There is no let-up in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage schedule.
Below is a game-by-game preview of Tuesday’s games.
Copenhagen vs Man City (18:45 CET)
“He’s just ridiculous. It’s just not human, the stuff he’s been doing since he signed,” said Jack Grealish of, who else, Erling Haaland after his double in City’s 5-0 win against the Danish side last time out. The Norwegian marksman was even substituted at half-time to keep him fresh for this latest assignment – worrying given Copenhagen coach Jacob Neestrup said his team “were simply overpowered” in the first meeting.
Maccabi Haifa vs Juventus (18:45)
The relief was palpable in Turin on Matchday 3 as Juventus beat Maccabi Haifa to break their Group H duck, but the Bianconeri will be acutely aware they need to follow that up with another victory given they still trail Paris and Benfica by four points. The return to fitness and form of Ángel Di María and two-goal Adrien Rabiot is timely for Massimiliano Allegri, who was gushing in his praise of the pair after that 3-1 win: “Di María is an extraordinary player; it was his first game in a long time. Rabiot is a player who has grown a lot, matured physically and has a little more room for improvement.”
Dinamo Zagreb vs Salzburg (21:00)
It’s bottom versus top in Group E, but only two points separate these teams after Noah Okafor’s winner sent Salzburg to the summit on Matchday 3. Much like the section as a whole, there was little to choose between the sides in that encounter, and defender Dino Perić is bullish about Dinamo’s chances in this game and qualification: “We have two more matches at Stadion Maksimir. We feel very good at home; we have already defeated some big teams there and I hope we can do it again.”
AC Milan vs Chelsea (21:00)
The Blues’ 3-0 defeat of Milan at Stamford Bridge offered promising signs for manager Graham Potter. “You saw the appetite of the players; we got control of it and offered a threat,” he said after that victory. “The boys have been really open, responsible and honest. They’ve been fantastic to work with.” Milan need a similar improvement if they are to turn the tables here, with midfielder Ismaël Bennacer saying after the first meeting: “It hurts to lose this way. In the Champions League, we need to raise our level. We’ll rewatch the game and work on our mistakes.”
Shakhtar vs Real Madrid (21:00)
Coach Igor Jovićević was proud of the way his Shakhtar team stood up to Real Madrid in trying circumstances in Spain last time out. “Madrid deserved to win and they might have scored more,” he said, “but we played with bravery and took risks and, in the end, might have grabbed a 2-2 draw.” Carlo Ancelotti forgave his charges their profligacy at the Santiago Bernabéu, knowing that the right result this week will take his side through: “Obviously, intensity is very important, but you can’t have it to perfection all the time.”
Celtic vs Leipzig (21:00)
With just the one point after three games, Celtic are not having an easy time of it in this season’s group stage, a 3-1 loss at Leipzig last time out pushing them to the bottom of Group F. An injury to captain Callum McGregor was an additional concern for coach Ange Postecoglou, who was disappointed that his side were “too negative” at times. Leipzig’s spirits are higher, but they are also set to be without a key performer, goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi suffering a cruciate injury.
Dortmund vs Sevilla (21:00)
Dortmund can feel optimistic as they head into their rematch with Sevilla, knowing that the right combination of results could see them seal a knockout berth at the end of the night. Edin Terzić will hope his side’s 4-1 win in Seville on Matchday 3 marks the end of a recent sticky patch, the coach noting: “We found another gear and were able to keep things tight at the back.” Sevilla will look to do something similar in their first game following the long-expected departure of boss Julen Lopetegui.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Benfica (21:00)
The Group H rivals remain level on points at the top following a 1-1 draw in Lisbon, crowned by an exceptional Lionel Messi goal. However, sports daily O Jogo spoke for many in Portugal by flagging up Benfica’s impressive performance as they went “eyeball to eyeball” with Paris, the draw extending Roger Schmidt’s unbeaten start as Eagles coach to 15 games (W13 D2). The result left Paris boss Christophe Galtier in a similar situation after 13 Paris matches (W11 D2).
