5 things to watch out for in Gameweek 5 of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25

Gameweek 5 of the UEFA Champions League will kick off after the final international break of the year to be played between 26th – 28th Nov, 2024. With several thrilling results in the league phase so far, the competition is intensifying. Some of the top teams, traditionally dominant in the competition, now find themselves in precarious positions. For these clubs, Gameweek 5 will be a must-win scenario, with their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds hanging in the balance. The teams lying in the top half though would be looking to keep the winning momentum intact.

Here are some things to bear in mind for Gameweek 5. 

The Clash between the Bavarians and the Parisians

Bayern München vs Paris Saint-Germain:

In yet another mouth-watering clash between top European Clubs, Bayern München will take on Paris Saint-Germain at the Allianz Arena in this Gameweek. Both clubs have had mixed fortunes in this season’s Champions League. 

While performing exceptionally well in their respective domestic leagues, they haven’t replicated the same form in the Champions League yet. Though, it’s a far more important game for PSG who need to earn maximum points from this fixture after the disappointing loss to Atlético de Madrid in the previous gameweek. Having said that, Allianz Arena is a fortress for the Bavarians who dominate opposition teams at home. 

It’s going to be a great match-up between two aggressive forward lines; one which both sets of fans and the neutrals will surely relish. 

Red-hot Liverpool takes on the Galácticos at Anfield

Liverpool vs Real Madrid:

Despite the change in personnel in management at Liverpool, The Reds have been faultless so far sitting pretty at the top of both the Premier League and the Champions League tables. Real Madrid on the other hand have been ravaged by injuries and currently lie out of the Top 8 in the Champions League and second in La Liga behind arch nemesis Barcelona. 

With two losses out of four games, the Galácticos cannot afford to drop any more points and hence this fixture holds vital importance for them. Liverpool is the most in-form team in Europe’s top leagues but considering their record against Real Madrid in recent years, they wouldn’t take this one lightly. The hosts would want to set the record straight and more so since they are playing at home.

It’s going to be a cracker of a game between two European heavyweights looking to outmaneuver each other tactically.

Sporting looking to take aim at the Gunners

Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal:

Sporting Lisbon would be looking to beat a second English team in consecutive Champions League gameweeks after thrashing Manchester City in the last one. Arsenal on the other hand would want to showcase their Champions League contender’s credentials with a massive away win. 

It will be a battle of the high-flying Sporting Lisbon forward line that boasts of Viktor Gyökeres, Pedro Gonçalves and Francisco Trincão against the much-vaunted Arsenal defensive duo of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães. Arsenal have been dealing with injury issues and an away game at a fully packed Estadio José Alvalade could be a daunting task but Mikel Arteta’s team is still the much stronger side and their misfiring frontmen need to find the back of the net to get the all important three points. 

The Villans host the Old Lady at Villa Park

Aston Villa vs Juventus:

After their poor showing in the previous gameweek, Aston Villa will be looking to get back to winning ways but they have a formidable opponent in European giants Juventus. After the draw against Lille in the last gameweek, Juve would look to tighten their grip on qualification to the play-offs with a vital away win. 

Aston Villa do possess great attacking threat up front with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Leon Bailey but Juventus’s defensive record has been far superior than their opponents who have been vulnerable at the back. 

A week where three out of four English clubs have difficult fixtures ahead of them; it will be mighty interesting to watch how each of them fare against their respective opponents. 

Other key fixtures

Other key fixtures in Gameweek 5 are – 

Inter Milan vs RB Leipzig

After their win against Arsenal in the last gameweek, Inter Milan will host Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig at the San Siro. Even though Leipzig have fared well in their domestic league, they have lost all four encounters in the Champions league so far, languishing in the lower half of the table. As for the Nerazzurri, they are in the top half having won three and lost one. On the basis of form and the advantage of playing at home this could be Inter’s game to lose but upsets have happened in this Champions league season and Leipzig’s talented forward line could pull a rabbit out of the hat. 

AS Monaco vs SL Benfica

Monaco have been one of the surprise teams of the league phase so far with three wins and one loss sitting in third place. Benfica on the other hand started well but have suffered back-to-back losses in previous two gameweeks and will be looking to get back to winning ways. However, Monaco is a balanced side who play attractive football, scores goals and knows how to defend as well. It’s not going to be a cakewalk for the Ligue 1 team as the Benfica players aren’t pushovers either; one more exciting fixture for the fans to watch out for.