5️⃣ things to look out for in Tuesday's Champions League action 💫 | OneFootball

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This is new isn't it? Group stage Champions League action taking place in January with plenty of knockout places still up for grabs.

We look at five things to watch out for from Tuesday on the penultimate matchday of action.

⚔️ Match of the Day

The most intriguing tie of the night comes from Spain where LaLiga title chasers Atlético de Madrid welcome defending German champions Bayer Leverkusen to town.

Xabi Alonso's men currently sit in the automatic qualification positions but the Rojiblancos are just a point behind them perched just outside the top eight of the table, leaving this poised perfectly.

Excitingly, both come into it in excellent form too. Atleti may have suffered a shock loss to Leganés at the weekend but that came after a 15-game winning streak, while Die Werkself will be hoping to eclipse that and take their own winning run to 12 games with victory in the Spanish capital.

This is also the 11th meeting between the teams and previous fixtures couldn't split them, with both winning three apiece and drawing four.

🔎 Team to Watch

Keep an eye on Borussia Dortmund in particular head coach Nuri Şahin who, if local reports are accurate, could be one game from being dismissed, with Roger Schmidt already being touted as a replacement.

That game is against Bologna and comes as they look to avoid losing a fourth consecutive game, with managing director Lars Ricken even hinting that the club could be forced to act if the Felsinei pick up their first win of the Champions League campaign.

"Nuri will be on the bench against Bologna but of course we all know that the clear expectation is that what we need now is wins and a sense of achievement," Ricken told reporters when asked about the coach's future.

Can the rookie boss keep the wolves from the door with a win in Italy?

🔥 Player to Watch

Some notable history beckons for Atalanta ace Charles De Ketelaere if he can keep up his scintillating Champions League form against Sturm Graz.

In six games in the competition so far this season, he has been directly involved in seven goals with three of his own and four assists.

A goal or assist would see him equal the record of eight for a Belgian player in a single campaign that is currently held by Kevin De Bruyne.

When you consider talents like De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku have starred in this competition in recent years, that isn't bad going at all!

👀 Potential upset

Liverpool cannot underestimate Lille when they welcome the French side to Anfield - even if they are missing key man Edon Zhegrova, who was part of a truly heartwarming memorable moment last week.

They have been one of the standout sides from the league phase so far, bouncing back brilliantly from defeat in their opener to go unbeaten since then with four wins and a draw.

Those victories have included three points against both Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid - proof that they cannot be taken lightly.

📊 Fascinating stat

Slovan Bratislava will make unwanted history if they are defeated at home to Stuttgart.

They have lost their first six Champions League games and are the first team to do so since Romanian side Otelul Galati in 2011 - with no club ever losing their first seven in succession before.

📸 Denis Doyle - 2025 Getty Images