Predictions for Tuesday's Matchday 4 Fixtures in the Champions League
The league phase of the 2024/25 Champions League will reach the halfway point after this week's slate of fixtures.
There's still plenty of time for each of the 36 teams to make plays for top-eight and top-24 finishes, but some of Europe's giants know they have work to do to achieve their objectives.
Tuesday night offers clubs the chance to continue their good form or make much-needed recoveries after poor starts and there are some quality matches in store. Real Madrid host Milan at the Bernabeu while two clubs connected by Xabi Alonso meet at Anfield.
With plenty of action to look forward to, here are 90min's match result predictions for Tuesday's Champions League games.
Tuesday's early kick-offs are dream fixtures for hipsters worldwide. PSV Eindhoven are slight favourites to beat Spanish side Girona, while Dinamo Zagreb should pick up a win against Slovan Bratislava, who have conceded a joint-high 11 goals in the Champions League this season.
Monaco's young stars have them fourth ahead of Tuesday's fixtures and they could jump a few places by beating Bologna, who have lost their swagger from 2023/24. Borussia Dortmund are struggling for consistency under Nuri Sahin but they should beat minnows Sturm Graz with relative ease.
Celtic have lost three of their last four fixtures with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig but sit 11 places above their upcoming opponents. The Scottish giants held on for a draw at Atalanta last time out and need a big performance here to further boost their knockout stage qualification hopes. Lille and Juventus' meeting also looks bound to be entertaining.
Liverpool might have been facing Bayer Leverkusen with Xabi Alonso in their dugout in an alternate universe, but instead Arne Slot has made an incredible start to life on Merseyside. The Reds will face a stern test in the form of the German champions and may have to settle for a draw.
Real Madrid have been stewing since their 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico. Los Blancos haven't played since that loss but Milan's inconsistency may help Carlo Ancelotti's earn a much-needed win.
Arguably the most appetising fixture of the night sees soon-to-be Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim lead his Sporting CP side against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side have lost two games in a row and might be held to a point, with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Morten Hjulmand keen to make an impression.