It is time for matchday four from the revamped Champions League which features some exciting showdowns across the continent.
We look at Tuesday’s biggest talking points.
⚔️ Match of the Day
There’s plenty of competition for this category but ultimately, the duel between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield gets the nod.
It pits the Premier League leaders against Germany’s defending double winners who are, of course, managed by an old Reds favourite in Xabi Alonso.
Liverpool are one of only two teams (Aston Villa being the other) who bring a 100% record into matchday four but against Leverkusen, they face a side who have conceded just once in the competition this season.
The game will be exhilarating viewing between two of the continent’s most exciting and entertaining teams.
🔎 Team to Watch
Holders Real Madrid aren’t firing on all cylinders coming into their mouthwatering match-up with Milan – a game that is a real callback to the rich history of this competition in a year in which so much has changed.
Their most recent game was 10 days ago when they were humiliated at home by Barcelona in El Clásico, with their scheduled weekend fixture with Valencia being postponed due to extreme flooding in Spain.
They have also come under fire for their Ballon d’Or boycott, while local media have been critical of the performances of superstar duo Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham this season.
Can Los Blancos calm the mounting furore?
🔥 Player to Watch
Leipzig are badly in need of a win from their trip to Glasgow to face Celtic, having lost all of their fixtures so far (admittedly from a tough run: Atlético de Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool).
They will be looking to main man Benjamin Seško to provide the spark in Scotland against a Bhoys outfit who impressed defensively in their 0-0 draw at Atalanta last time out.
The Slovenian has scored all three of his team’s Champions League this season and needed just 10 shots to do – with all of his team-mates combining for 34 unsuccessful efforts.
👀 Potential upset
📸 PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA – AFP or licensors
The odds are stacked against Sporting CP being the team to end Manchester City’s record unbeaten streak in this competition (which took top spot on matchday three when they made it 26 without defeat against Sparta Prague).
But City lost to Tottenham in the EFL Cup last midweek and followed it up with another loss against Bournemouth in the league on Saturday, losing back-to-back fixtures for the first time in over a year, suggesting there is a sense of vulnerability at the moment.
Sporting are also undefeated in their last three meetings with English opposition and have yet to lose in the Champions League this season.
And of course there is the Rúben Amorim factor. There would be no better way for the new Manchester United boss to sign off in Lisbon than by getting one over on the side who will soon be his new nemesis.
📊 Fascinating stat
Bologna have never lost in any of their 28 home fixtures in major European competition (winning 16 of those and drawing 12).
In fact, the only team to play more at home without losing in Europe are Ipswich Town with 30.
Can the Italian side close in on that record when they host Monaco on Tuesday?
📸 INA FASSBENDER – AFP or licensors