5️⃣ things to look out for in Wednesday's Champions League action 💫 | OneFootball

After Tuesday's entree we now have the Champions League main course with a headline occasion in Madrid and potential history at Signal Iduna Park.

Here's what to look for in Wednesday's games.

⚔️ Match of the Day

📸 OLI SCARFF - AFP or licensors

It's the game of the round, it's arguably the game of the season so far and it's a game that will likely define the season for these two clubs.

Real Madrid host Manchester City with a place in the Champions League last 16 on the line.

Last week's first leg was a mini classic with Los Blancos coming back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 in the dying moments.

Jude Bellingham's winner handed Carlo Ancelotti's side a slight advantage heading back to the Spanish capital.

But the Liga giants may also be boosted by the likely returns of Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba.

Although the Austria international is reportedly only ready for a place on the bench, Rüdiger could come straight back into the defence and will provide a capable opponent for Erling Haaland.

City meanwhile could also welcome back their own defensive pair with Rúben Dias and Nathan Ake reportedly fit to play.

Haaland has also trained after his injury scare at the weekend and is likely to lead the line.

It adds up then to an absolute must-watch between two of the very best sides on the continent.

🔎 Team to Watch

Have Juventus finally turned a corner under Thiago Motta?

The former Barcelona and Inter midfielder was hired by the Old Lady last summer after his Bologna side came from nowhere to become an attacking juggernaut in Serie A.

The hope was that Motta could transform Juve from an uninspiring bore under previous boss Massimiliano Allegri to something like his Rossoblu outfit, except with more of a budget.

It's fair to say that the first half of the season was nothing quite like that.

The Bianconeri were one of the most confusing teams in Europe up to January with Motta's men going unbeaten in the first 20 weeks but, astonishingly, drawing 13 games.

Since the arrival of Randal Kolo Muani however, the Turin side seem to have clicked into gear with the France international offering a much clearer attacking fulcrum.

With Weston McKennie in support and in the form of his life, Juve now travel to PSV Eindhoven with a 2-1 lead from their first game and a real chance to show that they are now, finally, the real deal.

🔥 Player to Watch

📸 FRED TANNEAU - AFP or licensors

There is, quite simply, no better player in Europe right now than Ousmane Dembélé.

Ever since his Rennes days the the mercurial wide man has had a knack for making defenders look silly and putting fans on their edge of their seats.

What Dembélé didn't really possess though, was an end product.

From his time at Borussia Dortmund to that ill-fated spell with Barcelona, Dembélé annoyed supporters more than he amazed and it looked as if the France international could be destined to become a brilliant technician, not a brilliant player.

This season however, the 27-year-old has gone to a whole new level and is playing not just the best football of his career, but better football than anyone else.

His usual pace, trickery and craft are on show and that's now been topped up with an almost Thierry Henry-level of calm inside the penalty box.

Paris Saint-Germain are reaping the benefits and one shouldn't be surprised if Dembélé adds more goals to his tally of 22 against Brest.

👀 Potential upset

📸 Carlos Rodrigues - 2025 Getty Images

The list of teams that have blown a three-goal lead or more in a two-legged Champions League tie is a small one.

Milan collapsed against Deportivo La Coruna in 2004, Barcelona did the same against Roma before memorably fighting back against Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and of course Liverpool did the same to the Blaugrana in 2019's legendary semi-final.

History is against Sporting then as they travel to Borussia Dortmund having lost 3-0 from last week's opening encounter.

But if any side can capitulate against the odds, it's this Dortmund vintage.

The Schwarzgelben have been excellent in Europe so far this term but a calamity has never been too far away in the Bundesliga.

Another happened this past weekend as lowly Bochum secured only their third win of the season by beating Dortmund 2-0.

Niko Kovač's side then, come into this play-off with basement levels of confidence and a potential piece of history staring them in the face.

📊 Fascinating stat

If history is anything to go by, then Real Madrid are almost certainly set for a place in the last 16.

Their win over Man City last week was the 40th time Los Blancos have been victorious in a European first leg tie away from home.

On 37 of the previous 39 occasions, Real Madrid have gone through to the next round.

The last time they didn't progress? That infamous Ajax last 16 game in 2018/19.

📸 Michael Regan - 2025 Getty Images