The fourth day of the Champions League begins, the prestigious European club tournament that this season premiered an innovative format in the first phase of the competition that is already taking shape. Liverpool, one of the leaders of the table, will try to add three-out toy toy of Xabi Alonso’s tough Leverkusen to stay at the top, which he shares with Aston Villa with nine points.
The other of the clashes that will be in the media spotlight is the one that will take place in the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid and Milan are obliged to win if they do not want to take risks at the end of the first phase. The merengues are 12th in the standings with six points out of nine at stake, while the Italians occupy 25th place with three units.
It should be clarified that at the end of the eight days, the eight best placed on the table will pass directly; from 9 to 24 they will play a repechage that will deliver eight more teams to the eighth; and from 25 to 36 they will be eliminated.
Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Liverpool are one of two unbeaten teams so far in the Champions League. Along with Aston Villa he has a perfect nine-point score in three games after beating Milan, Bologna and Leipzig.
Bayer Leverkusen, for its part, has 7 points after tying on the previous date against the Stade Brestois of France. The set led by Xabi Alonso will visit Anfield to continue in the top eight of the rankings.
It is worth remembering that under the new Champions League format the first eight teams in this league phase will automatically qualify for the eighth finals. Teams from 9th to 24th place will compete in a double-gam (round-round) to determine who also arrives the eighth finals.
Real Madrid vs. Milan
Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Lucas Vázquez holds a press conference on the eve of his UEFA Champions League football match against AC Milan at the club’s training facility in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, on November 4, 2024. Credit: POZO/AFP OSCAR via Getty Images
In Champions Real Madrid comes from a great comeback at the Santiago Bernabéu against Borussia Dortmund, a match that saw Vinícius Jr. being the hero of the day with a triplet. Despite the 5-2 score against the German team, the team led by Carlo Ancelotti needs to return to the triumph to clear any doubts about Real Madrid’s performance after the 0-4 defeat against FC Barcelona at home by LaLiga.
Milan beat Club Bruges last last date, but is still in the elimination zone with just three points. The rossonero team also comes from losing in Serie A a key duel against Napoli at home.
Bruges Club vs. Aston Villa
Jhon Duran of Aston Villa during the UEFA 2024/25 Champions League final match match between Aston Villa FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Villa Park on 22 October 2024 in Birmingham, England. Credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images
The Bruges club of Belgium has the mission to add points to leave the elimination zone in the general table. It will not be easy given that he will face the current leader of the Champions, who in addition to making 9 points out of 9 possible still has his undefeated fence. So far the Argentine goalkeeper Dibu Martínez has not received a goal, and Colombian striker Jhon Durán hopes to capitalize on the good moment he is going through, as he did last against Bologna.
Inter vs. Arsenal
Italian Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi watches as he awaits the start of the football match on day 3 of the UEFA Champions League league phase between Young Boys and Inter Milan at Wankdorf Stadium in Bern on 23 October 2024. Credit: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images
From third to ninth place in the current Champions League leaderboard, all teams have 7 points. Inter and Arsenal have those points, but they are also equal in that none have received a goal against. The only notable difference so far is that Inter has scored more goals.
The match will be played in San Siro on Wednesday 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
This article has been translated to english after originally appearing in La Pagina