The Champions League game we're watching in each timeslot

Thanks to the international break, it feels like we haven’t seen UEFA Champions League matches in months. It’s only been 20 days, but I have a problem, and when it’s gone that long I have to watch classic clips on YouTube just to feel something.

I’m not going to complain about any full list of Champions League fixtures, but we’ve been done a bit done a little bit dirty by the schedule makers in round 5, with few genuine marquee fixtures. I’d watch anything this week though, so we might as well pick out the best games to focus on.

Kickoff times and where to watch in your region can be found at LiveSoccerTV. —KM

Tuesday early — Sparta Prague vs. Atlético Madrid

Sparta Prague probably shouldn’t be competitive in this match. But they’ve crushed Salzburg, held Stuttgart to a draw, and kept it competitive against Brest. Their opponents, meanwhile, have a bit of a stinky attack.

Atlético Madrid might have salvaged their Champions League campaign with a shocking late winner against Paris Saint-Germain, but they’re not creating chances in this competition or La Liga. Their xG in both competitions is way down from last season, despite dropping over €100m on new attackers. Antoine Griezmann is showing his age, Julian Alvarez has started his Atléti career slowly, and Alexander Sorloth has missed some notable sitters.

I expect Atléti to take all three points and get themselves back into the fight for a top 8 spot, but they’re not exactly generating chances in bunches at the moment.

Tuesday late — Bayern Munich vs. Paris Saint-Germain

I’d have picked both of these teams to make the top 8 at the start of the Champions League, but they’re both in a bit of trouble. I think Bayern probably are one of the 8 best teams, but just got a bit unlucky against Aston Villa and ran into an absolute buzzsaw in Barcelona, who might be the best team in the world at present.

PSG, on the other hand, might just be average. We wrote previously about the numerous factors contributing to their poor performances in Champions League thus far.

While we’re here, know who’s not average? Harry Kane. You probably know this, but he’s still one of the best strikers in the world. I love this combination of generally being an xG merchant who gets the vast majority of his shots from 5-12 yards out, while also showing the quality to rip one from 20 yards.

Surely he has to win a trophy someday. Surely. (Copium.)

Wednesday early — Red Star Belgrade vs. VfB Stuttgart

Both games in this timeslot are bad and I wish UEFA would throw unemployed people a bone with the occasional solid early match. Stuttgart shouldn’t have a problem picking up all 3 points and getting themselves back into a playoff spot.

For fun, let’s compare Red Star’s performance in the Serbian League to the Champions League. There’s no insightful analysis here, just “shapes funny.”

Wednesday late — Aston Villa vs. Juventus

The Juventus defense was floundering for a little bit following an injury to superstar center back Bremer, but the new partnership of Pierre Kalulu and Federico Gatti has found its footing. The Bianconeri have kept clean sheets in their last 3 consecutive Serie A matches.

On Wednesday they’ll be up against an extremely in-form striker in Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Over his career, Watkins has drawn praise for his ability to play multiple roles in a bunch of different attacking systems, usually looking his best playing off the left, or as the 2nd striker in a partnership.

More recently, Watkins has become more of an out-and-out goal-scoring No. 9, and he’s excelling in that role. He’s 2nd in total xG in the Premier League, behind Erling Haaland and somewhat surprisingly ahead of Nicolas Jackson and Mohamed Salah.

Juve’s defense has been a bit more suspect in Champions League, where they’ve allowed 5 goals in 4 games. Not terrible, but hardly the 7 in 13 they’re managing in the league. Watkins and the Villa attack against the Bianconeri defense is a great matchup.

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