Champions League predictions & preview: Matchday 4

Before we head off for yet another international break, there's another thrilling round of Champions League football to feast our eyes on.

As always, there are a few standout fixtures to look out for on matchday four - namely Manchester United's trip to the always exciting Atalanta and Liverpool's hosting of Diego Simeone's fiery Atletico Madrid.

At this stage of the competition, teams can qualify for the knockout rounds and the last 16 - while there's also the danger of being eliminated if you find yourselves at the wrong end of your group.

Here's 90min's predictions and preview of what is to come...


Tuesday

Group E

Dynamo Kyiv vs Barcelona

Fati is back to face Dynamo | Soccrates Images/GettyImages

When is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? NSC Olimpiyskiy

Barcelona dive into their first taste of Champions League action in the post-Ronald Koeman era when they travel to Ukraine to take on Dynamo Kyiv. Having already lost two games this year, they simply cannot afford another defeat here.

The Catalan giants aren't a particularly good these days, but with Frenkie de Jong, Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati and Ronald Araujo all returning to the squad, they should have enough about them to scrape a win.

Check out 90min's full preview of the game here.

Prediction: Dynamo Kyiv 0-1 Barcelona


Bayern Munich vs Benfica

Bayern thumped Benfica last month | Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

When is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Allianz Arena

Bayern Munich are sitting pretty at the top of Group E and will fancy their chances of extending their lead at the top against a Benfica side who they beat 4-0 just a few weeks ago.

We have seen that Bayern are mortal this season, with their recent 5-0 loss to Gladbach proving they can be beaten, but Julian Nagelsmann's side simply look too strong for the Portuguese side and could secure another comfortable victory.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 4-0 Benfica

Check out 90min's full preview of the game here.


Group F

Villarreal vs Young Boys

Villarreal took the points last time | FABRICE COFFRINI/GettyImages

When is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? La Ceramica

Villarreal will be looking forward to another meeting with Young Boys as the Swiss side are the only team they have beaten in their last five games in all competitions.

Unai Emery's men are in a bit of a rut and are quietly tumbling down the La Liga standings, but they'll still expect to get a good result against Young Boys.

Prediction: Villarreal 2-1 Young Boys


Atalanta vs Man Utd

United survived a real scare at Old Trafford | Naomi Baker/GettyImages

When is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Gewiss Stadium

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will expect a significantly better showing from his Manchester United side than they produced when they met Atalanta last month. They fell behind to two early goals and needed a late flurry to save the day.

It was that game that really ramped the pressure up on Solskjaer, whose job remains on the line despite an impressive response against Tottenham. He'll expect another here, and he just might get one.

Check out 90min's full preview of the game here.

Prediction: Atalanta 1-2 Man Utd


Group G

Wolfsburg vs Red Bull Salzburg

Wolfsburg were stunned in their last meeting | Jan Hetfleisch/GettyImages

When is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 17:45 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Volkswagen Arena

The surprise package of the competition so far, Red Bull Salzburg have been flying in their group, sitting pretty at the top of the table with a record of two wins and a draw.

They thumped Wolfsburg 3-1 last month, and they'll hope to do something similar here. The Germans have just managed to end a run of eight games without a win in all competitions, but Salzburg might start another streak here.

Prediction: Wolfsburg 0-2 Salzburg


Sevilla vs Lille

These two played out a draw | Sylvain Lefevre/GettyImages

When is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium

Draw specialists Sevilla will go hunting their first European win of the season when Lille come to town on Tuesday.

Sevilla have actually been pretty impressive domestically and it seems like just a matter of time before they get their first victory, and that could easily come against a Lille side who have been languishing in midtable obscurity in Ligue 1.

Prediction: Sevilla 1-0 Lille


Group H

Malmo vs Chelsea

Chelsea are heavy favourites | Visionhaus/GettyImages

When is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 17:45 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Eleda Stadion

Chelsea beat Malmo 4-0 in October and will be expecting a similar result here, although they'll have to get it without the injured group of Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante.

Fortunately for Thomas Tuchel, his impressive squad depth should steer the Blues to another comfortable win here.

Check out 90min's full preview of the game here.

Prediction: Malmo 0-3 Chelsea


Juventus vs Zenit

Juventus top the group at present | MB Media/GettyImages

When is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Allianz Stadium

Sitting pretty at the top of Group H are Juventus, who can seal a spot in the knockout stages if they win here.

They're obviously better than Zenit, but Juventus have been in miserable form in recent weeks and could easily be held by a side against whom they needed a late winner from Dejan Kulusevski to beat just a few weeks ago.

