The Champions League Review: Matchday 6

13th December, Wednesday 

Here we are at the final group stage match of the Champions League. We almost have the teams that’ll be going to the round of 16 but yet all the teams are to be confirmed with quite much of a fight remaining to be witnessed on the final game day. 

Group- D

Inter Milan vs Real Sociedad 

Time: 1:30 am

Inter Milan will host Real Sociedad in their Champions League group stage final match. Both the teams have only faced each other once before which ended in a stalemate. Both the teams haven’t lost a single match h in their last five outings which makes the match even more interesting as both are coming to face each other being in good form. Both the teams have qualified for the round of 16 with being in equal points and the goal difference being the only category that separates their standings.

Inter Milan Injury list: Dumfries, De Vrij, Pavard 

Real Sociedad Injury list: Mendez, Mohammed, Silva, Barrenetxea

Redbull Salzburg vs SL Benfica 

Time: 1:30 am

The Austrian champions and Portugal giants are bottom of the table. They’d most likely be competing for the third-place finish to remain in the European competitions for the sake of one last shot towards a title. The Champions League journey will certainly be ending for one team today who finishes last of the group- D for sure.

Redbull Salzburg Injruy list: Solet, Terzic, Okoh, Waller, Kjaergaard

SL Benfica injury list: Silva, Campos, Bah

Group- A

FC København vs Galatasaray

Time: 1:30 am

It could either be København or Turkish high flyers Galatasaray who’d qualify for the round of 16. Both the teams are one above the other with the same number of points and goal difference only being the difference that separates them. Among the last three outings that they encountered each other, the ratio of winning, losing, and drawing has been 1 for each. It could be an exciting night for them as if they draw, and Manchester United wins, both teams will miss out on a chance for the round of 16.

København Injury list: Babacar, Kochlova, Meiling, Sahsah, Clem

Galatasaray Injury list: none 

Manchester United vs Bayern Munich

Time: 1:30 am

German champions Bayern Munich have qualified for the round of 16. Leading their group- A with 13 points in five games, the Bavarians are a regular in the knockout rounds. Manchester United on the other end have been disastrous as they see themselves in the last position but mathematically and some fate can bring their season on track as they still have a minute chance of qualifying in the round of 16. 

Manchester United injury list: Rashford, Lindelof, Mount, Martial, Eriksen, Casemiro, Martinez, Diallo, Malacia

Bayern Munich injury list: Ulriech, Gnabry, De Ligt, Sarr, Buchnann, Marusic

Group- C

Napoli vs SC Braga 

Time: 1:30 am 

Napoli has not been dealing with the best of forms with just 3 points in the last 5 matches in the league and cup. They are up against a Portuguese side that hasn’t lost a single game in their last five outings with 13 points out of a possible 15. Napoli could be set to win a place in the round of 16 if they don’t lose to Braga with a margin of 3 goals as there are possible chances of them not qualifying in the knockout matches.

Napoli's injury list: Golini, Oliviera, Rui, Khvaratskhelia, Cajuste

Braga injury list: Niakte 

Union Berlin vs Real Madrid

Time: 1:30 am 

It’s impossible now for the German surprise package Union Berlin to qualify for the round of 16 but they have still got a chance to be in the European competition if they pull off a surprise win over Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid. They were a dominant side when they played against them in the previous fixture as they lost just 1-0. Real Madrid on the other side will be hoping to crown off as the table toppers with a win. 

Union Berlin injury list: Bonucci, Tousart, Doekhi

Real Madrid injury list: Carvajal, Camavinga, Vinicius jr, Guler, Militao, Cortouis, Tchouameni

Group- G

Crvena Zvedza vs Manchester City 

Time: 11:15 pm

Manchester City is fourth in the Premier League table but not here in the Champions League as they are already qualified for the round of 16 with a 100 percent record till now after five matches but surely they’ll have a 100 percent record after the final Matchday as well. They are up against Crvena Zvezda who are at the bottom of the group with minimal hopes of qualifying even for Europa and look destined to be knocked out of Europe.

Crvena Zvezda injury list: None

Manchester City injury list: Haaland, Steffen, Doku, De Bruyne

RB Leipzig vs Young Boys

Time: 11:15 pm

RB Leipzig is second only to Manchester City in their group and looks set to qualify for the round of 16 with assumptions of whom they’ll be facing in the knockout rounds. They have three of their star players sidelined due to injury with their stars of the season Xavi and Openda still running the show alone being fit. Their manager Marco Rose will be hoping to to introduce them if they are needed and will try to win the game without their involvement to keep them fit for crucial matches. 

RB Leipzig injury list: Werner, Olmo, Orban

Young Boys injury list: Demme, Itten, Imeri

Cover Credits: Eurosport