5 Bold Predictions for Champions League Matchday 5
"Never was anything great achieved without danger," the astute Italian philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli once wrote. Going into Matchday 5 of the Champions League, nothing could be closer to the truth. With teams on the edge of elimination, it is time to be bold and brave or disappear with nothing more than a whimper.
Six teams, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, have already sealed their place in the knockout stages, but there are still 10 spots up for grabs.
Also, clubs can't rest on their laurels, as everyone wants to finish top of their group to secure home advantage for the second leg of the last-16 ties.
By the end of Wednesday evening’s games, we will be much closer to learning who the 16 teams are that will do battle in the knockout stage. There will be some surprises, there will be some tears and we will also be entertained.
Here are five bold predictions for Champions League Matchday 5.
Manchester City to Win a Champions League Game
1 of 5
If you cast your mind back 12 months ago, Manchester City were in the midst of a four-game winning streak in the Champions League. They scored 14 goals in that run, even beating Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
Then they faced Barcelona, fell to a 4-1 aggregate defeat and haven't tasted victory since. Six games have passed since they came out on top of a Champions League game, with only five goals to show for their efforts.
After coming back to win against Swansea at the weekend, and given the fact that Tuesday's opponent Bayern Munich have already qualified for the last 16, this is City's best chance to experience the taste sweet of victory once again.
They face an uphill battle to catch Chelsea in the league and qualify for the last 16, but this would be an almighty way to kick-start a wonderful run.
Roberto Di Matteo to Get One over on Chelsea
2 of 5
Before winning the Champions League at the Allianz Arena in 2012, Chelsea's record in Germany was not great.
They beat Stuttgart 1-0 back in 2004, but after that, the London club came and went four times without a victory.
Last year's group-stage win in Gelsenkirchen was their first in nearly a decade. Jose Mourinho will be hoping former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo doesn't come back to haunt them Tuesday night.
Since the Italian took over, Schalke are unbeaten at home, their latest win coming Saturday as they beat Wolfsburg 3-2.
The odds may be stacked against the German side picking up the victory, but there must be nothing that Di Matteo would want more than getting one over on his old club.
Although victory would almost certainly be sweeter than normal for D Matteo, he's not letting it cloud his judgement.
"People remind me, but I’m a person who looks to the future," Di Matteo said at a press conference. "The past is there for everybody to see, but I look forward. You can interpret that as you want.”
Hulk to Fire Zenit St. Petersburg to Victory
3 of 5
Zenit St. Petersburg host Benfica on Wednesday night with both teams currently sitting on four points. The home team need maximum points if they are to stand any chance of progression, and that means having their Brazilian superstar Hulk on top form.
Away from the Russian Premier League, Hulk has struggled for goals in the big matches. Failure to score for his country at the World Cup raised doubts, and Zenit need him to find form in the Champions League.
Only one goal in four games from Hulk leaves Zenit with only three goals in the group so far. Now more than ever, the Russian club need their most dangerous asset to pull on his shooting boots.
In the league, Hulk has eight goals in 14 games. There's no doubt he can find the back of the net, and Wednesday he will step up and become the hero in the Champions League.
Liverpool on the Brink of Elimination
4 of 5
Life at Liverpool FC is far from rosy at the moment. They are only four points off the relegation zone in the Premier League, and failure to win in the Ludogorets Arena in Razgrad will put them on the brink of elimination from the Champions League.
Injury to Daniel Sturridge, followed by the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, has put Brendan Rodgers and his team under pressure.
Ludogorets gave Liverpool a scare in Matchday 1. That was at Anfield, and now the Bulgarian club has the chance to stick the knife into an already wounded animal.
Victory for the Bulgarians would give them a chance of progression, and that would be more than the underdogs would have expected before the first game at Anfield.
Defeat for Liverpool would pile yet more pressure on Brendan Rodgers and his struggling side.
Ajax to Steal a Point at the Parc des Princes
5 of 5
Paris Saint-Germain came close to throwing away a two-goal lead against Metz on Friday. They now face a tough test against Dutch side Ajax on Tuesday, with a number of key players far from 100 percent.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his return but showed he was far from back to full fitness. Blaise Matuidi has a wrist problem, while Yohan Cabaye went off with a calf injury. And on Monday, Thiago Silva was ruled out, joining Marco Verratti on the injured list, per Jonathan Johnson of ESPN FC.
Ajax have scored eight goals in their last two games. Frank de Boer's side are in good spirits, and there is a great chance they will take that into the Parc des Princes and come away with a point.
Any slip-up from the Parisians on Tuesday will potentially set up a blockbuster final game with Barcelona in the Camp Nou, with both sides desperate to win the group.
