Champions League matchday five: what to get excited about!

All manner of clubs face destiny-defining fixtures on matchday five; get excited for a blockbuster European week with UEFA.com.

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Matchday five fixtures (21.00CET unless stated)

Tuesday 27 November
Group E: AEK Athens v Ajax (18:55CET), Bayern v Benfica
Group F: Lyon v Manchester City, Hoffenheim v Shakhtar Donetsk
Group G: CSKA Moskva v Plzeň (18:55CET), Roma v Real Madrid
Group H: Juventus v Valencia, Manchester United v Young Boys

Wednesday 28 November
Group A: Atlético v Monaco (18:55CET), Dortmund v Club Brugge
Group B: Tottenham v Internazionale, PSV v Barcelona
Group C: Napoli v Crvena zvezda, Paris v Liverpool
Group D: Lokomotiv Moskva v Galatasaray (18:55CET), Porto v Schalke

Three things to look out for this week

1) The matchday one meeting between Liverpool and Paris lived up to its billing, Roberto Firmino's late goal giving Jürgen Klopp's side what could prove to be a crucial win in the final reckoning. That reckoning is drawing closer and if Liverpool triumph in the French capital while Napoli do likewise against Crvena zvezda, then Paris will not be able to reach the last 16. To prevent that happening Thomas Tuchel must finally turn the tables on Klopp in Europe – in three continental encounters between the coaches, the Liverpool boss is yet to taste defeat (W2 D1).

2) The equation for Tottenham at Wembley is as simple as it comes: to retain any hope of qualification, Spurs must beat Internazionale, who scored twice late on in the reverse fixture to claim a 2-1 win. "In Milan we played better than them and I think we can beat them," said Mauricio Pochettino after his side left it late to see off PSV last time out; even so, a draw will suffice for the Italians, who have not reached the knockout stage since 2011/12. A further subplot comes in the shape of a second meeting between Harry Kane and Mauro Icardi, two of the competition's form strikers.

3) After hitting a CSKA Moskva-shaped bump in the road on matchday two, holders Real Madrid bounced back with consecutive wins against Viktoria Plzeň and will secure top spot in Group G with victory in Rome. Their record against Roma in the Italian capital (W4 L1) augurs well to that end, but the Giallorossi have won their last seven at home in the UEFA Champions League, only conceding twice in the process.

How can I follow on UEFA.com?

UEFA.com has reporters at every UEFA Champions League game this season, providing regular updates on social media – Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – and in our MatchCentres. There is live text and photo coverage of every fixture, plus a live radio show, with reaction and highlights to follow.

How can I get involved?

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What's new for 2018/19?

This is the first season of staggered kick-off times during the UEFA Champions League group stage, with at least two games per night getting under way at 18:55CET. That's not to mention a fancy new brand identity, based on a concept called 'Highlighting moments that make the ultimate stage'.

What's not new?

Thirty-two teams vying to lift the most prestigious trophy in European club football. The top two in all eight groups progress to the knockout stage, with two-legged round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final ties whittling it down to just two finalists. Talking of which ...

When and where's the final?

Saturday 1 June 2019 at 21:00CET, at Atlético's home – the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid. Stick it in your diary.

Last but not least ...

Come approximately 18:50CET on Tuesday, it will be that time again. The champions ...

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