foot wrong so far with a draw at Manchester City in the opening game their only dropped points.
Wins over Young Boys, Red Star Belgrade and RB Leipzig were par for the course but it was their victory against Arsenal that truly impressed.
Inter put in a complete 90 minute performance against the Premier League side with their back four blunting the Gunners sparkling front line in brutal fashion.
More of the same will be needed later this evening as German champions Bayer Leverkusen play host in what's sure to be a fascinating encounter.
It's been a European campaign to remember so far for Celtic.
The Scottish giants have won twice already in the group, double the amount they'd won in the previous six years.
Victories over Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig, as well as battling draws with Atalanta and Club Brugge have put Brendan Rodgers' side on eight points.
A win this week then at Dinamo Zagreb could have enormous implications for their progression to the last 32 and, potentially, straight through to the last 16.
If the Hoops are to get something in Croatia though, wide man Nicolas Kühn will need to be at his best - something that's come easy for the German this season.
Netting 11 goals and 11 assists in his 21 appearances so far, the winter arrival from Rapid Wien has quickly established himself as one of Celtic's main men and will have to lead from the front if they're to claim another three points.
📸 FRANCK FIFE - AFP or licensors
Could this be the end for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League dreams in 2024/25?
Luis Enrique's side have, frankly, been woeful so far in Europe with just one win and four points from their first five games.
Should PSG suffer a defeat this time around against fellow strugglers Salzburg, and it would be difficult to see just how Les Parisiens would qualify for the knockout rounds.
Salzburg themselves have been no great shakes this term, struggling both on the continent and domestically, but can draw on an unlikely win at Feyenoord on matchweek four to offer up some hope.
It really is win or bust for these two, which should make Tuesday's game an absolute doozy.
This will be the first ever meeting between Girona and Liverpool with the Liga side having never played an English club in official competition.
The Reds meanwhile travel to Spain have struggled on the Iberian peninsula in the past. Arne Slot's side have only won two of their last 10 away matches in Spain.
Claim a victory though, and the Premier League club will all but confirm their automatic progress.
📸 THOMAS KIENZLE - AFP or licensors