Champions League predictions: Tuesday’s Matchday 6 fixtures

If you’re yet to be convinced by the all-new ‘league phase’, the Champions League is beginning to enter the period of the competition that’s bound to change a few minds.

The 36-team table is taking shape after five matchdays, with only three remaining. Matchday 6 is the last of 2024, with the expanded format dragging into the new year.

There may have been times throughout the league phase thus far when you’ve queried the significance of each result. “But what does it all mean?!” some dismissed after Brest downed Sparta Prague on Matchday 4 and Sturm Graz overcame Girona on Matchday 5.

As we approach the first phase’s finale, these games will doubtlessly feel a little more important and some excellent ties are heading our way this week.

Here’s how Hattrickx projects Tuesday’s nine Matchday 6 encounters to pan out.

Tuesday 10 December

There are a pair of British representatives in early kick-off action as Celtic travel to the Croatian capital and Liverpool face Girona.

The Reds currently sit atop the table and remain the only team in the competition with a 100% record. After enjoying the weekend off following the postponement of Saturday’s Merseyside derby, Arne Slot’s team head into their upcoming duel nice and fresh. They could book their place in the round of 16 with a win in Catalonia.

Celtic would be thrilled with a play-off spot and sit 20th in the table having lost just once in the league phase thus far. However, they will be usurped by Dinamo Zagreb if they’re beaten on Tuesday and could fall out of the top 24 all together.

Later on, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen face Scudetto holders Inter in Germany. Both teams have emerged as hunters in their respective domestic leagues this term, but the pair reside in the top eight through five games.

Real Madrid could really do with three points to alleviate any doubts about their Champions League campaign ending in January. Madrid have mustered just six points so far and have a huge challenge this week as they face Serie A leaders Atalanta away from home. La Dea are one of only three unbeaten teams in the Champions League, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side conceding just once in the competition.

PSG are also in need of victory having failed to manage a tough start to the league phase. However, they’re facing a RB Salzburg side that sit 32nd in the table having won just once in the competition.

Aston Villa‘s continental campaign has stuttered after an excellent start and they’ve slipped out of the top eight after losing to Club Brugge and drawing at home to Juventus. The Villans travel to a point-less RB Leipzig side, but Marco Rose’s outfit are a dangerous team capable of springing into life at any moment.

Shakhtar Donetsk are also on the outside looking in, but the Ukrainians have impressed in a couple of their league phase outings. They’ll need to be at their very best and some to take any points off Bayern Munichon Tuesday, however.

Life without Ruben Amorim has been bleak for Sporting CP thus far and they were comfortably beaten by Arsenal on Matchday 5 which saw them slide down to tenth in the table after a near-perfect start. Club Brugge have already beaten Villa at home this season and will be aiming to inflict more misery on Joao Pereira.

Finally, Brest have been among the surprise packages in the competition through five matchdays, although their domestic indifference points towards the French side drifting down the table before the league phase draws to a close. PSV will leapfrog their upcoming opponents with a victory away from home.