UEFA Champions League - Gameweek # 5 - Tuesday - Preview and Predictions

The UEFA Champions League is back after the international break and it is one of the defining moments of this season. Some managers’ careers will be at stake depending on progress in Europe while others will be playing the kids having already qualified for the knockout stages. On Tuesday night, England’s rich two go into relatively low pressure fixtures while the tie of the night is when AC Milan , stutter into Selhurst Park to face a determined Celtic side. Here is a preview for all the clashes

CELTIC VS AC MILAN

What a tie to look forward to! This is perhaps the worst AC Milan side in recent memory. The Rossoneri couldn’t even overcome a ten man Genoa in the weekend and they lie lowly 13th in the table. Their high point of this weak season was perhaps that opening day victory over Celtic , perhaps a little undeserved one at that. But it is now or never for both teams. The groups is beautifully placed with Barcelona near certain qualifiers with 10 points. Milan lie second with 5 points while Ajax have 4 in third place. Celtic maybe bottom of the group but a victory over Milan (and an expected Ajax defeat) would put them ahead of the two in 2nd place.

It is a bit of now or never but AC Milan still hold the edge as Celtic have been tentative in Europe so far. Their valiant effort against Barcelona was undone by a late goal but they lost to Ajax away which could really come back to bite them. But fairytales do come true in Selhurst Park. Last year alone is a testimony to that.

Man To Look Out For - Kris Commons - The Englishman bagged a couple of goals in the weekend and is Celtic’s top scorers. Watch out for them.

Prediction - 1-0 to Celtic. AC Milan really look awful at the moment and a moment of inspiration will undo them.

FC BASEL VS CHELSEA

This would have been really interesting had FC Basel done the expected and beaten modest Steaua Bucharest. They drew home and away with the Romanians and they lie in third place four points behind Chelsea. However, FC Schalke are likely to win against the Romanians making it a must win for the Swiss side. If they draw, they wouldn’t be too unhappy but they’ll need a win in Gelsenkirchen to sneak through. Last time they faced an English side at home, they dealt a killer blow (to Manchester United in the 2012-13 season). This time they need to stop an English side delivering a killer blow to them.

Chelsea meanwhile are coasting. After the opening day defeat to Basel, their impressive victories over Schalke in which they put six past the Germans, they are top of the table by a wide margin of 3 points. Their side was great but not too sublime in the victory over toothless West Ham in the weekend. Juan Mata was again left on the bench against the Hammers and is likely to start this relatively unimportant fixture.

Man To Look Out For - Juan Mata - The Spaniard is playing for his World Cup spot. Watch out for him wanting to prove a point

Prediction - 1-1 . This game has a slow-Mourinho-draw written all over it.

MANCHESTER CITY VS VIKTORIA PLZEN

Manchester City are cruising like a Ferrari at the moment….only when they play at home. The Citizens ruthlessly dispatched Spurs , putting six past them in a display of clinical football at its very best. Now the talk is rife about them "going on a run" but we’ve been here before. They have failed to kick on from huge victories over Manchester United and Norwich. This fixture however will probably be one of the easiest ones they play this season. They have secured qualification and sit pretty in the group. They face a side that has failed to pick up a single point in this season’s Champions League.

However, it might prove quite the opposite if Plzen decide to give it a real go to snatch that Europa League spot. CSKA are likely to lost to Bayern Munich which would mean if Plzen earn a point against City, the situation will result in it being a direct play off for the Europa League spot in the final gameweek. With Manchester City likely to rest a host of players, don’t rule an upset out so quickly

Man To Look Out For - Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian’s place has been snatched by Negredo. Smart money would be on Dzeko scoring in midweek.

Prediction - 4-0 to Man City. A mauling on the cards here.