{"id":298466,"date":"2023-11-07T00:24:57","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T00:24:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=298466"},"modified":"2023-11-07T00:24:57","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T00:24:57","slug":"state-of-play-ahead-of-this-weeks-champions-league-group-stage-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/soccer\/state-of-play-ahead-of-this-weeks-champions-league-group-stage-games\/","title":{"rendered":"State of play ahead of this week's Champions League Group Stage games"},"content":{"rendered":"
To the joy of football fans everywhere, Champions League action gets back underway this week and there’s plenty to play for in matchday four.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, there are a number of teams – including the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City – who can secure qualification to the next round already by securing a win this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The European giants will be keen to wrap up their respective group stage journeys with two games to spare but will be well aware of the challenges that lie ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a number of English teams will be vying to ensure they have the best chance of progressing to the knockout rounds, with plenty up for grabs still.<\/p>\n
And so, here, Mail Sport<\/span> takes a look at the current state of play ahead of the Champions League group stage action.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Champions League Group Stage action gets back underway this week – with plenty to play for\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Teams like Newcastle will be hoping to bounce back from defeats in their last European outing<\/p>\n With three wins from their opening three matches, German giants Bayern Munich can secure their place in the knockout stage with a win against Galatasaray on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, with the Turkish side currently second in the group, they’ll be keen to get the best result possible from their trip to the Allianz Arena.<\/p>\n With Harry Kane in red-hot form – after a notching a hat-trick in his first ever Der Klassiker – there’s a good chance the Bavarian side pick up all three points.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United are in dire need of a victory after picking up just one win from their opening three group stage matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n They’ll travel to Copenhagen on Wednesday, the only team who they’ve beaten thus far in the competition, off the back of their dramatic 1-0 victory over\u00a0Fulham.\u00a0<\/p>\n With the Red Devils currently one point behind Galatasaray, they’ll be hoping Bayern secure a win over the Turkish side and that they can triumph in Denmark.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Harry Kane (right) and Bayern Munich can book their place in the next round with a win\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meanwhile Manchester United have it all to do heading into matchweek four\u00a0<\/p>\n In Group B, it’s still all to play for as Premier League giants Arsenal lead the group by just a single point – with Lens, Sevilla and PSV all following behind closely.<\/p>\n The Gunners recorded a 2-1 win over Sevilla in their last outing and, when they host the Spanish side on Tuesday, will be looking to repeat that at the Emirates.<\/p>\n Following their dramatic 1-0 defeat to Newcastle – where manager Mikel Arteta took aim of league officials – the north London side will be keen to bounce back.<\/p>\n However, if they fail to do so and Lens triumph in their clash with PSV, Arteta’s side will find themselves falling to second in the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite all of the possible permutations, the Gunners stand in good stead to book their place in the next round of the competition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arsenal lead their group but will still need to beat Sevilla to be the outright frontrunners<\/p>\n Yet again, Real Madrid are cruising through their Champions League group with absolute ease – having picked up nine points from a possible nine thus far.<\/p>\n With Jude Bellingham finding form already – with three goals from three games in the competition – it’s likely the Spanish giants get another win when they face Braga.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, second-place Napoli can also leave themselves within touching distance of the knockout rounds if they triumph over struggling Union Berlin.<\/p>\n The German side, who are participating in the Champions League group stage for the first time in their history, have failed to record a single point in the competition.<\/p>\n It’s not impossible for Berlin to keep their European dream alive but they’ll have to put in some stronger performances in their final three group stage games.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Real Madrid have stormed their group and will likely secure qualification on Wednesday<\/p>\n While Group D may have flown under the radar for some, a lot fans will be impressed by the dominance that Real Sociedad and Inter Milan have shown thus far.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sociedad have been particularly impressive due to their defensive resilience and have only conceded one goal in the competition.<\/p>\n Both sides can ensure their places in the Champions League knockout stages with victories over Benfica and RB Salzburg on Wednesday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Spanish side will fancy their chances in progressing when they take on Benfica, who are yet to pick up a point from their group stage fixtures.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Salzburg currently sit on three points and still have a chance of qualifying but they’ll have to put in revitalized performances from here on out in order to do so.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Real Sociedad and Inter Milan have stormed their group and will likely both qualify<\/p>\n Unlike the majority of the groups in the competition, Group E is still up for grabs.\u00a0<\/p>\n With Feyenoord on six points, Atletico Madrid on five points, Lazio on four points and Celtic on one point, any of the four teams can still qualify.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dutch side Feyenoord are the current frontrunners but with a tricky trip to Lazio on Tuesday night, there’s a definite chance that they slip up in Italy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile Atletico Madrid, who sit fourth in LaLiga currently, host Celtic and will fancy their chances of ensuring their spot in the knockout round of the competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys will be well-aware of the uphill battles that faces them but, given their impressive domestic form, they’ll remain confident they can turn it around.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Diego Simeone will be hopeful that his Atletico Madrid side can still top their group<\/p>\n And now we reach the Group of Death.\u00a0<\/p>\n This group has already thrown together some eye-catching results – such as Newcastle’s triumph over PSG or the Parisians’ dismantling of Dortmund in their following match.\u00a0<\/p>\n As it stands, PSG lead the group on six points with Dortmund and Newcastle on four points and AC Milan currently sitting on two points.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite defeat in their trip to Tyneside, PSG could put themselves firmly in the driving seat within the group with a victory at the San Siro on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Eddie Howe’s side will know that a victory in Dortmund would leave them in good stead to push on a secure a place in the knockout rounds.<\/p>\n However, after their disappointing 1-0 defeat against the Bundesliga side in their last match, the Magpies will be well aware of the challenge ahead.<\/p>\n Howe will also keep in mind that there are no easy games and, if they want to progress, they’ll have to go all-out for the win in Dortmund.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n PSG and AC Milan have had constrasting luck throughout their opening group stage matches<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund will go head-to-head in Germany on Tuesday night<\/p>\n Similarly to Real Madrid, Manchester City are taking the Champions League group stages by storm and can secure their qualification with a win on Tuesday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola’s side have picked up three wins out of a possible three and, with a home clash against Young Boys coming up, will likely earn a spot in the next round.\u00a0<\/p>\n German side RB Leipzig, despite sitting three points behind Man City, can also qualify for the knockout rounds if they are victorious against Red Star Belgrade.<\/p>\n Leipzig sit on six points whereas Belgrade and Young Boys are both stuck on one after failing to win any of their opening three games.\u00a0<\/p>\n Barring some freak results, fans can expect to see Leipzig and City wrap up their group stage journey imminently.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Manchester City can ensure their place in the knockout round with a win over Young Boys<\/p>\n For those who aren’t aware, Barcelona have absolutely strolled through the Champions League group stage and are unbeaten from their opening games.<\/p>\n Their goal difference (+11) is the highest of any team in the competition, after scoring eight goals and conceding just one from their three matches to date.<\/p>\n Should they be victorious in their trip to Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, they’ll ensure their qualification for the knockout rounds – with two games to spare.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, it’s all to play for in the race for second, with Shakhtar trailing behind Porto by three points. They’ll be well aware that a win in Spain would do them wonders.\u00a0<\/p>\n Antwerp on the other hand are all but out of Europe as they sit on zero points from their opening group stage encounters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Barcelona have the best goal difference after scoring eight goals and conceding just one<\/p>\n It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\nGroup A<\/h2>\n
Group B<\/h2>\n
Group C<\/h2>\n
Group D<\/h2>\n
Group E<\/h2>\n
Group F<\/h2>\n
Group G<\/h2>\n
Group H<\/h2>\n
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!\u00a0<\/h3>\n