Prediction: Juventus 1-1 Zenit


How to watch every Champions League game on TV

UK audiences will be able to watch live coverage on BT Sport, with a full highlights show broadcast on both Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

US viewers can watch games on fuboTV and Paramount+, while DAZN will be broadcasting every Champions League game live in Canada.

Viewers from around Europe can find full TV listings here.


Wednesday

Group A

Man City vs Club Brugge

City dominated Brugge first time around | Sylvain Lefevre/GettyImages

When is kick off? Wednesday 3 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Etihad Stadium

Manchester City smashed Club Brugge 5-1 just a few weeks ago, but that was will a full-strength side. This time around, Pep Guardiola could rotate.

If he brings in fringe players and disrupts the flow of his side, Guardiola might see his side struggle to overcome their Belgian foes - but they should get the job done...

Check out 90min's full preview of the game here.

Prediction: Man City 2-1 Club Brugge


RB Leipzig vs PSG

Messi may be absent for PSG | Visionhaus/GettyImages

When is kick off? Wednesday 3 October, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Red Bull Arena

Leipzig came pretty close to beating PSG last month, falling short after Lionel Messi turned up and, well, did some Lionel Messi things.

The good news, for the Germans, is that Messi could be absent here, opening the door to a potentially positive result. That said, Kylian Mbappe is expected to return from illness, which could mean PSG come out on top in an entertaining game.

Prediction: Leipzig 2-3 PSG


Group B

AC Milan vs Porto

Porto saw off Milan | Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

When is kick off? Wednesday 3 November, 17:45 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? San Siro

Both these sides are absolutely flying domestically, but neither have set the world on fire in Europe. Porto have four points from six games, while Milan have lost three on the bounce and will be eliminated from the competition with another defeat here.

Milan's poor showings surely cannot continue, having been so impressive in Serie A and feel like a sleeping giant in Europe, and they could get off the mark with a win.

Prediction: AC Milan 2-0 Porto


Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid

Liverpool edged Atletico in a thriller two weeks ago | Angel Martinez/GettyImages

When is kick off? Wednesday 3 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Anfield

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid is a fixture with a lot of recent history for a lot of different reasons. They put on a real barnstormer last month, with Jurgen Klopp's men emerging with a 3-2 victory.

Since then, both sides have lost key players to injury, with Atletico's struggles perhaps worse, and that won't help them here.

Check out 90min's full preview of the game here.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Atletico Madrid


Group C

Sporting CP vs Besiktas

Besiktas were no match for Sporting | Seskim Photo/MB Media/GettyImages

When is kick off? Wednesday 3 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Estadio Jose Alvalade

Sporting are flying in the Portuguese league but took a while to carry that form over to the Champions League, with their best performance coming as they battered Besiktas 4-1 in October.

They're on a great run of form and come up against a Besiktas side battling a load of injury problems, so expect a comfortable Sporting win.

Prediction: Sporting CP 2-0 Besiktas


Borussia Dortmund vs Ajax

Ajax ran riot against Dortmund | Dean Mouhtaropoulos/GettyImages

When is kick off? Wednesday 3 November, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Signal Iduna Park

Predicting this one feels impossible. Most would have expected Dortmund to win when these two met last month, but even their biggest sceptics wouldn't have seen Ajax walking away with a 4-0 victory.

That game served as a reminder that Ajax are not to be messed with (again) this season, although this one will likely not be as one-sided. However, Dortmund are without the injured Erling Haaland, which could hinder their chances of winning.

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Ajax


Group D

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Real ran riot last month | Anadolu Agency/GettyImages

When is kick off? Wednesday 3 November, 17:45 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Santiago Bernabeu

Real Madrid showed their quality in October's clash with Shakhtar as they roared to an emphatic 5-0 victory, but Karim Benzema's potential absence from this one could prevent another humiliation for the Ukrainians.

Even without Benzema, Real are obvious favourites and they still have plenty of big names to rely upon to get the job done.

Prediction: Real Madrid 3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk


FC Sheriff vs Inter

Inter brought Sheriff's hot start to an end | Stefano Guidi/GettyImages

When is kick off? November 3 October, 20:00 (GMT)
Where is the match being played? Sheriff Stadium

Inter were the party poopers last month when they derailed Sheriff's perfect start to their Champions League journey, and after some good form domestically, they'll fancy their chances of spoiling the fun again.

Underestimate Sheriff at your own peril, but getting a positive result against Inter feels like it could be out of reach for the Moldovan champions.

Prediction: Sheriff 0-2 Inter


Source : 90min