The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 season is reaching its midway point, and excitement is building towards matchday 5, scheduled for November 26-28, 2024. Where every team is eying a spot in the knockout stages, and the upcoming week will be vital, either making or breaking the teams’ destination path. Round five begins with the Slovan Bratislava vs. AC Milan battle and concludes with Dinamo Zagreb vs. Dortmund. Before a more detailed preview of matchday five, we will briefly recap what happened on matchday four.
The round four of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 ended with a dramatic mix of thrilling victories and unexpected twists. It started with Dinamo Zagreb making a roaring start, beating Slovan Bratislava in a 4-1 rout. The same did PSV, confirming downhill by knocking out Girona with a total of 4 unending goals on their net. Over in the German land, Borussia Dortmund squeezed out a very tight 1-0 win against SK Sturm Graz. But while one team’s star shone brightly, it was with Celtic’s 3-1 victory over German club RB Leipzig that the round was highlighted. And lastly, the scoreline was jaw-dropping 3-1 for AC Milan over Real Madrid.
Liverpool beat Leverkusen to the ground with a 4-0 demolition, while Sporting shocked Manchester City with an unexpected 4-1 defeat. Among the dramatic results were Atletico Madrid, who PSG labeled with a 2-1 defeat, Inter, who gutsily beat Arsenal 1-0, and Bayern Munich, who swept past Benfica with a narrow 1-0 victory. It was another round of high-quality football with plenty of drama heading into matchday.
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Slovan Bratislava vs. AC Milan
At Tehelné pole (Bratislava), Slovan Bratislava will face AC Milan on November 26, 2024, in the highly anticipated matchday five of the UEFA Champions League.
Average possession
- Slovan Bratislava: Scored two total goals with 39.7%
- AC Milan: Scored seven total goals with 51.0%
With four matches concluded so far, Slovan Bratislava ended up in a four defeat and struggled to secure their first victory of the season. This underperformance made Slovan Bratislava sit at the bottom of the Champions League table. Even though AC Milan began their campaign with two consecutive defeats, their prior two games were impressive and gave them two straight victories.
This result placed them in 20th place with six points, and they qualified for the play-off. In this game, AC Milan’s potent attack and solid defense will challenge Slovan Bratislava’s defensive weakness, inconsistent form, and experience gap. Based on this, AC Milan will put early pressure and control the midfield to take complete control of the game. Therefore, AC Milan will secure a victory.
Sparta Prague vs. Atl. Madrid
On November 26, 2024, Sparta Prague and Atl. Madrid faces each other in the UEFA Champions League round five at epet ARENA (Prague).
Average possession
- Sparta Prague: Scored five total scores with 30.7%
- Madrid: Scored five total scores with 47.3%
Following their exceptional triumph over PSG by a margin of one point, Atl. Madrid continued their La Liga campaign with two matches, giving them their fifth consecutive victory. Despite quite an impressive attack, the team faced challenges in its defense, with 0 clean sheets and 17 saves made on average per match. They also received three red cards and 12 yellow cards in the tournament.
While Sparta Prague lost to Brest in matchday four 1-2, they ended their last two matches in a draw in the Chance Liga. Both their offense and defense need improvement. Defensively, they also struggled with 0 clean sheets and 21 saves made on average per match, and they have committed four yellow cards and 0 red cards in the tournament so far. Considering the recent form, Atl. Madrid will have a higher chance to win this game.
Barcelona vs. Brest
In the UEFA Champions League round five league phase, Barcelona will take on Stade Brestois 29 on November 27, 2024, at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Barcelona).
Average possession
- FC Barcelona: Scored fifteen total goals with 55.9%
- Stade Brestois 29: Scored nine with 49.0%
This upcoming match will be Barcelona and Stade Brestois 29’s first head-to-head match in football history. Saturday was a wild one for Barcelona, as they drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo after they were reduced to ten men and conceded twice in just four minutes in the La Liga showdown. This result marked the season’s first draw, which made them miss the chance to recover from the previous 1-0 loss against Real Sociedad. Currently, in the Champions League, Barcelona is in sixth place with a record of three wins and one loss. Even though their campaign began with a defeat, they bounced back and showed a well-improvised performance.
However, Brest is not an easy opponent, sitting in fourth place in the Champions League table with three wins and one draw, and they are undefeated. For their first European campaign, a draw would make them the first French team to go unbeaten in their first five UCL matches in over 20 years. However, their performance in Ligue 1 could have been better because they suffered their third straight defeat. With three consecutive triumphs and home advantage, Barcelona will make a win in this game.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Salzburg
Salzburg is making a road trip to compete against Bayer Leverkusen on November 27, 2024, at BayArena (Leverkusen) in the UEFA Champions League action.
