UCL Matchday 6: What to look out for on Tuesday

The clock is ticking down as the league phase hopefuls eye a place in the round of 16 or knockout phase playoffs.

There are only three matchdays left in the inaugural league phase of the Champions League, but everything remains up for grabs for the 36 teams.

Uefa.com pores over the key talking points and stats as the clubs gear up for this last chance to earn points in 2024.

Tuesday 10 December

Girona v Liverpool (18:45)

A tricky task awaits debutants Girona, who have three points from five games and now come up against the only side to remain perfect in the competition. Nevertheless, coach Míchel remains positive, and urged the home fans to try to make a difference, saying: "The challenge is there and at home, with our people, we will have to turn it around. The three games are key and we will try to win, at least, the two at home to get into the next phase."

Liverpool's extraordinary start under new coach Arne Slot continued with a 2-0 home triumph over Real Madrid which confirmed their place in the round of 16 or knockout phase play-offs. Slot refused to get carried away with the victory over the reigning champions, however, insisting: "If we meet them in the last 16 and then we are able to beat them it would be a bigger statement." The sky appears to be the limit for this exciting Reds outfit.

Did you know?

Liverpool have now won 16 of their last 17 Champions League group/league phase matches (L1).

GNK Dinamo v Celtic (18:45)

After two consecutive victories, GNK Dinamo were brought back down to earth on matchday 5 with a 3-0 home defeat to last season's finalists Dortmund. "We looked solid and organised, defending well," said winger Marko Pjaca despite the result. "I believe we can take a lot of positives from this match." With games against Arsenal and Milan to follow, a win against Celtic would be particularly welcome.

The Bhoys had to come from behind against Club Brugge to earn what could prove to be a priceless point with a 1-1 draw courtesy of Daizen Maeda's strike on the hour mark. Coach Brendan Rodgers told Uefa.com: "We looked like the team that could get the winner but it wasn't to be, but any point at this level is so important, and it could be a valuable point in the end."

Did you know?

None of Dinamo's last 46 matches in the Champions League proper have finished in a goalless draw.

Atalanta v Real Madrid

A repeat of this season's Uefa Super Cup sees two teams with contrasting recent form in the Champions League going up against each other. Atalanta are riding the crest of a wave, cruising to a 6-1 away win against Young Boys on matchday 5 to remain one of only three sides unbeaten. "We have a team with a lot of quality and experience, we're playing beautiful football and it shows on the pitch," beamed forward Mateo Retegui. "I'm happy, it's a reward for all of us."

Reigning champions Madrid, meanwhile, are uncharacteristically struggling to find their feet in this season's tournament, having lost three of their five games. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is refusing to panic, though, insisting after the Liverpool defeat: "This match wasn’t decisive. The objective is to finish in the top 24. We will achieve that and compete in the Champions League, just as we have in previous years." To do so, a second win over Atalanta this season could be crucial.

Did you know?

Atalanta's victory against Young Boys was their biggest ever in the Champions League.

Bayer Leverkusen v Inter

A first Champions League meeting between these sides since the 2002/03 campaign beckons, with both teams shining in this season's tournament. Leverkusen lie sixth in the table after recovering impressively from their 4-0 defeat to Liverpool to beat Salzburg 5-0. For coach Xabi Alonso, anything is possible: "We now have 10 points and three games left. That means we can achieve anything we want."

Meanwhile, only Liverpool have amassed more points than Inter's haul of 13, and they are the only team yet to concede a goal following three 1-0 victories, a 4-0 win and a 0-0 draw. "We are always very focused and we have not conceded a goal, even against difficult opponents like today," goalkeeper Yann Sommer said after beating Leipzig on matchday 5. "It's beautiful to get another clean sheet, but it's a team thing." Will Inter be able to manage another shut-out against the likes of the in-form Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick?

Did you know?

Inter did the double over Leverkusen in the 2002/03 group stage, winning 3-2 at home and 2-0 away.

Club Brugge v Sporting CP

It has been a mixed campaign for Brugge so far, with the Belgian club winning two, losing two and drawing one. Those results leave them still in contention for qualification, though, and captain Hans Vanaken issued a rallying cry after their matchday 5 draw with Celtic, saying: "Before the game if you said we'd go home with a point we'd be okay with that, but we're disappointed as it could have been a win. Now we have three more games and we showed against Aston Villa we are capable of great things, so everything is possible."

