Champions League predictions: Group stage matchday 5

Matchday 5 of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage is a pivotal one as teams around Europe aim to reach the knockout stages or stay in the hunt for qualification before the final round of fixtures.

Manchester United have a huge trip to Turkey on the horizon. Erik ten Hag's side will be eliminated from Europe's top club competition with defeat, while Newcastle's fate could also be sealed should results go against the Magpies.

Arsenal are in a much healthier position as they prepare to host French outfit Lens at the Emirates, while Manchester City have little to worry about before their clash with familiar foes RB Leipzig.

Here's how 90min sees the midweek action panning out.

Champions League predictions: Group stage matchday 5

Tuesday 28 November

Tuesday's fixture list commences with two 17:45 GMT kick-offs, one being Celtic's trip to Lazio. Brendan Rodgers' side have a slim chance of progression but with only one point from four games so far, anything less than victory in Rome will eliminate them. There's plenty of speculation over Maurizio Sarri's future with Lazio and their defeat to Salernitana will offer Celtic hope of a decent result.

Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid do battle in Group E's other fixture. Diego Simeone's Rojiblancos can qualify for the last 16 with victory but three points for the Eredivisie outfit would make things very interesting.

Newcastle are truly plagued by injuries and know a loss to Paris Saint-Germain will leave their fate to be determined by the outcome of AC Milan vs Borussia Dortmund elsewhere in Group F. The Magpies ripped through the Ligue 1 champions at St James' Park but are firm outside bets to overcome their similarly wealthy hosts.

Manchester City and RB Leipzig have locked down the top two places in Group G and it's Pep Guardiola's side who are expected to claim victory when the two sides meet at the Etihad. The Cityzens beat the German outfit 7-0 when they last visited Manchester in March earlier this year.

Barcelona missed the chance to seal qualification last time out when they were defeated 1-0 by Shakhtar Donetsk and risk relinquishing first place in Group H if they drop points at home to Porto. With Xavi's side spluttering their way through the season, the potential for another disappointing result for the Blaugrana can't be ignored.

Wednesday 29 November

While results have improved in the Premier League, Manchester United still have plenty of pressure to deal with when they make the trip to Turkey to face Galatasaray. A defeat would see Ten Hag's side bow out of the Champions League but three points would leave the Red Devils in charge of their own destiny when they take on Bayern Munich in December.

Bayern themselves can't be caught at the top of Group A and goals can be expected when Copenhagen visit Harry Kane and co at the Allianz Arena.

Arsenal's return to the Champions League has been largely positive and the Gunners should book their spot in the knockout stages when Lens come to town. Mikel Arteta's side enjoyed a late win at Brentford at the weekend and they'll want to avenge the loss they suffered to the Ligue 1 team earlier in the season.

Jude Bellingham ended a two-game goal drought with a goal in Real Madrid's procession over Cadiz and delivered one of the best performances of his fleeting career when Los Blancos last faced Napoli. The England scored and assisted in a 3-2 thriller back in October and his side are under little pressure for a result on Wednesday, having already scooped a maximum of 12 points.

The two qualifiers from Group D are already confirmed, with Real Sociedad and Inter boasting identical records of three wins and a draw apiece. The Spanish side will want a second group stage victory over Salzburg, while last season's runners-up visit Benfica, who have scored just once in Europe this season.

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