Average possession
- Bayer Leverkusen: Scored six total goals with 52.9%
- Salzburg: Scored three total goals with 53.4%
In the Bundesliga competition, Bayer Leverkusen is in fourth place, with five wins, five draws, and one defeat. Bayer Leverkusen’s Champions League deal this time was a mixed one. They had a clinching victory against AC Milan, in which both teams ended the battle with a score of 0-1. On top of that, they suffered a shocking defeat from Liverpool as they pegged the Germans down with a punishing scoreline of 4-0. In terms of the consistency of their performance, which went up and down, punctuated with moments of strength and struggles.
On the other hand, Salzburg is standing 6th in the Austrian Bundesliga with five wins, three draws, and four losses. Following their opening three games, they ended in three straight defeats. The previous match was great, securing their first victory against Feyenoord Rotterdam 3-1. Their defense was a huge concern this season, but if they put forth some effort to improve this, it will help them improve their game. With their first defeat of the season, Bayer Leverkusen will try to bounce back in this game and win.
Bayern Munich vs. PSG
At Allianz Arena (Munich), Bayern Munich will lock horns with PSG on the forthcoming matchday five on November 27, 2024, in the exhilarating Champions League 2024-25.
Average possession
- Bayern Munich: Scored eleven total goals with 68.4%
- PSG: Scored three total goals with 65.2%
In their last three-head meet between Bayern Munich and PSG, Munich was highly dominant over PSG, making them leave the ground without scoring a single point. This adds another excitement layer to this game to see whether PSG can snap their three consecutive goalless defeat with Bayern Munich or if this same era continues. Looking over their standing, Bayern Munich is in 17th place with a record of two wins and two losses, and PSG is in 25th place with one win, one draw, and two losses.
This mixed bag of results put them one step back in the next round qualification zone. In this game, Bayern Munich has its home-field advantage. The other side, PSG, is struggling harder in this Champions League, and its key players are out due to injuries, which may affect their gameplay. Considering all these factors, Bayern Munich will have an edge in winning this game.
Inter Milan vs. RB Leipzig
For matchday five, Inter is welcoming RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League battle on November 27, 2024, at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro) (Milan).
Average possession
- Inter: Scored six total goals with 47.0%
- RB Leipzig: Scored four total goals with 43.8%
This Champions League 2024-25 is a fantastic season for Inter Milan, which has remained unbeaten with three wins and one draw. They have also yet to concede a goal, which shows their solid defense. In their recent game in Serie A, they defeated Verona 5-0, and all goals came before halftime. Regarding their home games, they were imposing with no defeats, and nine were clean sheets. On the other hand, RB Leipzig is having a tough time in the Champions League because it lost all four matches it played.
After leading three times, they even struggled with a 4-3 defeat against Hoffenheim in their Bundesliga competition. Despite RB Leipzig having a great history by winning in Italy and a triumph against Napoli and Atalanta, they need to improve their performance when facing Inter Milan. Inter’s Marcus Thuram is one of the key players to watch, who has scored ten goals this season, most of which have come early in games. Antonio Nusa has scored seven goals in his last three matches for Leipzig. Concerning their performance and recent form, Inter Milan will win this game.
Manchester City vs. Feyenoord
On November 27, 2024, football enthusiasts will witness the battle between Manchester City and Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League at Etihad Stadium (Manchester).
Average possession
- Manchester City: Scored ten total goals with 72.1 %
- Feyenoord: Scored seven total goals with 44.9%
Everyone believed that Pep Guardiola’s signing of a new contract would help Manchester City escape its slump. However, the defeat to Tottenham by four goals to nil made it the fifth consecutive loss for the club, making history by being a record low for Guardiola. Feyenoord was well poised, even after struggling against Leverkusen earlier in this competition.
Since that loss to start their UCL campaign, Feyenoord has already won all three matches, including two on the road. They have proven good on away soil, winning the last five away matches across competitions. This match will probably be the turning point where Manchester City seeks redemption while Feyenoord aims to continue the streak of strong away forms. As a result, Manchester City will win this game.
Sporting CP vs. Arsenal
To maintain their undefeated record, Sporting is set to face Arsenal in the round five Champions League at Estádio José Alvalade (Lisbon) on November 27, 2024.
Average possession
- Sporting CP: Scored nine total goals with 44.9%
- Arsenal: Scored three total goals with 50.0%
With a points difference from the table-top Arsenal, Sporting CP stands in second place with three wins and one draw. They are undefeated in their last ten matches in all the competitions they are participating in, with nine wins and one draw. The one draw was against PSV on matchday two of the Champions League. Indeed, Sporting CP performed excellently in the Champions League this year. Away form needs to be more consistent, though, while the team’s indiscipline could provide some challenges in achieving their goal.
