Key Games for British Teams on Matchday 6 of the UEFA Champions League
With just three Matchday’s to go in the new and expanded Champions League League Stage, matches are now taking on huge importance as teams vie for one of the eight seeded spots into the Round of 16, or one of the 16 Playoff spots available.
Let’s now preview how things stand for the British teams competing in the Champions League at present. Kick off time is 8pm unless otherwise stated.
Champions League Matchday 6
Tuesday 10th December
Dinamo Zagreb v Celtic (5.45pm)
- Celtic’s Current ECL Position – 20th (8pts)
- Remaining Games – MD7 – Young Boys (H), MD8 – Aston Villa (A)
After being thrashed by Dortmund, Celtic have remained unbeaten in their next three UCL games, drawing two (away to Atalanta and home to Club Brugge) and beating RB Leipzig 3-1. A trip to Zagreb is a tough prospect for Week 6 but if they can secure a win, then they would likely only need three points from their remaining two games to ensure a spot in the playoffs.
Girona v Liverpool (5.45pm)
- Liverpool’s Current ECL Position – 1st (15pts)
- Remaining Games – MD7 – Lille (H), MD8 – PSV (A)
With a 100% record and top of the ECL table, Liverpool come into this game with Girona in excellent shape. The postponed Merseyside derby at the weekend gave them extra time to recover for this game and given the Reds form, it is hard to see them slipping up against a Girona side struggling. With winnable games after this to come, could the Reds top the ECL League Stage with maximum points?
Red Bull Leipzig v Aston Villa
- Aston Villa’s Current ECL Position – 9th (10pts)
- Remaining Games – MD7 – Monaco (A), MD8 – Celtic (H)
There is a huge cluster of teams in the league that have around 7 to 10 points. That stretches from Dinamo Zagreb in 23rd to Bayer Leverkusen in sixth. Aston Villa are in that group with 10 points and the Villains will know that a trip to Leipzig won’t be easy, but also that Liverpool and Celtic have beaten the Germans in this competition. Two wins and a draw from their last three could be enough to put Villa into the seeded spots.
Wednesday 11th December
Arsenal v Monaco
- Arsenal’s Current ECL Position – 7th (10pts)
- Remaining Games – MD7 – v Dinamo Zagreb (H), MD8 – v Girona (A)
Arsenal’s final three games are all very winnable for the Gunners and they will be looking to do precisely that to ensure they remain in the seeded spots into the Round of 16. Monaco can be tricky, but at home, you would expect the Gunners to take the win and with winnable games against Zagreb and Girona left, Mikel Arteta will want the maximum nine points from these games.
Juventus v Manchester City
- Man City’s Current ECL Position – 17th (8pts)
- Remaining Games – MD7 – v Paris St Germain (A), MD8 v Club Brugge (H)
Could Manchester City be in jeopardy of not reaching the knockout phase? It sounds ridiculous, but City face two very tough away games against Juventus this week and then PSG on Matchday Seven. Two defeats there could put City in a precarious position. Three points should be enough for a playoff spot, but it would be a close call, and City fans would certainly chew on their nails if they can’t pick up a win in Turin or Paris.
