The new Champions League group stage has officially reached the halfway point and the expanded table is starting to take shape.

Let’s see what matchday five has in store.

⚔️Match of the day

The match of the day, and possibly the match of the entire group stage, comes from Anfield.

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Liverpool host Real Madrid in what could be a decisive turning point for both sides this season.

Arne Slot’s men come into this match as the only team to have won all their games so far in the Champions League and also sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.

In short, the Reds are a winning machine at the moment and face Los Blancos without their star player.

Carlo Ancelotti will travel to Merseyside without Vinicius Jnr, who was confirmed this week to have suffered a leg injury and will miss up to four weeks.

It’s a major blow for the Spanish giants, but in reality it could prove to be a blessing in disguise, with Kylian Mbappe able to move to his favored position on the left.

With this intriguing tactical battle ready to be played out in what will undoubtedly be the best atmosphere in Europe, this is simply a must-watch.

🔎Team to watch

There can’t be many sides as confusing in this season’s Champions League as Celtic.

The Scottish giants had won just once in their last 15 games in Europe’s premier club competition before this season (with that victory against Arne Slot’s Feyenoord last season), but blew away that record on matchday one with a stunning 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava. .

How did Brendan Rodgers’ men support that glorious opener? By narrowly avoiding their biggest ever European defeat, being defeated 7-1 by a fairly average Borussia Dortmund team.

But once again the Hoops defied expectations on matchdays three and four by claiming a fantastic draw at Atalanta and then thoroughly beating RB Leipzig last time out for a 3-1 win.

It means Celtic now have genuine ambitions to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2007/08.

A win against Club Brugge would go a long way towards achieving that goal, with Celtic currently sitting in 15th place, with seven points.

🔥 Player to watch

📸 VALERY HACHE – AFP or licensors

Monaco has remained under the radar so far this season, but halfway through this group stage, the French club is currently in third place with 10 points.

The Monégasques defeated the in-form Barcelona on the first match day and still have to look back: they defeated Red Star, Bologna and drew against Dinamo Zagreb.

They now host Benfica in a fascinating match at the Stade Louis II, with all eyes on 22-year-old striker Maghnes Akliouche.

Akliouche are currently in a purple patch, scoring twice and putting in a man of the match performance in their thrilling 3-2 win over Brest this weekend.

It capped a great start to the season for the striker, who has been at the heart of everything Adi Hütter’s men have done well in 2024/25.

👀 Possibly upset

In the context of this season’s Champions League, Aston Villa’s victory over Juventus may not come as much of a shock.

And yet, if Unai Emery’s side were to topple the Italian giants, it would go down as one of the greatest achievements in their modern history.

The Villans have struggled domestically in recent months, losing to Tottenham and Liverpool, and drawing against Crystal Palace.

However, in Europe, and especially at home, they are unparalleled.

The win against Bayern Munich on matchday one is the clear highlight of the season so far, but Villa were also exceptional when Bologna came to town at the end of October.

Despite Juve having only lost one match all season, it could happen when they travel to England tonight.

📊 Fascinating statistic

It will be a first for Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday when they take on Dinamo Zagreb.

Dortmund have not played a Croatian side in any European competition and in fact it will be the first time they have played a team from a ‘new’ country since taking on Cypriot team APOEL Nicosia in 2017.

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