UEFA Champions League Round 6 Matches and Probable Lineups

The great AC Milan side of 1992/93 are the only Italian
team to have won all six games in this group stage, but Napoli can match them
here. “So far, we’ve been almost perfect,” said coach Luciano
Spalletti. Liverpool need a huge victory if they are to prize top spot from their
guests, having lost the reverse fixture 4-1. Defender Andy Robertson remembers
it well: “That was a hugely disappointing night… but we have nothing to
lose. A lot of magical things have happened at Anfield.”

Ten teams have finished a group stage with a maximum of
18 points – Milan, Paris, Spartak Moskva, Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid (twice),
Bayern (twice), Liverpool and Ajax.

Liverpool: Alisson; Thiago Alcántara; Salah, Firmino, Núñez, Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho
Out: Diogo Jota (calf), Matip (calf), Luis Díaz (knee), Arthur (thigh)
Doubtful: none

Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Politano, Simeone, Kvaratskhelia, Østigård, Kim, Mário Rui; Ndombélé, Lobotka, Zieliński
Out: Rrahmani (muscular)
Doubtful: none

Beaten 4-0 in Amsterdam on Matchday 1, the Scottish side
need a sizable victory to pip Ajax to a Europa League slot. “It’s our last
game at home,” said defender James Tavernier. “We have to put a
performance in for our fans.” Ajax also have their sights set on that
consolation prize. “Our goal was to reach the next round of the Champions
League, but we didn’t succeed,” explained Steven Berghuis. “So now we
have our eyes on the Europa League. We’re still disappointed, but that’s our
focus now.”

No Scottish side has ever completed the group stage
without winning a point.

Rangers: McGregor; Čolak, Kent,Tavernier, King, Davies, Barišić; Tillman, Davis, Sands; Sakala
Out: Lundstram (suspended), Rıdvan Yılmaz (hamstring), Goldson (thigh), Jack (calf), Lawrence (knee), Souttar (ankle)
Doubtful: none

Ajax: Pasveer; Taylor; Tadić, Brobbey, Bergwijn, Rensch, Timber, Bassey, Blind; Berghuis, Álvarez

Out: Ahmetcan Kaplan (knee)
Doubtful: none

Although the four finishing positions in Group C are
already set, there are scores to settle. Inter were beaten 2-0 in the reverse
fixture but took ten points from their next four games, and Romelu Lukaku is
back in the fold. Little wonder coach Simone Inzaghi is buoyant: “I think
we have exceeded expectations… We are all happy in Inter world.” With
five wins from five, Bayern are equally upbeat and back-to-back perfect group
stages is the prize on offer for Julian Nagelsmann’s men.

Inter’s 4-0 win against Plzeň on Matchday 5 was their
joint-biggest margin of victory in the Champions League (group stage to final)
and the fourth time they had won by four goals.

Bayern: Ulreich; Sabitzer; Gnabry, Musiala, Coman; Tel, Mazraoui, Pavard, Upamecano, Stanišić; Gravenberch
Out: Neuer (shoulder), Müller (hip), Hernández (adductor), Sarr (knee), Sané (muscular), De Ligt (knee)
Doubtful: none

Inter: Onana; Škriniar, Mkhitaryan, Gosens; Džeko, Correa, De Vrij, Acerbi; Darmian, Barella, Asllani
Out: Brozović (thigh), D’Ambrosio (thigh), Lukaku (thigh)
Doubtful: none

“There are still four trophies left for us to
win,” said Barcelona boss Xavi Hernández after defeat by Bayern on
Matchday 5 ended his side’s hopes of reaching the Champions League round of 16.
“We all have to stay positive.” The five-time European champions have
a chance to take the only major continental title that still eludes them when
they enter the Europa League in the spring, while Plzeň will hope to get their
first points in what has been a brutally tough section.

Barcelona beat Plzeň 4-0 in Czechia during the 2011/12
group stage, but that game was played in Prague; this will be the sides’ first
encounter in the city famous for Pilsner beer.

