Champions League: Liverpool face Atletico Madrid, Messi-less PSG take on Leipzig

A look at what’s happening in the Champions League on Wednesday:

GROUP A

Manchester City, last season’s runner-up, can take a big step toward the last-16 by claiming a second successive victory over Club Brugge. Pep Guardiola’s squad won 5-1 in Belgium two weeks ago and a repeat at the Etihad Stadium would put City in a strong position to qualify.

But City goes into the encounter after a couple of difficult results. City’s four-year reign as League Cup holders was ended by West Ham last week and the Premier League champions also had a surprise loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Paris Saint-Germain head into the game against Leipzig in first place, one point ahead of City, but without the injured Lionel Messi. Leipzig lost all of their opening three games as they struggle to rebuild under American coach Jesse Marsch after losing key players in the summer transfer window.

GROUP B

Liverpool midfielders Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are back in contention for the Champions League visit of Atlético Madrid after recovering from injuries. Liverpool have won all three games so far in the group.

Atlético’s defense improved with a clean sheet in a 3-0 win against Real Betis in the Spanish league after conceding seven goals in its previous three matches, including in the 3-2 loss to Liverpool at home. In attack, coach Diego Simeone again may resort to the trio of Luis Suárez, Antoine Griezmann and João Félix.

Anything but a win for AC Milan at home to Porto would all but certainly bring their return to the Champions League to a swift end. Milan are playing in the competition for the first time since the 2013-14 season and have lost all three of their games. Milan need to replicate their league form. They are unbeaten in Serie A and have won 10 of their opening 11 matches. They will be boosted by the return to form of Zlatan Ibrahimović. The 40-year-old scored one goal and drew a penalty that led to Milan’s second goal in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Roma. He has made only one substitute appearance for Milan in Europe this season.

GROUP C

Ajax are flying high at the top of the group after beating Borussia Dortmund 4-0 last time out and will qualify with another win in the return fixture. That would put the Dutch club into the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time since their run to the semifinals in 2018-19.

Dortmund are without the injured Erling Haaland but have won all three of their games since the loss to Ajax. A draw is enough for Ajax to qualify if Sporting Lisbon don’t beat Besiktas. Sporting enter their home match against last-place Besiktas coming off six straight victories in all competitions, including 4-1 at Besiktas in Turkey.

GROUP D

Real Madrid can become the first club to score 1,000 goals in European Cup-Champions League games when they host Shakhtar Donetsk at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Madrid routed Shakhtar 5-0 in Ukraine in the last round. The teams are in the same group for the second straight time. Shakhtar won both games last season. Madrid are tied with Sheriff Tiraspol at the top of the group. Shakhtar are in last place.

Inter Milan visit Sheriff in the other match and would move above their opponents with a win. The Italian team hadn’t scored a goal in the competition this season before putting three past Sheriff in a 3-1 victory at San Siro.

UCL TV timings in Indian sub-continent

Milan vs Porto at 11:15 PM on SONY SIX & SONY SIX HD

Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk at 11:15 PM on SONY TEN 2 & SONY TEN 2 HD

Manchester City vs Club Brugge at 1:30 AM on SONY SIX & SONY SIX HD

RB Leipzig vs PSG at 1:30 AM on SONY TEN 1 & SONY TEN 1 HD

Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid at 1:30 AM on SONY TEN 2 & SONY TEN 2 HD

Dortmund vs Ajax at 1:30 AM on SONY TEN 3 & SONY TEN 3 HD

Sheriff vs Inter Milan at 1:30 AM on SonyLiv

Sporting vs Besiktas at 1:30 AM on SonyLiv