As the UEFA Champions League heads into Matchday 3 on October 22-23, 2024, 36 teams are gearing up for pivotal clashes that could shape their paths in the group stage. Here’s a breakdown of the fixtures, team form, and storylines to watch.
Tuesday, October 22:
Milan vs. Club Brugge (18:45)
Milan seeks its first points after two losses, showing promise in a 1-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. New coach Paulo Fonseca believes the performance offers hope. Club Brugge, buoyed by a win against Sturm Graz, is prepared for a tough encounter.
Milan has won only two of their last 11 Champions League matches.
Monaco vs. Crvena Zvezda (18:45)
Monaco started strong but faced a challenging draw against Dinamo Zagreb. They aim to maintain momentum against Crvena Zvezda, who are yet to score in this season’s league phase.
Crvena Zvezda hasn’t won in their last 19 Champions League matches.
Paris vs. PSV (21:00)
PSV aims to build on a draw with Sporting CP after a rocky start. Paris, under pressure after a loss to Arsenal, must find form to stay competitive.
Paris has lost only one of their last 37 home matches in the Champions League.
Juventus vs. Stuttgart (21:00)
Juventus, coming off a thrilling win against Leipzig, face a Stuttgart side frustrated by missed opportunities against Sparta Praha.
Juventus has won their last five matches against German clubs in UEFA competitions.
Arsenal vs. Shakhtar (21:00)
Arsenal’s defense has been stellar, not conceding in two matches. Shakhtar seeks their first goal in this league phase after two defeats.
Shakhtar has beaten Arsenal twice in previous Champions League encounters, both at home.
Aston Villa vs. Bologna (21:00)
Villa is riding high after a stunning win against Bayern Munich. Bologna, despite strong performances, looks for their first points.
Villa has failed to score in just one of their last 33 UEFA competition home games.
Real Madrid vs. Dortmund (21:00)
Dortmund comes off a remarkable 7-1 win over Celtic, while Real Madrid is looking to bounce back after a surprise defeat.
In their 15 encounters, Madrid has a slight edge with seven wins.
Girona vs. Slovan Bratislava (21:00)
Both teams are hunting for their first points. Girona has shown promise, while Slovan Bratislava has struggled defensively.
Girona lost only two of their last 19 home matches in all competitions before their last defeat.
Sturm Graz vs. Sporting CP (21:00)
Both teams are seeking their first wins of the season. Sporting CP has history on their side, having defeated Sturm Graz in last year’s Europa League.
Sporting CP has lost just one of their last ten UEFA competition matches.
Wednesday, October 23:
Atalanta vs. Celtic (18:45)
Celtic faces a tough task against Atalanta, who are looking to solidify their position in the standings.
Atalanta has lost only two of their last 16 UEFA competition matches.
Brest vs. Leverkusen (18:45)
Brest’s fairy tale start will be tested against a strong Leverkusen side.
Brest’s 4-0 victory at Salzburg was the biggest for a French club in Austria in UEFA competition history.
Manchester City vs. Sparta Praha (21:00)
City aims to continue their unbeaten run, while Sparta Praha seeks to make a mark in the group.
City is unbeaten in their last 25 Champions League matches.
Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich (21:00)
A classic encounter, with Barcelona needing a win against a Bayern side looking to bounce back from a defeat to Villa.
Bayern has won their last six matches against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Atlético Madrid vs. Lille (21:00)
Atleti seeks redemption after a heavy defeat, while Lille hopes to build on their stunning win over Real Madrid.
Atleti is unbeaten in their last 11 home Champions League matches.
Leipzig vs. Liverpool (21:00)
Liverpool aims to maintain their perfect start against a Leipzig side looking to recover from early setbacks.
Liverpool has won 13 of their last 14 Champions League group stage matches.
Benfica vs. Feyenoord (21:00)
Both teams come off strong performances, with Benfica eager to keep momentum against Feyenoord, who are eyeing back-to-back away wins.
None of Feyenoord’s last 17 matches in UEFA competitions have ended in a draw.
Salzburg vs. GNK Dinamo (21:00)
Salzburg aims to turn their fortunes around at home against Dinamo, who will be bolstered by a recent draw.
This is Salzburg’s first time starting a Champions League campaign with two consecutive losses.
Young Boys vs. Inter (21:00)
Young Boys look to rebound after a heavy defeat to Barcelona, while Inter aims to maintain their strong form.
Inter has kept ten clean sheets in their last 16 Champions League matches.