At the same time, Arsenal is standing in 12th place with 2-1-1. The previous game with Inter Milan caused Arsenal to suffer their first-season defeat. Despite conceding only one goal in four matches, Arsenal has shown good attacking form in the Champions League. However, they have struggled with discipline, receiving six yellow cards. When comparing both teams’ performances, Sporting CP is in good form and will continue their consistent performance and win this game.
Young Boys vs. Atalanta
On November 27, 2024, Young Boys will face Atalanta in the most exciting UEFA Champions League match at Stadion Wankdorf (Bern).
Average possession
- Young Boys: Scored one total goal with 42.6%
- Atalanta: Scored five total goals with 54.5%
In the UEFA Champions League 2024-25, Young Boys have struggled, scoring just 0.3 goals per game while conceding 2.8. This indicates a need to strengthen their defense and improve their overall game control with better possession and passing accuracy. On the contrary, Atalanta has recorded an excellent defensive performance by not conceding any goals up to this point, scoring an average of 1.25 goals per match.
They do have the edge over possession and passing statistics. Thus, Atalanta would rely on solid defense and work to improve their goals-per-game ratio for a win. The Young Boys should strengthen their defense and convert all possible scoring chances. Given their current form, Atalanta is the favorite to win.
Crvena zvezda vs. Stuttgart
Stuttgart is making a road trip to host Crvena zvezda on November 27, 2024, at Stadion Rajko Mitić (Belgrade) in a Champions League encounter.
Average possession
- Crvena zvezda: Scored four total goals with 40.7%
- Stuttgart: Scored three total goals with 59.1%
Crvena Zvezda suffered a 2-5 defeat against Barcelona during the previous encounter. Silas scored the first goal for Crvena, and in the 84th minute, Milson shot the second goal, but the opponent’s early lead made the game end in defeat for Crvena Zvezda. Currently, they are standing in the bottom second position with four defeats. This game is a crucial opportunity for them to secure their first-season victory.
Stuttgart also went down 0-2 to Atalanta. Stuttgart made some futile efforts, which resulted in them not getting even a single point from the whole encounter, with a dismal performance by offense and defense, hence the defeat. It had one win, one draw, and two losses, putting them at 27 on the Champions League table. Based on their last performance, Stuttgart might win the match.
Sturm Graz vs. Girona
At Wörthersee Stadion (Klagenfurt), Sturm Graz will compete against Girona on November 27, 2024, in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25.
Average possession
- Sturm Graz: Scored one total goal with 38.9%
- Girona: Scored four total goals with 51.1%
Sturm Graz and Girona have performed differently in the ongoing UEFA Champions League 2024-25. The Austrian club has shown possible defensive capability, as it only allows its attackers to score 1.5 averages per game; thus, it must improve its offense, producing just 0.25 goals per match.
Meanwhile, the Spanish side has a poor defense, conceding more goals than scored by its attack; thus, this might call for tighter defense and more scoring. Form-wise, Sturm Graz looks likely to have the upper hand, primarily under their better defensive unit. Yet, Girona could turn things around with the performance of another strong game.
Aston Villa vs. Juventus
Juventus is traveling away for matchday five to face Aston Villa at Villa Park (Birmingham) in the Champions League fixture on November 28, 2024.
Average possession
- Aston Villa: Scored six total goals with 48.0%
- Juventus: Scored seven total goals with 53.5%
Aston Villa and Juventus have had quite a journey in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. Aston Villa, however, remained unbeaten in their last six matches and so performed very well. Their resilience and consistency are much admired. On the other hand, Juventus has shown excellent defense, with four of the last six matches ending with withdrawals.
Going into this match, Aston Villa has a slight edge given their recent form, and with it being their home ground, perhaps more of an advantage could be had. But then again, with such experience as Juventus and the fact they have yet to be beaten in this current campaign, they are formidable opponents. Villa’s recent form and home grounds may just outmatch Juventus.
Bologna vs. Lille
On November 28, 2024, Bologna is ready to compete against Lille on matchday five of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara (Bologna).
Average possession
- Bologna: Scored zero total goals with 47.3%
- Lille: Scored five total goals with 41.1%
Bologna heads into this match with a 3-0 defeat against Lazio in the Serie A tournament. Their prior Champions League match ended in defeat, with Monaco not shooting a single goal. They are standing in 31st place with four defeats and are hungry to secure their first defeat of the season. Lille won their previous Ligue 1 match against Rennes with a score of 1-0.