Sporting are still adjusting to life post-Ruben Amorim, with a 5-1 defeat to Arsenal their first loss in the tournament this season. Despite failing to find the net in that game Viktor Gyökeres remains one of the top scorers with five goals - only Robert Lewandowski has more with seven. The Swedish forward will fancy his chances of adding to that tally in Belgium as Sporting look to get back to winning ways.

Did you know?

Sporting have only failed to score in one of their last 23 Uefa competition matches.

Salzburg v Paris Saint-Germain

Leverkusen dealt Salzburg a fourth loss from five games, and with matches against Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid to follow Paris, Pepijn Lijnders' side have an almighty task to qualify from the league phase. "I still believe in the boys and that we can achieve something this season." Lijnders said. "We will have to improve in all parts of the game now."

Salzburg may take confidence from the fact that Paris are also struggling to find their best form in the tournament so far, with a 1-0 defeat to Bayern on matchday 5 making it just one victory from five games. "We have a young team," defender Achraf Hakimi told Uefa.com. "We still have three games – three games that we have to win to stay in this competition that we love playing in and deserve to be in."

Did you know?

Paris have now won only one of their last seven Champions League games (D1 L5).

Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayern München

The Ukrainian side will need to clear their heads after the dramatic late turnaround in Eindhoven on matchday 5 but Yukhym Konoplia insists they proved they can outperform high-quality opposition, as shown by their previous record against German clubs in Uefa competitions (W10 D8 L10). "The whole team is very disappointed because we completely owned the game before the sending-off," said the defender. "When we played 11 against 11, we were leading 2-0, and in their stadium – I think it was a shock for PSV."

Manuel Neuer would be more than happy to see both teams complete this contest with their full complement given his thoughts after their important 1-0 victory over Paris. "We tried to find the open man and probably played better when it was 11 v 11," said the Bayern goalkeeper, who then warned Shakhtar about what they will be up against here. "The mentality and focus in every defensive action is setting us apart right now. Our willingness to work hard. The transitions after losing possession, putting the opponent under pressure to turn to the ball over and the transitions into the opponent's half."

Did you know?

Georgiy Sudakov made his 20th appearance in the Champions League proper on matchday 5. At the age of 22 years and 87 days, he is the youngest Ukrainian player to reach the landmark.

Leipzig v Aston Villa

Leipzig are peering over the precipice after losing their opening five league phase games, though that isn't the whole story. Four of those defeats came by just one goal against Atlético de Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool and Inter, a dizzying fixture list. The report card is completed with a 3-1 reverse at Celtic at the start of a tricky, winless November for the German high-fliers.

Aston Villa suffered the same fate in November, but having opened with three wins the Champions League newcomers had enough of a buffer that they could be "satisfied" with a goalless home draw against injury-hit Juventus last time out. "Three wins, one draw and one defeat is very good. We can still get into the top eight," says boss Unai Emery. The trip to Leipzig could swing the pendulum either way.

Did you know?

Villa have kept four clean sheets in five league phase outings; the only time Emiliano Martínez has been beaten was with a penalty against Club Brugge.

Brest v PSV Eindhoven

Brest's stunning unbeaten start to their maiden Champions League campaign ended with defeat at Barcelona but Abdallah Sima was measured when looking back on their most recent experience. "When we play these Champions League games we always know that we didn't initially expect to be here in this competition," said the forward. "It's a good thing to learn from each match, including this one, to apply to our next game against PSV."

PSV's incredible comeback in beating Shakhtar 3-2 was one of the highlights of matchday 5 but two-goal Malik Tillman is demanding more after they gave themselves a mountain to climb. "We didn't play to our usual level," said the midfielder. "We all have to be honest about it, especially when you don't play a good game. There are a lot of things that we will analyse and then we'll have to do better next time. That's the only way to improve."

Did you know?

On matchday 5, PSV became the first side ever to win a Champions League group/league phase game in regular time after trailing by two goals in the 86th minute.

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