Plzeň: Staněk; Havel, Vlkanova, Pilař; Chorý, Hejda, Pernica, Jemelka; Kalvach, Bucha; Jirka
Out: Mosquera (suspended), Sýkora (knee), Kliment (hamstring), Kopic (muscular), Tijani (muscular)
Doubtful: none

Barcelona: Iñaki Peña; Fati, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, Bellerín, Piqué, Alonso, Balde; Gavi, De Jong, Kessie
Out: Busquets (suspended), Araújo (adductor), Sergi Roberto (shoulder), Koundé (thigh), Eric García (hip), Depay (match fitness), Christensen (match fitness), Lewandowski (rested)

 Rúben Amorim’s Sporting won 3-0 at Frankfurt on Matchday
1 but are level on points with their German rivals – and everything is to play
for in Group D. “Now we have to play a final,” said defender Pedro
Porro as he looked ahead . Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani expressed hope
that his team could avenge that Sporting defeat after the 2021/22 Europa League
winners beat Marseille on Matchday 5, saying: “It’s not over yet.”

Frankfurt have scored at least once in all of their three
previous games in Portugal, though with very mixed results (W1 D1 L1).

“We can go through by winning at home in front of
our fans,” said Marseille coach Igor Tudor as he looked ahead to his
team’s final group stage assignment. “What more do you want?” Just
two points separate OM (in fourth) from section leaders Spurs, who may be
smarting from a late disallowed goal against Sporting CP on Matchday 5 that
would have put them in the round of 16. “We can guarantee qualification in
the next game,” said Lucas Moura, looking on the bright side.

Spurs have yet to win in six UEFA competition away games
against French sides (D4 L2).

Marseille: Pau López; Balerdi, Guendouzi, Harit; Alexis Sánchez,Mbemba, Kolašinac; Clauss, Rongier, Veretout, Nuno Tavares
Out: none
Doubtful: Bailly (hamstring), Gueye (knee)

Tottenham: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Kane, Son, Davies; Emerson, Bentancur, Højbjerg, Perišić; Moura
Out: Richarlison (calf)
Doubtful: Romero (calf), Kulusevski (thigh)

Wednesday, 02 November 2022:

“You can have a bad day but you can’t lose
intensity,” Thibaut Courtois said after a 3-2 defeat in Leipzig on
Matchday 5 left Real Madrid level in Group F and still denying top spot. the
division if they drop points against relegated Celtic. The Hoops will certainly
finish bottom but manager Ange Postecoglou wants them to learn and come back
better next season, saying: “My job is to be here every year.”

Celtic’s only previous match at the Santiago Bernabéu
ended in a 3-0 defeat in the quarter-finals of the European Cup in March 1980.

A draw against Celtic on Day 5 saw Shakhtar qualify for
the Champions League in Leipzig. “It will be a difficult game, but we
believe that we can play well in front of our own fans, and they will help us
believe that this is possible,” said Pitmen coach Igor Jovićević. Leipzig
will be confident of qualifying for the tie, but after losing 4-1 at home to
Shakhtar on matchday one, they know they have a tough job ahead of them.

In their last three home games, Sakhtar drew 1-1 in
Europe.

Shakhtar: Trubin; Mykhaylichenko, Petriak, Mudryk, Traoré, Matviyenko, Bondar, Taylor; Stepanenko, Bondarenko, Sudakov
Out: Shved (unspecified), Konoplia (unspecified), Zubkov (unspecified)
Doubtful: none

Leipzig: Blaswich; Simakan, Nkunku; André Silva, Gvardiol, Orbán, Raum; Schlager, Haidara; Szoboszlai, Werner
Out: Gulácsi (knee), Laimer (ankle), Klostermann (ankle)
Doubtful: none 

The Blues are already firmly at the top of Group E, so
Graham Potter’s side have little to offer but they may be seeking revenge for
the 1-0 defeat at Zagreb on the opening day when Thomas Tuchel departed.
However, Dinamo know a win in London could extend their campaign into the new
year. “We can count on that,” coach Ante Čačić said after the recent
4-0 home defeat against AC Milan. “We’ll do our best in the last game and
see what happens.”

Dinamo beat West Ham 1-0 in the Europa League group stage
last season; it was their first win against England in nine UEFA club matches
(U1 W7).

Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Chilwell; Ziyech, Pulišić; Broja,Chalobah, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Chukwuemeka
Out: James (knee), Fofana (knee), Kanté (hamstring)
Doubtful: Arrizabalaga (foot), Koulibaly (knee)

Dinamo Zagreb: Livaković;  Ljubičić; Oršić, Petković,Ristovski, J Šutalo, Perić; Špikić, Ademi, Mišić, Ivanušec
Out: B Šutalo (calf/ankle)
Doubtful: none

Top spot in Group E is already secured, but Milan must
avoid defeat if they are to avoid Salzburg Gazburg in the race for second
place. “We have to do everything we can to win the last game and the
qualification,” said coach Stefano Pioli, despite managing to draw in
training. In Austria, the Kronen Zeitung called this game the “Grande
Finale” and Matthias Jaissle’s side will be delighted. “We have a
final at AC Milan,” forward Noah Okafor said. “If we want to get to
the last 16, we have to win there.”

No Austrian club has won a UEFA match at San Siro in
their last 12 home games (U2 L10).

Milan: Tătăruşanu; Kalulu, Rafael Leão; Giroud, Gabbia, Kjær, Hernández; Tonali, Bennacer; Rebić, Brahim Díaz
Out: Calabria (thigh), Florenzi (thigh tendon), Saelemaekers (knee)
Doubtful: none

Salzburg: Köhn; Dedić, Okafor, Adamu, Pavlović, Wöber, Ulmer; Gourna-Douath; Seiwald, Sučić, Kjærgaard
Out: Fernando (thigh), Capaldo (knee)
Doubtful: Adamu (thigh), Solet (thigh)

Group G has already been decided, three points separate
the two teams before the 6th day. For City, this means a guaranteed place in
the last 16 as group winners, although Sevilla will surely finish third.
“At least in the Europa League,” declared AS after the Spaniard’s
victory over Copenhagen last time out, with Jorge Sampaoli’s side hoping to
return to the competition they have won six times.

Since losing 2-1 to Lyon in September 2018, City have won
22 home games at home (W20 U2).

The Danish champions have to finish at the bottom of the
table, so their main goal when hosting Dortmund may be to become the fourth
team to finish the group stage of the Champions League without a goal. Three
clubs have scored so far: Deportivo La Coruña (2004/05), Maccabi Haifa
(2009/10) and Dinamo Zagreb (2016/17). Dortmund are certain to finish second in
Group G and could rest some key players from Denmark.

Copenhagen have not scored in eight of their last nine
matches in the Champions League (group stage).

 Massimiliano Allegri has failed to lead his side through
to the Champions League round of 16 for the first time in his career, and they
could even miss out on a place in the Europa League if they lose to Paris (who
need a win to be sure of top spot in the section). “We have to go to the
Europa League at all costs,” said Bianconeri defender Federico Gatti. This
has been a trying autumn for Juve, but the three 19-year-olds who came on in
the latter stages of Matchday 5’s 4-3 loss at Benfica hinted at a brighter
tomorrow.

Paris have yet to win in four games against Juventus in
Italy (D1 L3), including a 3-1 loss in the second leg of the 1996 UEFA Super
Cup in Palermo.

Maccabi Haifa conceded seven in Paris last time out but
can take comfort from having scored twice as they welcome Roger Schmidt’s
buoyant Benfica, whose win against Juventus took their run this season to 20
games unbeaten (W16 D4). The right combination of results could still take the
Israeli champions into the Europa League knockout round play-offs.
“Benfica are a great team, but I have asked the Paris coach to do the
business by beating Juventus,” said coach Barak Bakhar.

If Benfica claim victory, they will beat their club
record for the most points in a single Champions League group stage campaign.

Maccabi Haifa: Cohen; Goldberg, Tchibota, Pierrot, David, Seck, Batubinsika; Cornud, Lavi, Mohamed, Atzili
Out: Haziza (hamstring), Sundgren (knee), Podgoreanu (Achilles)
Doubtful: none

Benfica: Vlachodimos; Bah, Rafa Silva, João Mário; Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Aursnes, Florentino; Neres
Out: Fernandez (suspended), Morato (ankle)
Doubtful: none