In Champions League round four, they ended up in a 1-1 draw with Juventus. With two wins, one draw, and one loss, Lille is standing 14th. Even though this game will be crucial for Bologna to secure their first victory, the recent form indicates Lille will have a higher chance of winning this game.
Celtic vs. Club Brugge KV
Celtics will play Club Brugge KV on matchday 5, November 28, 2024, at Celtic Park (Glasgow) in the Champions League.
Average possession
- Celtic: Scored nine total goals with 50.6%
- Club Brugge KV: Score three total goals with 45.1%
Celtic had a stronghold at home, winning three of their last five Champions League matches and remaining unbeaten in nine games. They have a powerful attack, with multiple goals scored in recent matches. They must be careful, though, with Club Brugge being the most dangerous in counter-attacks.
On the other hand, Club Brugge has been resilient and recently won a historic match against Aston Villa. The club is known for its away solid ability and will need more consistency to face Celtic properly. Celtic could have an edge based on recent form and home advantage; however, Club Brugge could make it competitive.
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Dortmund
On November 28, 2024, Dinamo Zagreb will welcome Dortmund for matchday five in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 at Stadion Maksimir (Zagreb).
Average possession
- Dinamo Zagreb: Scored ten total goals with 40.0%
- Dortmund: Scored thirteen total goals with 57.7%
Dinamo Zagreb is coming off with a triumph against Freiburg with a dominant score of 4-0 in the Bundesliga tournament. In the Champions League in round four, they faced Slovan Bratislava with a score of 1-4. They are in 16th place with a record of two wins, one draw, one loss, and seven points.
At the same time, Dortmund suffered a goalless equalized result in their prior NHL game with Rijeka. In the Champions League, they defeated Slovan Bratislava by a margin of three points. With three wins and one defeat, Dortmund is standing in seventh place. With their recent form, Dortmund will win this game.
Liverpool vs. Real Madrid
The undefeated Liverpool will play Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25 on November 28, 2024, at Anfield (Liverpool).
Average possession
- Liverpool: Scored ten total goals with 51.6%
- Real Madrid: Scored nine total goals with 53.0%
Liverpool is riding high after their electrifying 3-2 victory over Southampton, making it extend their lead at the top of the Premier League and keeping a perfect start in the Champions League, winning all four matches. These competitions have produced a doughty defense. However, the English champions will face their stiffest test yet from Real Madrid, the current UCL champions, a team they have lost to several times within the past eight meetings, including two finals. While Real Madrid might be enjoying a sweet run of unconscious dominance in La Liga, things have not been so happening in UCL this season, with them conceding two defeats out of four games.
They risk being the first team to lose in the UCL group stage by three matches. Their coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is one of the best managers against Liverpool, winning eight out of the eleven UCL matches. Players of interest include Mohamed Salah, who cements a hitherto fine form, and Vinícíus Júnior, who has been a prolific scorer against Liverpool. Liverpool has scored first in nine of their 11 last games, 10 of which they have gone on to win. It promises to be a tough contest between the two at Anfield, and Liverpool will have the edge to win this game.
Monaco vs. Benfica
Benfica is making a road trip to Stade Louis II (Monaco) to compete against Monaco on November 28, 2024, in the exciting Champions League fixture.
Average possession
- Monaco: Scored ten total goals with 60.3%
- Benfica: Scored seven total goals with 46.8%
Monaco has a strong defense because they have only conceded an average of a single goal in their top four matches. But all that comes with injuries to star players such as Florian Balogun and Mamadou Coulibaly and a need for consistent goal-scoring conversions. On the other hand, Benfica is also pretty good in its attack; one of the brilliant games they played was with Estrela, where they thrashed the latter 7-0.
The team has won five of their last six games across all venues, thanks mainly to the experience brought about by senior stars like Angel Di Maria. However, Benfica also has some defensive vulnerabilities due to injuries sustained by key players. As a result of Benfica’s potent offense and incredible winning streak, Monaco has an edge over Benfica.
PSV vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Matchday five will conclude the Champions League showdown between PSV and Shakhtar Donetsk on November 28, 2024, at Philips Stadion (Eindhoven).
Average possession
- PSV: Scored seven total goals with 53.7%
- Shakhtar Donetsk: Scored two total goals with 48.0%
PSV continues to show excellent attacking prowess, scoring 20 goals in four matches. Their home record bolsters this. They recently won 5-0 against Groningen and have yet to lose at home this season. However, they could have made more vigorous strides initially, drawing against Sporting Lisbon and PSG and then losing to Juventus.
Shakhtar Donetsk has been facing tough times. They have hardly played at home because of the ongoing war. They managed to score a two-goal-to-one victory against Young Boys, and that’s their only win in four attempts in the group stage. PSV would seem to have an edge over Shakhtar in this matchup.