Matchday six of the Champions League sees a host of Europe’s finest football teams looking to book their places in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
There are just three rounds of games to go, with the high-achievers looking to finish in the top eight places and qualify for the Round of 16 and everyone else aiming for a play-off spot.
Liverpool are top of the pile, having won all five of their games, at a time when they are also leading the Premier League in England.
They face Girona on Tuesday, with the Champions League holders Real Madrid also in action, as they travel to Italy to face an Atalanta side that are currently top of Serie A.
There are more crucial matches to follow on Wednesday, when out of form Juventus and Manchester City attempt to recapture their mojo, while high-flying Arsenal can strengthen their position when they host Monaco.
- LIVERPOOL TO WIN TO NIL VS GIRONA
- ATALANTA OVER 1.5 GOALS VS REAL MADRID
- JUVENTUS AND MANCHESTER CITY TO DRAW
- ARSENAL TO WIN TO NIL VS MONACO
Girona vs Liverpool
A win in Girona will be enough to guarantee Liverpool safe passage into the round of 16 and bypass the play-off stage.
That would allow Arne Slot to rest players in the remaining two fixtures, which would greatly help the Reds’ domestic ambitions, as the Merseysiders battle on four fronts this season.
The winter schedule in the Premier League can be brutal and Liverpool received an unexpected chance to rest this weekend, when their derby game against Everton was postponed due to Storm Darragh.
So the Reds should be fresh for this game and motivated to win it, which is bad news for a Girona side that were in action on Saturday night, when they lost 3-0 at home to Real Madrid.
The Champions League debutants have lost four of their five games in the competitions, only picking up points at home to struggling Slovan Bratislava.
Michel’s team have also found life in LaLiga harder going this season, though the ninth-placed club had found some form in that competition before their defeat against Real Madrid over the weekend.
It seems likely that Liverpool will inflict another loss and with the visitors having only conceded one goal in the Champions League this season, they can also keep a clean sheet.
LIVERPOOL TO WIN TO NIL
Atalanta vs Real Madrid
At a time when the Champions League holders Real Madrid are struggling for consistency, they travel to one of the most in-form teams in Europe in the shape of Atalanta.
Madrid have lost four of their last eight games and those defeats include Champions League losses to AC Milan and Liverpool, with Lille also having beaten them back in October.
With just two wins and six points from a possible 15, Los Blancos are in 24th position in the table and could slip out of the play-off spots if they were to lose in Bergamo.
Real beat Atalanta 2-0 in the UEFA Super Cup at the start of the season, but a lot has changed since then, with the Italians coming into this match off the back of nine straight wins.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s team are top of Serie A following a 2-1 home win against AC Milan on Friday and their success has come in entertaining fashion, with 38 goals from 15 league games.
Yet in the Champions League it has been their defensive solidity that has impressed, with La Dea only conceding once in five appearances.
This is a tough game for Real and with Carlo Ancelotti facing a selection crisis with an injury-hit defence, the hosts could easily score more than once.
ATALANTA OVER 1.5 GOALS VS REAL MADRID
Juventus vs Manchester City
These European giants both need a win to put themselves back into contention for a top-eight finish.
Yet victories are proving to be elusive for these clubs, with Juventus finding it hard to convert draws into wins.
Seven of their last nine games have ended in stalemate, including each of their last four outings, which means that though the Old Lady are unbeaten in Serie A, they are only sixth in the table.
In the Champions League they rank 19th, after an impressive start gave way to a surprise home defeat to Stuttgart and draws with Lille and Aston Villa.
Manchester City’s 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday means that the Premier League title holders have only won one of their last nine games.
They have slipped down to fourth place in the English top-flight and are 17th in the Champions League, having lost to Sporting Lisbon and drawn with Feyenoord.
Under their current circumstances, an away point would not be the worst result for City and a fifth consecutive draw for Juve looks overpriced, considering their frustrating habit.
DRAW
Arsenal vs Monaco
Seventh-placed Arsenal could strengthen their hopes of round of 16 qualification when they host Monaco on Wednesday.
The Gunners have 10 points from a possible 15 so far, which is a decent haul considering that they have largely faced tough opposition.
Monaco also fall into that category, with the Ligue 1 club just behind Arsenal in the Champions League table on goal difference, in eighth position.
They lost for the first time in the last round of games with a 3-2 defeat to Benfica, having previously recorded some impressive results such as a 2-1 home win against Barcelona and a 1-0 victory at Bologna.
Arsenal could only draw 1-1 with Fulham at the weekend, which leaves them six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Champions League success for Mikel Arteta’s team may well be a more realistic aim than in their domestic league, with their mix of defensive solidity, game-winners and set-piece prowess looking perfect for knockout football.
As much as Monaco pose a threat, Arsenal kept clean sheets in each of their first three European games this season and with home advantage can claim another.
ARSENAL TO WIN TO NIL
