Buzz provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Champions League fixtures, including Liverpool vs. Lille.
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After the mid-winter break, top-eight chasers Atalanta BC resume their Champions League campaign on Tuesday, when struggling Storm Graz pay a visit to Bergamo.
The visitors will be seeking a first Austrian victory over Italian opponents in the competition’s 32-year history, but they lie 29th in the table with only three points so far; La Dea sit 13th.
We say: Atalanta BC 3-1 Sturm Graz
While Atalanta’s form has recently dipped, they are still a class above Sturm Graz, who will not be helped by a month-long gap between competitive fixtures.
With plenty of firepower and European experience, La Dea should score several times and effectively end the Austrian champions’ campaign.
> Champions League preview: Atalanta vs Sturm Graz
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Aston Villa travel to Monaco in the Champions League group phase on Tuesday, hoping to consolidate their position in the automatic qualification places.
Should they win, the hosts will move level on points with Unai Emery’s side in the tableleaving both sides with plenty to play for at Stade Louis II.
We say: Monaco 1-2 Aston Villa
The visitors have been one of the best stories to follow in the competition this season and have performed admirably in their matches so far.
We think they get yet another win here, as they are starting to hit a bit of form again following a slump earlier in the season.
> Champions League preview: Monaco vs Aston Villa
> How Aston Villa could line up against Monaco
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Atletico Madrid will be bidding to bounce back from their shock La Liga defeat to Leganes when they resume their Champions League campaign with a contest against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.
Diego Simeone’s side are 11th in the Champions League tableone point behind eighth-placed Lillewhile Leverkusen are fourth, with the German outfit picking up 13 points from their six matches in this season’s competition.
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen
This is such a tricky match to call considering Atletico’s strength on home soil; Leverkusen will bring a seriously good winning run into this match, but Atletico’s recent form has also been brilliant, and we are finding it incredibly difficult to separate the two teams.
> Champions League preview: Atletico vs B. Leverkusen
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Barcelona will aim to post their sixth Champions League victory in seven matches this season when they take on Portuguese giants Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday night.
Hansi Flick’s side are currently second in the Champions League tableboasting 15 points from their opening six matches, while Benfica are 15th, having picked up 10 points from their six matches in this season’s league phase.
We say: Benfica 1-1 Barcelona
This is such a tough game to call, as Barcelona have been impressive in Europe this season, but Benfica are a classy outfit and certainly have the players to harm the Catalan giants; it would not be a shock to see a home or an away win on Tuesday, but we just have a feeling that a tight match will end with the points being shared.
> Champions League preview: Benfica vs Barcelona
> Will Flick make changes? How Barcelona could line up against Benfica
> Fresh fitness blow for Catalan giants: Barcelona injury, suspension news vs. Benfica
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Bologna host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, with the home team still seeking their first win in the competition this season.
The visitors come into this fixture just outside the automatic qualification spots for the knockout stages, so they will have plenty of incentive to win in Italy.
We say: Bologna 0-1 Borussia Dortmund
It has been a tough start for the year for Dortmund and with the pressure on their boss, we think they will grab a win that will keep Sahin in his job at least a little longer.
We think that the visitors will edge a close encounter against a Bologna side that have found it difficult to score goals in the Champions League this season.
> Champions League preview: Bologna vs Dortmund
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Both hoping to sneak inside the all-important top eight, Club Bruges and Juventus convene at Jan Breydelstadion on Tuesday evening, as the Champions League makes its return.
As the inaugural league phase approaches its conclusion, both sides are just outside the automatic qualification placeswith Juve holding a one-point advantage over the Belgian champions.
We say: Club Brugge 1-2 Juventus
Though Juve’s first two Champions League goals this season were scored during the first half, all seven since have arrived after the break.
They also struck twice during the second half against Milan last time out, so even if Club Brugge go in front, the Bianconeri can fight back and claim maximum points.
> Champions League preview: Brugge vs Juventus
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PSV Eindhoven travel to Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, hoping to increase their chances of progressing to the next phase of the competition.
The Eredivisie champions are one of the teams nervously looking over their shoulders, as they sit 23rd in the standings – good enough to make the knockout phase playoffs – but they are just one point ahead of the chasing pack.
We say: Red Star Belgrade 1-1 PSV Eindhoven
The Red Star fans will get behind their team as they always do, which will make it an intimidating atmosphere to play in for the Dutch champions.
PSV have not looked at their best in recent weeks and have found away games difficult in Europe this year, so we think this one ends in a 1-1 draw.
> Champions League preview: Red Star vs PSV
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Liverpool can confirm their place in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday when they host French side Lille at Anfield.
The Merseysiders are first in the league phase and their 1-0 win against Girona on December 10 ensured that they maintained their perfect record of six victories from six, while Lille are eighth with 13 points and currently occupy the final automatic qualification spot for the round of 16.
We say: Liverpool 2-1 Lille
While Liverpool may look somewhat disjointed if they made changes to the XI that beat Brentford, their fervent home support should help them get over the line.
However, Lille will pose significant challenges on Tuesday considering their strong form of late, and they may frustrate the Anfield crowd at times, even if the French side eventually succumb to defeat.
> Champions League preview: Liverpool vs Lille
> Will Slot risk Konate? How Reds could line up in Champions League clash
> Jota update: Liverpool injury, suspension news for Lille clash
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Slavic Bratislava host Stuttgart in the Champions League group phase on Tuesday, still hoping to secure their first points in Europe this season.
With the home side already eliminated from the competition, they have nothing but pride to play for against Die Roten, who sit 26th in the standingsbut remain in the mix to qualify for the next round.
We say: Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Stuttgart
The hosts have not got anything to play for, having already been eliminated from the competition.
While they would love to play spoiler against Stuttgart, we expect the German side to be too good for them here in a comfortable away victory.
> Champions League preview: Slovan Bratislava vs Stuttgart
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