Champions League Wednesday preview: City host PSG in blockbuster clash

The Champions League continues tonight with a host of teams looking to confirm their spot in the knockout phase.

Mauricio Pochettino takes his Paris Saint-Germain side to Manchester City in the standout clash while European giants Liverpool, Real Madrid and AC Milan are also in action.

Group A

Club Brugge vs RB Leipzig (8pm, BT Sport Extra 4)

Club Brugge must beat RB Leipzig to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages from group A.

The Belgian side won 2-1 at Leipzig in September but have only tasted victory in one of their last 15 home games in the Champions League.

That was a 3-0 win in December 2020 and marked the only occasion they scored more than one goal during that run.

Keeping Christopher Nkunku quiet will be key for Brugge — his five goals were only bettered by Robert Lewandowski (eight) and Sebastien Haller (seven) in the first four matchdays.

Manchester City vs PSG (8pm, BT Sport 2)

Both Manchester City and PSG know victory at the Etihad tonight will rubber stamp their spot in the last 16.

Les Parisiens’ 2-0 victory earlier in the group was their first ever win over City — but they are yet to win on the road in this year’s competition.

They will have to try and keep out free-scoring City, who have scored nine goals in their two games since that defeat in Paris.

Summer signing Jack Grealish has played some of his best football in Europe with his 11 chances created the most of any City player.

Group B

Atletico Madrid vs AC Milan (8pm, BT Sport ESPN)

With Liverpool running away with group B, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan will give themselves every chance of progressing with three points at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Atleti boast a 100% record against Milan, having not lost to an Italian side at home in 22 years and face the only winless side left in the group.

Simeone’s outfit have conceded just 19 goals in 40 home Champions League games during his time in charge and all the stats point towards more success.

Milan will need Rafael Leao — an injury doubt — and Brahim Diaz to step up in Spain. The pair have both notched one goal and one assist in the tournament this season.

Liverpool vs Porto (8pm, BT Sport 3)

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool host Porto knowing their spot at the top of group A is already secured.

But the visitors will be hoping to improve on their record of one draw and three defeats at Anfield as they look to stay second heading into Matchday 6.

A run of seven clean sheets in nine Champions League games will give Porto hope, though they did concede five against the Reds in the return fixture in September.

Sadio Mane will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing Porto again with five goals in five appearances against them.

Group C

Besiktas vs Ajax (5.45pm, BT Sport ESPN)

Red-hot Ajax travel to woeful Besiktas in a dead rubber in Istanbul.

The Dutch giants have a 100% record against Besiktas as well as four wins from four games in this season’s Champions League.

Besiktas, meanwhile, have lost six in a row in this competition, conceding 20 goals in that run — an average of 3.3 per game.

Ajax striker Haller has two assists to go alongside his seven strikes so far this campaign and will be the attacking linchpin for Erik ten Hag's side against the Turkish champions tonight.

Sporting vs Borussia Dortmund (8pm, BT Sport Extra 3)

Level on points in group C, Sporting’s clash with Borussia Dortmund is one of the biggest matches on Wednesday night.

Victory for the visitors would see them make the knockout stage for the fourth consecutive campaign but any other result opens the door for the Portuguese.

The Bundesliga outfit have won all three of their previous meetings with Sporting in the competition, including the fixture in Germany earlier this season.

Sporting scored four goals in both of their group stage wins, which came in their two encounters with Besiktas.

Group D

Inter Milan vs Shakhtar Donetsk (5.45pm, BT Sport 1)

Inter Milan host Shakhtar Donetsk knowing three points may be enough to see them qualify from group D with a game to spare.

But with three goalless draws between the two sides since the start of last season, they will need to find a way to break down Shakhtar’s defence.

Despite sitting bottom of the group with one point, the Ukrainians have only lost two of their last six away games against Italian opposition.

Inter duo Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez have created seven chances between them in this year’s Champions League — the third most of any duo ahead of this week’s fixtures.

Sheriff vs Real Madrid (8pm, BT Sport Extra 2)

Real Madrid are out for revenge after losing to Moldovan minnows Sheriff 2-1 in one of the Champions League’s biggest shocks in September.

The Spaniards have won both of their away games in the group so far and have an in-form Karim Benzema at their disposal — he has scored in each of his last three games in this tournament.

After winning their opening two games, Sheriff have been brought back to earth with a bump with back-to-back defeats against Inter Milan.

Ahead of Matchday 5, they have faced more shots (102) than any other side and have averaged just 28.5% possession.