Champions League Predictions: Wednesday’s Matchday 5

The Champions League drama continues on Wednesday night as teams around Europe try to jump up the table in pursuit of knockout stage places.

Teams across Europe’s elite club competition need to start getting points on the board as crunch time approaches with just over half of the league stage now complete.

Wednesday presents some truly engrossing fixtures, headlined by Liverpool’s clash with Real Madrid in what should be a crackling Anfield atmosphere. However, that’s not all the evening has to offer, with Aston Villa also at home against Serie A giants Juventus.

There are plenty more twists and turns to come, but who are the favorites to claim victory in Wednesday’s round of Matchday 5 action?

After Tuesday’s program started with Sparta Prague being demolished by Atletico Madrid and Slovan Bratislava suffering a less embarrassing fate against Milan, Wednesday begins with a pair of equally gigantic games.

Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart hope to secure another win in the league stage when they visit Red Star Belgradewho have conceded 16 goals in four games so far. Sturm Graz‘s meeting with Girona also starts at 17:45 GMT before some of the heavyweight bouts really kick off the evening.

Aston Villa and Juventus are two proud and historic football clubs and could offer a close but exciting competition in the West Midlands. Villa have struggled for form of late, but their upcoming opponents lack several stars and can be lethargic in attack.

Bologna remain one of the winless sides at the halfway point and it might be a familiar story when a Small team that enjoyed victories over both Madrid clubs will make the trip to Emilia-Romagna.

Celtic are another British side in action and have looked quite comfortable throughout most of the Champions League so far this season – a solid 7-1 defeat aside. Brendan Rodgers’ troops could further improve their current position against Club Brugge.

Monaco and PSV Eindhoven will hope for victories against Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk respectively, but Wednesday’s must-watch encounter comes at Anfield when Liverpool entertain Real Madrid. The Reds have won all four of their European games this term and have a great chance of dispelling their latest hoodoo against Los Blancos, who will be without superstar winger Vinicius Junior through injury.

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