Yesterday and today saw us enter into Match day five in this seasons Champions League competition with only Manchester City qualified from England. Chelsea, despite losing made it in yesterday, Arsenal will have to wait until the last game and Celtic know match day six will be their last European game for a while. All games on Wednesday will take place at 7:45 BST/2:45 ET unless otherwise stated.
Before I move on to the second part of Match Day Five though I would like to take a moment to send thoughts and prayers to the family of the young man injured in yesterdays game between Ajax and Barcelona. I am aware that some social media sites are reporting the young man as deceased but nothing is confirmed on any legitimate news sites as of right now. Certainly we never expect to go to a sports venue and for it to end in any more devastation than maybe our team getting beat. As I write this the young man, as yet unidentified, is fighting for his life after falling over a 16ft wall and onto the track below. Pictures have surfaced on the internet, as they tend to do, and it certainly does not look good from the stills. The Ajax official website has not updated the mans condition and I wouldn’t expect them to, but what ever his condition I think all fans of all teams, in all sports should be able to come together for a moment like this.
Group A
Bayer Leverkusen v Manchester United:
First off, let me just say that I am glad to hear that the trouble the Manchester United plane had with its landing was all sorted out and everyone on the flight is now safely on the ground. Some of you may not know but it was in 1958, also in Germany when the plane crashed carrying the Manchester United squad, killing numerous players and actually one survivor, Bill Foulkes, only passed away Monday aged 81. Hopefully the event was not too bad and the players can get on with business on the pitch today.
Leverkusen, managed by ex Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia will be looking to get revenge on the opening game when his side lost 4-2 at Old Trafford and continue towards the knockout stage. A win for either side should see them progress but a win for Sociadad in the other game and a tie between these two will see both qualify. With a United win comes not only the comfort of qualifying but also the position of group winner is possible with the correct result in the other game.
Moyes will have his work cut out for him though with injuries to Van Persie, Vidic, Jones and Rafael keeping them out. Also Fellaini will also be absent as he serves his one match ban.
Prediction: 2-0
Shakhtar Donetsk v Real Sociadad:
A loss or tied game for the visitors will be the end of the European road for Real Sociadad. For the Shakhtar boss though a tie is all they need to secure at least Europa League football in the new year. A win will put them right in the mix for one of the top two positions going into match day six, which unfortunately is away to Manchester United.
Prediction: 1-1
Group B
Juventus v FC Copenhagen:
Juventus, bottom of the group but not out of the mix just yet. Real Madrid have the Group wrapped up but the other three teams are separated by the single point. The Italians are yet to win in the Group and today would be a great day to start. A win for Juve would see them leapfrog at least that days opposition, and maybe even Galatasaray, depending how Madrid play.
Match Day six will see them travel to Galatasaray where their future could be firmly in their own hands.
Prediction: 4-0
Real Madrid v Galatasaray:
What odds would you give Galatasaray getting a result at the Bernabeu today? Certainly Manchester City fans would be sick to their stomachs with Roberto Mancini doing at the first attempt something he couldn’t do with two at City, progression to the Champions League knockout stage. That could be a reality at the final whistle depending on the result of the other Group B game.
Both Juventus and Copenhagen will be hoping Ronaldo and company would be looking to end their last home game in this group in style. The truth is this group may not have any conclusions until after the final game.
Prediction: 2-1
Group C
Anderlecht v Benfica:
Anderlecht are in the same boat as Real Sociadad in Group A, anything less than a win will signal the end of their European journey at the conclusion of match day six. The hosts are not helped by a weekend defeat in their domestic league but are boosted by the return of Vargas, Proto and Gillet, who scored the consolation goal on Saturday.
Benfica, on the other hand, will want to secure the three points here away to Anderlecht rather than hope Paris St Germain are in a festive mood in two weeks time.
Prediction: 0-2
PSG v Olympiacos:
Technically PSG are not yet confirmed as qualified but are only the one point away from not only being qualified, but progressing as Group leaders. I really cannot see any other result than a home win and PSG securing their participation in the knockout stage next year.
Any points that Olympiacos do manage to get in the French capital though will help them going into the final match at home to current bottom side Anderlecht.
Prediction:2-0
Group D:
CSKA v Bayern (5pm BST/12pm ET):
I am excited about this game. I really think that CSKA can get a result against Bayern Munich in this fixture, Maybe it is just wishful thinking from a Manchester City fan not looking forward to the prospect of finishing second in the Group and possibly setting up a tie with Barcelona, Madrid and the European giants who will most likely also finish top of their groups.
Realistically though it will be a tough ask with CSKA conceding an average of three goals a game so far in the Champions League. That said, Bayern did only manage a 1-0 win away to Plzen at the beginning of the month and add to that the players out for Pep Guardiola. Ribery, Mandzukic, Pizarro and Shaqiri join Bastian Schweinsteiger on the injury list, so nothing should be taken for granted until that final whistle goes.
Prediction: 2-1
Manchester City v Plzen:
Joe Hart will return between the sticks for this match and that should do nothing but strengthen an already frightening Manchester City side. Coming off the 6-0 win against Tottenham on Sunday the strike force of Aguero and Negredo is looking irresistible and with Sami Nasri playing his best football in a City shirt it should be nothing but a Manchester City win.
Plzen are still fighting for the Europa League place and from their point of view a matching or bettering of CSKA’s result will be all they need to keep those hopes alive until the final match. Poetically they will face off with each other in that final game so if there is a chance, it will be in their hands.
Prediction: 4-0
