What to watch: Champions League matchday five

Group A
Madrid need to lift mood
Real Madrid may already be through to the last 16, but Rafael Benítez and his charges are unlikely to take things easy away to Shakhtar Donetsk. Not only can they sew up top spot in the section, they desperately need a positive result following Saturday's 4-0 home loss to Barcelona. That disastrous Clásico defeat has cast a shadow over the Merengues, with captain Sergio Ramos asking fans for "forgiveness".

"We didn't play to the standards of this crest," said the defender. "Words are cheap. Those affiliated with Real Madrid want action, not words. We, the team, are angrier than anyone because it was a match in which we had a chance to finish as league leaders." Requiring victory to keep their own slim hopes alive, Shakhtar ought to expect a fierce backlash.
Wednesday: Shakhtar Donetsk v Real Madrid, 20.45CET

Malmo in for treat thanks to Ibrahimović
Seeking to end his seven-game barren spell in front of goal in the competition, Zlatan Ibrahimović returns to his home town with Paris toface his boyhood club, and he has made sure Malmo is in for a night to remember. The 34-year-old is ensuring everyone in the southern Swedish city will experience a special evening after booking out the square to screen the game. "I've booked the Main Square where the match will be broadcast live. All are welcome! More surprises await," the Sweden forward teased, meaning it may well be the capacity crowd at the Malmö New Stadium who, for once, are envious of those left outside.
Wednesday: Malmö v Paris, 20.45CET

©UEFA.com

Group B
CSKA hoping history repeats
Group B looks tight, with three points separating the four teams, but it is CSKA who are worst off and defeat against visitors Wolfsburg could spell the end of the Army Men's chances. However, the date offers hope for the hosts, the game taking place six years to the day since the sides met in Moscow in the 2009/10 group stage.

That night, Tomáš Necid and Miloš Krasić got CSKA's goals in a 2-1 win after Edin Džeko's opener – and with Igor Akinfeev, Sergei Ignashevich, Aleksei Berezutski, Vasili Berezutski, Alan Dzagoev and Georgi Schennikov all still in their squad, there should be some positive feeling among Leonid Slutski's men that they can repeat the result.
Wednesday: CSKA Moskva v Wolfsburg, 20.45CET

Group C
Galatasaray up against it
Few can envy Taffarel as he leads Galatasaray to the Spanish capital needing a win against Atlético Madrid to keep the Turkish giants involved in this season's competition. The former Brazil goalkeeper was serving as goalkeeping coach until the club parted ways with Hamza Hamzaoğlu on 18 November, whereupon he was promoted to interim coach – and tasked with overseeing victory in Spain.

Galatasaray have lost eight and drawn two of their last ten UEFA Champions League away games, and they will take on Atlético having let a lead slip three times in Saturday's 3-3 draw with Antalyaspor. "We have had problems with defence and this is an issue the new coach will have to address," said Taffarel.
Wednesday: Atlético v Galatasaray, 20.45CET

Group E
Falqué's Camp Nou return
With fellow forwards Mohamed Salah and Gervinho injured, Roma's Iago Falqué will almost certainly start at the Camp Nou, the stadium he dreamt of gracing as a trainee at Barcelona.

Iago Falqué began his career in Barça's youth ranks©AFP/Getty Images

"I'm proud to meet Barcelona in a UEFA Champions League match," said the 25-year-old, who left Spain for Juventus in 2008 after failing to earn a B team place under current Barça boss Luis Enrique. "I travelled around for many years after leaving Barcelona but now hope to remain with Roma for many years." A goal against his old club would help his cause.
Tuesday: Barcelona v Roma, 20.45CET

Group F
No sweet 16 for Gunners?
Every year since their 2000/01 march to the quarter-finals, the Gunners have successfully navigated the group stage – that's 15 consecutive seasons – but with two matchdays to go, their chances of making it 16 hang by a thread. There is no room for error, with Olympiacos six points ahead and requiring just a point to qualify.

Arsène Wenger will expect Bayern to do the Gunners a favour and beat the Greeks on Tuesday, and if they do there is hope. Yet for Arsenal to set up a decider with Olympiacos they must first overcome Dinamo Zagreb – no easy feat given they lost to the Croatian outfit in their group opener. "We still have a small chance to qualify, but those chances are at a minimum," said Wenger.
Tuesday: Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb, 20.45CET

Group H
Nuno's reunions
Nuno Espírito Santo was a goalkeeper at Porto when André Villas-Boas was part of José Mourinho's backroom staff between 2002 and 2004; now they will be opposite numbers at the helm of Valencia and Zenit respectively. Nor will Villas-Boas be the only familiar face for the visiting coach, as he was a team-mate of Zenit's Danny at Dinamo Moskva and later of Hulk at Porto. Now Nuno intends to spoil his former colleagues' perfect run in Group H, knowing victory could ensure Valencia join Zenit in the last 16.
Tuesday: Zenit v Valencia, 18.00CET

Grand farewell for the Gerland
Lyon's challenge looks precarious indeed but the section's bottom team have extra motivation to register a first win as their Stade de Gerland home bids adieu to the UEFA Champions League. Even if Les Gones were to make it through, they move to the newly built Stade de Lyon in January, making the Gent match the venue's European swansong. The ground's opening taste of the UEFA Champions League group stage was a 3-1 victory against Heerenveen in 2000 and it witnessed a semi-final second leg in 2010, during the club's sequence of ten successive participations. So Gent beware as Lyon strive to see their old home off in style.
Tuesday: Lyon v Gent, 20.45CET