- Several of Europe’s heavyweights face off in the Champions League this month
- Juventus vs Man City and Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona take place in the next round of games
- Matchday Six takes place on December 10 and 11
It may have been revamped into a needlessly confusing, over bloated 36 team league table, but the Champions League can still throw up plenty of bangers in the early stages of the competition.
And this month, several of the continent’s heavyweights are clashing in the business end of the opening stage of the tournament.
Matchday six of the inaugural eight game league stage (not even going to try and explain it all. Just bring back the very simple, straightforward group stages that absolutely no one was complaining about or wishing to evolve into a Mulholland Drive level of confusion) kicks off on December 10, next week and features several high profile clashes heading into the last couple of games before the knockout ties return to bring a sense of normalcy back to proceedings.
Across December 10 and 11, the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and reigning European Champions Real Madrid desperately need to get some points on the board after a rough first five games. PSG currently find themselves outside the top 24 in the league table, while Los Blancos sit perilously above the cut-off point, in 24th, having lost three of their opening five games.
So what games should we all be keeping an eye on across the 10th and 11th?
Here’s your official rundown, complete with kickoff times and broadcasting channels.
Tuesday, December 10
Dinamo Zagreb vs Celtic
What Time? GMT: 17.45, Eastern: 12.45, Central: 11.45, Pacific: 09.45
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? Both teams are not too far north of the dreaded 25th placed dropout zone (although still both above Real Madrid) and three points here would be absolutely crucial for either team to secure further Champions League football, this season.
Girona vs Liverpool
What Time? GMT: 17.45, Eastern: 12.45, Central: 11.45, Pacific: 09.45
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? Nothing much for Liverpool, who sit atop the league table with five straight victories. Girona, however, have the opportunity to pull off a major upset with a home win against Arne Slot’s runaway Premier League leaders, and desperately need three points to keep their hopes of qualification for the next round alive.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich
What Time? GMT: 20.00, Eastern: 15.00, Central: 14.00, Pacific: 12.00
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? While Bayern are probably not likely to drop into the bottom 12, they are also not in the top eight of the table, which would guarantee the six-time champions a place in the last 16. Instead, they are currently lying in 13th place after two losses from their opening five games, meaning a further playoff tie would be necessary for Vincent Kompany’s men. Shakhtar, meanwhile, are two points from safety, in 26th place and are running out of time to remain in the Champions League.
RB Salzburg vs Paris Saint-Germain
What Time? GMT: 20.00, Eastern: 15.00, Central: 14.00, Pacific: 12.00
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? Simply put, PSG are in crisis mode, here. The French champions may hold a comfortable seven point lead at the top of Ligue Un, but in continental competition, Luis Enrique’s glittering assembly of talent are once again disappointing. Anything less than a win in Austria and PSG would be on the precipice of European elimination, with their remaining fixtures coming against Manchester City and a potentially tricky away trip to fellow strugglers Stuttgart. With four defeats from five match days, Salzburg need a victory here to realistically stand any chance of advancing to the playoffs.
Atalanta vs Real Madrid
What Time? GMT: 20.00, Eastern: 15.00, Central: 14.00, Pacific: 12.00
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? We are on the verge of seeing one of the greatest shocks in Champions League/European Cup history. Fifteen time champions and current holders Real Madrid are just one place above elimination with three games remaining. And an away trip to Bergamo, to face Europa League champions and currently undefeated Atalanta (three wins, two draws) is hardly an ideal adventure for Kylian Mbappe and co. to undertake in their quest for European survival.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter
What Time? GMT: 20.00, Eastern: 15.00, Central: 14.00, Pacific: 12.00
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? Both teams currently find themselves inside the Holy Grail of the top eight. But that could all change with a dodgy last few results. Simone Inzaghi’s Italian champions and Xabi Alonso’s German champions are two of the most exciting teams on the continent, so will be sure to put on a show in their bid to secure a place in the last 16, avoiding the extra fixture pile up of the playoffs.
Brest vs PSV Eindhoven
What Time? GMT: 20.00, Eastern: 15.00, Central: 14.00, Pacific: 12.00
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? Brest have proven themselves to be the surprise package of this season’s Champions League. Making the most of their first ever appearance in the competitions, the Ligue Un club find themselves with 10 points after three victories and a draw from their opening five games. A victory at home to Dutch giants PSV and a top eight spot and a place in the last 16 would not be too far away for what would be an all-timer of an accomplishment for the French debutants. With eight points, PSV could do with another three to all but guarantee a playoff place, while steadying themselves for a run at the top eight.
Wednesday December 11
Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona
What Time? GMT: 20.00, Eastern: 15.00, Central: 14.00, Pacific: 12.00
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? The La Liga table toppers and last season’s beaten finalists occupy third and fourth place respectively, but will not be wanting to rest on their laurels with only three games of the opening stage remaining. Only two points seperates Dortmund and Barca from an unwanted playoff tie, so both teams will be looking to secure their top eight berth, here.
Juventus vs Manchester City
What Time? GMT: 20.00, Eastern: 15.00, Central: 14.00, Pacific: 12.00
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? Both of these European giants find themselves entrenched firmly in the playoff spots at the moment. For City, an additional two fixtures would be about as welcome as a 116th Premier League charge. Pep Guardiola’s all conquering Premier League champions are on a historically bad run at the moment, without a win in their last seven games in all competitions, losing six of them. Defeat in Turin would further deepen the crisis in east Manchester and leave City looking worriedly over their shoulders at the elimination zone. Likewise for Juventus, in 19th place, a victory is much needed for the Bianconeri.
Arsenal vs Monaco
What Time? GMT: 20.00, Eastern: 15.00, Central: 14.00, Pacific: 12.00
What Channel? UK: TNT Sports, US: CBS Sports, Paramount+
What’s at Stake? Arsenal and Monaco are two of the seven teams currently on 10 points. However, most importantly, they are two of the three occupying the top eight. Both will be doing everything they can to remain there.
Being that these are the last Champions League ties for over a month before the competition resumes towards the end of January, this is not a bad selection of high stakes games to tide us all over until then. Imagine a world where Brest advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League and Real Madrid don’t.
