New Delhi: UEFA Champions League returns after a week’s gap on Tuesday, 5th November. One of Europe’s biggest football tournaments returns after Ballon d’Or’s announcement. As the top teams of the continents return to the big stage, it is Aston Villa who are at the summit and have impressed the most.
They are joint on the Champions League table with Liverpool, with both teams winning all three games and securing nine points. Except Barcelona, all the top tens are undefeated this season. This week’s clashes haves created more interest due to the pre-game news surrounding them. Here’s a look at some of the key fixtures of today’s matchday.
Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen (1:30 AM IST)
It’s @ChampionsLeague MATCHDAY 🤩
The Reds take on Leverkusen at Anfield 👊🔴#WalkOn | #UCL pic.twitter.com/GKHIrRBsnt
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 5, 2024
Apart from being two giants in European football, the game is making headlines for Xavi Alonso’s much-awaited return to Anfield as Liverpool host Bayer Leverkusen. While the Reds have won all three games in the tournament, Die Werkself are placed sixth with seven points, and a win in this game could mean they would get ahead of Liverpool. It was expected Alonso would be taking the oars at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp resigned.
However, the 42-year-old turned down his former club in the summer to stay with the Bundesliga giants, where he had led the side to the title undefeated in the season. Arne Slot took charge, and Liverpool have enjoyed amazing success this season. They finished this week as table toppers in the Premier League, while Leverkusen are placed fourth in the Bundesliga.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Real Madrid vs AC Milan (1:30 AM IST)
🤜⚽🤛#UCL | #RMCity pic.twitter.com/JsZ6zdAwEo
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) November 4, 2024
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid will come to the draw having lost El Classico in the weekend before and their game against Valencia was postponed last weekend due to flash floods in Spain. With six points in the competition, Madrid are placed 12th, while their Italian counterpart AC Milan are ranked 25th after securing just one win in the tournament so far.
Both sides haven’t had an incredible season, with Los Blancos losing their first game after being unbeaten in La Liga for 42 games. They are miles behind their archrivals and table-toppers in Barcelona. Paulo Fonseca’s AC Milan, too, is currently seventh in Serie A and is nowhere near city rivals Inter Milan, having been runners-up to them last season.
Prediction Real Madrid 1-0 AC Milan
Sporting CP vs Manchester City (1:30 AM IST)
BERNARDO 💬 (On scoring twice last time against Sporting) I don’t usually score braces very often, so that would be nice. We have good memories because we qualified from the last-16. But different teams now, both teams have changed players. Sporting is stronger now in my opion -… pic.twitter.com/Ss0aoBuzWd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 4, 2024
With Ruben Amorim almost nearing the end of his term with Sporting CP, he would like to take on one big challenge before he moves to Manchester United. He will be facing the team that will soon become his city rival. Sporting have won all ten games they have played in the Portuguese Premier League, while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City suffered their first defeat over the weekend, placing them second in the English Premier League.
However, their performance in the Champions League has been similar, with both teams taking two wins and playing one draw. Amorim himself noted before the game that a win against City would help improve his reputation before he takes on the uphill task of turning around United’s fortunes.
Prediction: Sporting 0-1 Manchester City
Other fixtures taking place tonight
PSV vs. Girona (11:15 PM IST)
Slovan Bratislava vs. Dinamo Zagreb (11:15 PM IST)
Bologna vs. Monaco (1:30 AM IST)
Borussia Dortmund vs. Sturm Graz (1:30 AM IST)
Celtic vs. RB Leipzig (1:30 AM IST)
Lille vs. Juventus (1:30 AM IST)
Where to watch the UEFA Champions League?
Fans of the game in India can tune into the Sony Sports Network to catch up on all the action. The matches can be seen on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 1 HD, Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 2 HD, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 3 HD, Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD. For fans that are interested in streaming the game online can tune into the Sony Liv app or website.
