The Champions League takes football’s centre stage again this week as match day four on Wednesday and Thursday (AEDT) features some crucial clashes between Europe’s biggest club sides.
Barcelona knows anything less than a win at home against Inter Milan could mean the possibility of being eliminated in the group stage while a resurgent Chelsea will travel to face Italian champions AC Milan.
For Barcelona and their coach Xavi, not progressing past the group stage is unimaginable considering the summer outlay on eight new players which included former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.
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Lewandowski at his lethal Bayern best
Back-to-back losses in the group stage has turned up the heat on both Xavi and the squad as anything but a win will leave Barcelona relying on other results going their way and staring at the unwanted possibility of relegation to the Europa League.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea will be looking to continue their recent good form which included a convincing 3-0 win over Milan last week.
Milan, however, will welcome back some key parts to their team including France left back Theo Hernandez, with the hope of turning around last week’s poor performance at Stamford Bridge.
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Champions League highlights: Chelsea vs Milan
Chelsea know a win or draw in Milan will leave them well positioned to progress top of the group and will be hoping England right back Reece James can continue his great run of form.
Potter will, however, be without the services of star recruit Wesley Fofana due to a reported sprained knee suffered in the last outing against Milan.
Celtic and Ange Postecoglou also face a must-win clash if they are to keep their hopes of progression alive in Group F as they welcome German side RB Leipzig to Celtic Park.
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The defensive issues which have plagued Celtic’s European campaign so far will have to be addressed if Celtic stand any chance of producing a positive result.
Postecoglou believes his side is good enough to claim all three points.
“If we put in a good performance there is a good chance we will get a good result,” the trailblazing Australian coach said.
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Group H sees Juventus needing to claim all three points against Maccabi Haifa with Massimiliano Allegri’s team currently sitting four points behind second-placed Benfica.
Allegri has constantly defended his team through what’s been a disappointing start to the year both domestically and in Europe.
Juventus currently sit eighth in Italy, 10 points behind ladder-leaders Napoli, and will be hoping for a positive result this week to kickstart their season.
Champions League highlights: Juventus vs Maccabi Haifa
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur will also be looking to put recent criticism behind them as they enter a crucial home clash against last year’s Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt.
Antonio Conte has come under pressure for the style of Tottenham’s play but will be looking for a positive performance from his team as they look to solidify a top-two position in Group D.
Match day four promises to deliver some intriguing clashes with the fortunes of some of Europe’s elite facing a stern test.
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