The UEFA Champions League heads into its fourth gameweek with some huge clashes across Europe.
Standout fixtures include Atletico Madrid’s clash with Bayern Munich and Aston Villa’s trip to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona.
Tuesday
In the 5:45 kick off Galatasaray will return back home to RAMS Park after picking up three points against Lille last time out. They will face German opposition Stuttgart who earned a hard-earned point against Atletico Madrid two weeks ago.
Occupying the other early kick off on Tuesday is Shakhtar Donetsk’s battle with Sporting CP at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese outfit were stunned by LASK on gameweek three and will be looking to bounce back after an encouraging start to their UCL campaign.
Seven 8pm kickoffs will follow, with three matches taking place in Spain. Atletico Madrid, who are unbeaten in nine, will host six-time winners Bayern Munich in the Marquee clash of the week. Diego Simeone’s side have had a mixed start, with defeat in the opening matchweek against Liverpool. They brushed aside Manchester United in their next game however only managed to pick up a point against Stuttgart.
The German Champions earned a point against last season’s finalists Arsenal in gameweek three. Bayern are currently facing an injury crisis with star attackers Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry ruled out with Michael Olise expected to be sidelined.
Barcelona will welcome Aston Villa, who sit second in the table after winning their opening three games, to the Camp Nou on Tuesday night. The Catalans were beaten by PSG 4-2 in their last match and will be looking to bounce back against Unai Emery’s men. The Villa manager has a poor record against Barca, coming up against them 30 times winning just three of those meetings. Of the teams he has faced 5+ times, his win percentage against Barca is his lowest against any opponent (10%).
150 miles south, Villarreal face a stern test against UCL holders Paris Saint Germain. Like Aston Villa, PSG have also made a perfect start to their campaign. Despite beating Barcelona, their night turned into a nightmare. Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia all left the field injured. Last season’s Champions League Player of the Season Kvaratskhelia was later diagnosed with a ruptured ACL, which has ruled him out for the season.
Villarreal went 2-0 up against Liverpool at Anfield last time out, before a remarkable comeback from The Reds meant the Spanish side left empty handed.
Manchester United, who are winless in nine across all competitions entertain high-flying Roma at Old Trafford. Roma sit third in the Serie A and remain unbeaten. Their only defeat this season came in their Champions League match against Real Madrid, who scored three goals in the last 10 minutes to win 4-3. United were embarrassed last time out against UCL debutants Como 4-1.
In the remaining Tuesday night games, Lille travel to Arctic Circle to face Bodø/Glimt, Feyenoord welcome Inter Milan to De Kuip and LASK play winless Slovan Bratislava.
Wednesday
On Wednesday, AEK Athens will face the record 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid in the Greek capital in the early kick off. Madrid boast a 100% record so far in the UCL overcoming Inter Milan, Roma and RB Leipzig. The Greek Champions won their opening game of this year’s campaign against LASK, however they have lost their last two matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City.
In the other 5:45 kick off, Liverpool will look to continue their 100% start to the Champions League season as they travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe. Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has enjoyed a positive start to life at the helm. They are the joint second highest goalscorers (12) behind just PSG. A familiar face will be in the opposing dugout for Liverpool tonight in the name of Dirk Kuyt, who is standing in as interim manager for the Turkish side. Former manager Ismail Kartal was fired after their Derby defeat against Galatasaray and a poor start to the season which included a 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa in gameweek two.
The only other side with a 100% record Real Betis will attempt to continue their fine return to the UCL against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night. Their impressive form, which has been led by veteran captain Isco, has seen them beat Lille, Porto and Feyenoord. However, facing Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park will be their toughest test yet. Dortmund are unbeaten in six home matches, scoring 12 in their last five.
Manchester City, who come off the back of two successive Premier League defeats, will travel to eastern Germany to face familiar opponents in RB Leipzig. The two sides have met six times in the last five years in the UCL. Manchester City ran out 5-1 winners against AEK Athens in their last UCL outing with Phil Foden netting a hattrick. Leipzig have suffered two defeats in their opening three matches, however their home form has been impressive this season winning all five matches, without conceding a goal.
Last season’s runners up Arsenal face an away trip to Czech Republic to face Slavia Prague. The sides faced each other exactly a year ago in the group stage of the UCL, with Mikel Merino scoring a brace in a routine win for The Gunners. Arsenal remain unbeaten having faced Napoli, Lille and Bayern Munich and will look to continue their run against a Slavia side who have struggled. The Prague side picked up their only point of the campaign with a last minute equaliser against Fenerbahce.
Porto, who have lost all three of their matches so far, welcome Napoli to Estádio do Dragão, while Lens host Cesc Fabregas’ flying Como side.
Club Brugge make the short trip across the border to The Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven.
Debutant clubs Viking and Sabah FK face off against each other in Norway.
Full list of fixtures:
