Atletico vs. Slovan Bratislava (Wednesday, 5.45pm)
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Spanish giants Atletico Madrid will welcome Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava for Wednesday's Champions League clash.
Atleti are sitting in 15th position in the league phase, while the visitors are languishing down in 35th position after failing to take anything from the opening five matchdays.
We say: Atletico Madrid 3-0 Slovan Bratislava
Atletico will be riding a crest of a wave after pulling off a superb comeback against Sevilla to make it nine straight wins in all competitions, and after showcasing their firepower in recent outings, we think the hosts will prove far too strong for a Slovan side that have struggled defensively in the league phase.
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Lille vs. Sturm Graz (Wednesday, 5.45pm)
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Dark-horses Lille welcome Austrian champions Sturm Graz to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on matchday six of the Champions League this Wednesday.
This will be the third time the clubs have met in 2024, having also been drawn together in the round of 16 of last season's Conference League, with Lille coming out on top 4-1 on aggregate, following a 3-0 first-leg away win in Graz.
We say: Lille 2-1 Sturm Graz
On a 14-game unbeaten run having beaten some of Europe's elite along the way, failing to win at home to one of the weakest clubs in the competition would be a huge shock, and Lille should get the job done.
It may not be straightforward against a Sturm side riding high under interim boss Saumel though, and the visitors could make this difficult for Les Dogues, even if defeat is likely.
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Benfica vs. Bologna (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Chasing automatic qualification for the Champions League's last 16, Benfica will aim to beat winless Bologna when the teams convene in Lisbon on Wednesday evening.
After a dramatic late win last time out, the Eagles are contending for a top-eight finish, while their Italian counterparts fell five points adrift of the playoff places following a defeat by Lille.
We say: Benfica 2-0 Bologna
Only one of Benfica's last 36 UEFA fixtures has finished goalless, and they are scoring freely at the moment - with plenty of attacking options available on the bench if Bruno Lage requires 'Plan B'.
It is a virtually make-or-break situation for Bologna, but their lack of a razor-sharp cutting edge could cost them again.
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Dortmund vs. Barcelona (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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The highest-ranked meeting of matchday six in the Champions League sees fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund welcome third-placed Barcelona to Westfalenstadion on Wednesday.
Both clubs are on 12 points from their opening five games, and are highly fancied to progress directly to the last 16, via finishing in the top eight.
We say: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Barcelona
Flick won all five of his meetings with Dortmund as Bayern manager, but could find it a little tougher here, given BVB's supreme form at home, and the fragility that has crept into Barca's performances of late.
Dortmund may have crumbled away to Real Madrid on matchday three, but they have been excellent at Westfalenstadion, and should be very competitive in what could be the game of the round.
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Feyenoord vs. Sparta Prague (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Feyenoord will hope to solidify their position in the round of 16 playoff spots of the Champions League when they host Sparta Prague on Wednesday at Stadion Feijenoord.
The Dutch side are in 21st place with seven points after five matchdays and occupy the fourth last playoff spot, while their Czech opponents are 28th with four points and were beaten 6-0 by Atletico Madrid on November 26.
We say: Feyenoord 4-2 Sparta Prague
Feyenoord could take advantage of Sparta's defensive vulnerability on Wednesday, and it would not be surprising if they scored multiple goals.
The visitors could find the back of the net themselves given the hosts have struggled for wins in the Champions League, but it is difficult to overlook Sparta's poor record in the competition this term.
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Juventus vs. Man City (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Two teams struggling to meet expectations will convene in Turin on Wednesday evening, when Juventus host an ailing Manchester City in the Champions League.
Almost side by side in the league-phase standings, Juve have regularly failed to turn one point into three this season, while City are enduring a crisis of confidence.
We say: Juventus 1-1 Manchester City
Although they certainly know how to keep a clean sheet, Juventus are a work in progress during the first phase of Thiago Motta's reign, so Manchester City should claim at least one point.
Recent results have left City shaken, but Juve have actually lost four of their last six home matches in the Champions League - as many as throughout the previous 40 - and injuries have thinned out their squad too.
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AC Milan vs. Red Star (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Seeking a fourth Champions League win on the spin, resurgent AC Milan will host Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday evening.
The Serbian champions return to San Siro - having been beaten 4-0 by Inter Milan earlier this season - following a long-awaited victory last time out.
We say: AC Milan 2-0 Red Star Belgrade
After some teething troubles following Paulo Fonseca's appointment - and some fans are still not convinced - Milan have kept a clean sheet in five of their first seven home Serie A games for the first time since 2002.
Red Star's record on the road around Europe is abysmal, and they could experience the familiar taste of Champions League defeat.
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Stuttgart vs. Young Boys (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
![Sebastian Hoeness in the BayArena in Leverkusen during the German Super Cup final on August 17, 2024 [on August 22, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/34/sebastian-hoeness.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Sebastian Hoeness in the BayArena in Leverkusen during the German Super Cup final on August 17, 2024 [on August 22, 2024]")
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Stuttgart, aiming to break into the top 24 of the Champions League standings, will host bottom-placed Young Boys at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena on Wednesday night for matchday six of the league phase.
The hosts sit 27th in the table with four points from five games, while the visitors are in 36th, having yet to earn a point after losing all five of their matches.
We say: Stuttgart 3-1 Young Boys
Young Boys have had a dreadful start to the season in both the Champions League and Swiss Super League, and while Stuttgart have struggled in their five league phase matches, they are undoubtedly the favourites heading into this one, and we expect a comfortable win for the hosts.
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Arsenal vs. Monaco (Wednesday, 8.00pm)
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Forever linked by the legendary Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry, Arsenal and Monaco scrap for Champions League supremacy in Wednesday's league phase contest at the Emirates Stadium.
Only one spot separates the two titans in the 36-team UCL table, as they each cling on to one of the final two automatic qualification places for the last-16 stage after five matches.
We say: Arsenal 2-0 Monaco
While Premier League teams know what to expect from Arsenal's open-play sequences and can effectively double up on the likes of Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, European teams do not always do the same, so the Gunners should expect some more joy on the flanks in particular.
As the hosts remain as potent as ever from dead-ball situations too, they have our vote to strengthen their bid for a last-16 place against a Monaco side ruing defensive suspensions.
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Oliver Thomas
