Lazio could seal progression to the last 16 with a win when they take on Celtic at the Stadio Olimpico in Group E action. The Italian side have won four of their last five home matches and will advance if they win and Feyenoord fail to beat Atletico. Celtic have failed to win any of their matches in the Champions League this season, registering just a point, and while they haven’t won any of their last 14 Champions League group games, they did beat Lazio at the Olimpico in November 2019 in the Europa League.
Feyenoord will take on Atletico Madrid at the Station Feijenoord. The Dutch champions lie third on the table and require a positive result if they are to have a chance of going through. Having won both their home games in the Champions League, as well as their last seven competitive home matches, there is great cause for optimism. Atleti on the other hand are top of Group E and can seal qualification with a game to spare with a win, but they have failed to win any of their last six Champions League away games, with the last win coming against Man United in March 2022.
Group F, known as the group of death, enters the spotlight with PSG hosting Newcastle at the Parc Des Princes. PSG are second in the group on six points, with Newcastle just two behind. PSG have a concerning record against English sides, losing six of the last eight, but they are on a fine run of form at the moment, winning seven of their last eight games and scoring at least three goals in those seven. Newcastle were 4-1 winners over PSG earlier in the campaign, and are on the back of a 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea in the Premier League. They are however yet to score a goal away from home this season in the Champions League and, riddled with injuries, have won just one of their last seven away games against Ligue 1 teams, with the last being in November 2004. Make of that what you will.
Man City and RB Leipzig will face off in Group G action at the Etihad Stadium. Both teams have secured qualification to the round of 16, but the group winner is yet to be decided, with City leading second placed Leipzig by three points. The Citizens beat the German side 3-1 in their first fixture, and have not lost at home in the Champions League since August 2020. Leipzig on the other hand are on the back of a 2-1 away defeat to Wolfsburg, and have won just one of their last four away games, losing the other three. A huge mountain for them to climb.
Basement dwellers Young Boys and Red Star Belgrade clash at the STADE DE SUISSE. Both teams have been eliminated, having collected just one point each, but third place is up for grabs and the winner will secure a Europa League position.
Barcelona will be feeling the heat when they take on FC Porto at the Nou Camp in Group H. The Catalan side sit top on the table on nine points, the same as opponents Porto, but failed to secure qualification in the previous matchday after going down 1-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk. They also come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw to Rayo Vallecano, which has left them fourth in La Liga and have won just two of their last five games in all competitions. Xavi is also yet to make it to the knock out stage of the Champions League as Barca manager. Porto on the other hand beat Antwerp twice as well as Shakhtar to pick up nine points, and have won their last three matches. Thoughts of an upset will certainly be going through the minds of the Portuguese side.
Shakhtar Donetsk are in with a chance of making the last 16, needing a win against bottom of the table Royal Antwerp at the Imtech Arena. The Ukrainian side beat Barcelona 1-0 on matchday four to pick up six points, three behind the leaders, and will need to pick up maximum points from their remaining two games, the last being against Porto, to go through. Antwerp have lost all four of their games in their Champions League debut season, scoring just three goals and conceding a whopping 14. On the back of a 1-1 draw with Sint- Truiden in the League, a change of fortune here looks unlikely.
