Qualification for the next phase of the new version of the Champions League is up for grabs by teams yet to wrap up their progression to the knockout stage. Expectedly, this inaugural league phase of the UEFA Champions League more than ever allows teams to jostle for positions to keep them in the competition. A closer look at Matchday 7 Tuesday's fixtures proves there is plenty to play for:
Monaco vs Aston Villa
Monaco, currently occupying the 16th position, on a night like this must reenact that form that saw them beating Barcelona and raking in three wins out of their opening four fixtures. Monaco, though, with the wisdom of hindsight, may rue the lacklustre performances they put up against Benfica and Arsenal in their other fixtures. In contrast, Aston Villa kept their heads up to beat Leipzig despite playing a draw with Juventus and losing to Club Brugge to justify their 5th position on the log. Aston Villa has indeed made their admittance to the competition felt with their impressive showing. This fixture will definitely be a delight to watch being the first competitive meeting between the two teams. Monaco boasts a good home record against English teams, while Aston Villa is yet to record a success in France, according to the statistics. A ringside seat worth getting for this crunch encounter is billed for the Stade Louis II on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:45 PM GMT.
Atalanta vs Sturm Graz
At the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Atalanta is presented with an opportunity to appease their fans for the recent home loss to Napoli in the domestic league and end their winless streak on all fronts. Additional points garnered at the expense of a familiar foe that they already had a better head-to-head record against will surely guarantee their passage to the next stage of the competition. The struggles of Sturm Graz were evident in their last six Champions League matches, where only one win was recorded against Girona. Their lack of game time courtesy of the ongoing Austrian Bundesliga winter break may be a disadvantage. However, Sturm Graz may defy all odds and capitalise on Atlanta's defensive vulnerabilities to secure a rare win that keeps their slim hopes of progressing alive. Kickoff is at 5:45 PM GMT.
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Leverkusen
Atlético Madrid will attempt to go back to winning ways after Leganés' 1-0 win ensured their unbeaten run ended at 15 matches. Diego Simeone's men always look their best, disciplined and more determined when playing at home. This is no doubt a crucial fixture considering the fact that Atleti and Leverkusen are 4th and 11th, respectively, in the current phase table but only separated by just one point. Coincidentally, both teams are coming to this game trailing their respective domestic league current leaders. Bayern Leverkusen also prides itself on an 11-match winning streak and a knack for unlocking tough defences. Xabi Alonso's dynamic and high-tempo play style saw them break Inter Milan's defence to record a win through Nordi Mukiele's last-minute wonder strike. A compelling and keenly contested game awaits us at the Estadio Metropolitano at 8:00 PM GMT.
Benfica vs Barcelona
The Estádio da Luz in Lisbon hosts this significant fixture as both aim to cement their positions in the tournament's knockout stages. Benfica is holding 15th place with 10 points, at the verge of the playoff spots, which a win can propel to direct qualification in the competition. Barcelona has an advantage in this quest by virtue of currently occupying the second spot in the Champions League; moreover, a victory will guarantee an automatic qualification to the Round of 16. Different strokes befell both teams in their recent domestic outings to add to the intrigue that may be expected in this game. While Benfica's 4-0 triumph over Famalicão in the Primeira Liga indicates their offensive capabilities, Barcelona's 1-1 draw to Getafe highlighted the need for improved consistency. Fans should brace up for a display of Bruno Lage's disciplined defence, swift counterattacks, and exploitation of spaces versus Hansi Flick's careful blend of 'tiki-taka' with a more vertical and direct style. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM GMT.
Bologna vs Dortmund
Bologna comes to this game as the lowest-ranked result-oriented team in the competition, their recent 3-1 domestic victory over Monza notwithstanding. Vincenzo Italiano's side deservedly rocks the 33rd position in the standings with their winless stats featuring two draws and four losses. Meanwhile, returnees like Riccardo Orsolini and Santiago Castro, however, could bolster the Bologna team and unsettle Dortmund's defence to dig a fair result. Dortmund, in a similar vein, is in dire straits to salvage their domestic struggles, which a win in this fixture can initiate and in turn steady Nuri Sahin's future. Having fared better in their European campaign, sitting in the 9th position with 12 points amassed from six games, a win will brighten their chances of clinching an automatic spot in the knockout stage. Kickoff at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Tuesday is scheduled for 8:00 PM GMT.
Club Brugge KV - Juventus
Another exciting game beckons football fans worldwide in the form of two top teams who know their onions. A recent 4-2 win over Beerschot helped to maintain Club Brugge's 18-match unbeaten spell across all competitions, accounting for their 19th position in the Champions League phase with 10 points. This puts the "Blauw-Zwart" in the playoff spots, which a decent outcome against Juventus will further guarantee. Juventus also enjoys an unbeaten streak of 21 Serie A games while holding down a 14th position in the Champions League phase with 11 points, trailing the top eight by just 2 points. In addition to holding a better head-to-head record against Club Brugge, Thiago Motta's team got charged for this fixture with a 2-0 victory over AC Milan. With the two teams in blistering form, this contest, billed for a kick-off time of 8:00 PM GMT at the Jan Breydelstadion on Tuesday, thus qualified as a tight one.
Crvena Zvezda vs PSV
Crvena Zvezda posted a successful completion of the 2024 football season domestically by winning the Serbian SuperLiga. They have also proved their mettle in front of goal in Champions League games by scoring against opponents like Benfica and Barcelona. Tammy Abraham had to score a late winner for Milan to prevent Crvena Zvezda from sharing the spoils the last time out. The performances have since earned them a 31st spot in the log and a possible qualification for the knockout phase if they use their final home game very well. But standing in their way is PSV Eindhoven, a veteran participant in European competitions who will have to dig deep to better their current 23rd position. Though Brest halted their 4-match unbeaten run through Julien Le Cardinal's well-converted first-half goal, the rediscovery of their attacking flair and tactical mentality could be key to securing important points in this match for progression in the competition. Crvena Zvezda versus PSV Eindhoven also starts at 8:00 PM GMT.
Liverpool vs Lille
Liverpool holds a perfect record of winning all their six matches and without any goals scored against them to sit comfortably atop the league phase standings with a maximum of 18 points. Their exceptional form has already earned them a spot in the knockout stages irrespective of tonight's outcome. The Reds are equally firing on all cylinders in the English Premier League. Darwin Núñez's brace in the previous match ensured they maintained their top spot with a gap. Lille will surely give Liverpool a run for their money, coming from the backdrop of a 21-match unbeaten run spanning all competitions, including their last five Champions League games. They are expected to fight for direct qualification for the last 16, as they currently occupy the 8th position with 13 points. The game at Anfield therefore pits Liverpool's formidable home record against Lille's impressive unbeaten streak, hence this compelling contest for crucial points in the Champions League league phase. The game is scheduled for 8:00 PM GMT.
Slovan Bratislava vs Stuttgart
Slovan Bratislava, the Slovakian champions, have not really lived up to their expectations in this competition, losing all six of the matches played so far. They conceded a total of 21 goals in the process and were only able to score just 5, staying put in 31st spot in the league standings. They may become the first team in Champions League history to lose their first seven matches in the competition if they fail to win or at least draw the match. Stuttgart will attempt to brighten their chances of advancing to the next phase by aiming for a higher position than their current 26th in the standings. Spurred by the recent emphatic 5-1 win over Young Boys in their Champions League game and their brilliant domestic run, Stuttgart is poised for an exciting game at Štadión Tehelné pole. The match is arranged for a kick-off time of 8:00 PM GMT.
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