Champions League Matchday 4: Tuesday’s previews & how to watch on BT Sport

After a busy weekend of domestic football across Europe, it’s straight back into the Champions League on Tuesday night for matchday 4 of this season’s competition.

Every team will be familiar with their opposition having played each other only last week in the first of the group stage double headers.

That familiarity could present some interesting tactical battles as the teams that lost last week attempt to turn the result on its head this time around. 

Chelsea, Manchester City and Celtic are all in action on Tuesday evening as we reach a key point in the group stages.

Tuesday 11 October

Maccabi Haifa vs Juventus - 5.30pm (5.45pm kick-off) live on BT Sport 1

Juventus just about got the better of Maccabi last week, winning 3-1 on a nervy, tense night in Turin.

Pressure continues to mount on Bianconeri boss Max Allegri, who saw his side fall to a dismal 2-0 loss at AC Milan in Serie A on Saturday.

The dominant Juventus of old is no more, and qualification from Group H in the Champions League still looks like a tall order after defeats to PSG and Benfica in the first two fixtures.

What is clear is that the trip to Israel is another must-win game for the Old Lady. With PSG and Benfica facing each other, this represents a chance for Juve to claw back some ground on the top two.

But Maccabi were a threat at the Allianz Stadium and this is a Juventus team still severely lacking in confidence.

Allegri will be without wing-back Mattia De Sciglio for this match, while long-term absentees Paul Pogba and Federico Chiesa remain on the sidelines.

Copenhagen vs Man City - 5pm (5.45pm kick-off) live on BT Sport 4

Two matches against Manchester City inside a week is the stuff of nightmares for most teams.

Copenhagen may still be recovering from their 5-0 loss at the Etihad, but they’ll have to do it all again on Tuesday night, although this time with home advantage.

Whether the crowd at Parken Stadium will be able to influence matters remains to be seen, but this will be considered as something of a free hit for the Danish side.

City, meanwhile, are looking to continue their 100% record in Group G, having already beaten Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund.

With qualification secured, Pep Guardiola might see this as an opportunity to rotate with Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League just a few days away.

Erling Haaland now has an incredible 28 goals in 22 Champions League appearances after his brace against Copenhagen last week. One more goal will put him level with David Trezeguet and Patrick Kluivert, who managed theirs from 58 and 71 appearances respectively.

His insatiable appetite for goals will make it difficult for Guardiola to rest him, but the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva could be taken out of the starting XI. John Stones is expected to miss out with a hamstring issue.

Dinamo Zagreb vs Salzburg - 7.45pm (8pm kick-off) live on BT Sport 8

Salzburg have made an impressive start to their Champions League campaign, sitting top of Group E after three matches.

Matthias Jaissle’s side are still unbeaten, with a penalty from Noah Okafor enough to secure victory over Dinamo Zagreb last time out.

The Croatian outfit have lost both games since their opening night upset of Chelsea, which led to the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel.

But Zagreb can be a tricky team to play against on home soil, as the Blues discovered. 

They need a win to keep their unlikely hopes of qualification alive, while Salzburg will be eyeing a victory that would keep them ahead of Chelsea and Milan.

Milan vs Chelsea - 7pm (8pm kick-off) live on BT Sport 2

Chelsea’s Champions League campaign was reignited with their comprehensive 3-0 win over Milan at Stamford Bridge, so the aim for Graham Potter and his side will be more of the same on Tuesday night.

Both teams won in their respective leagues at the weekend, with Milan seeing off Juventus and Chelsea beating Wolves.

There are signs now that Graham Potter is beginning to successfully get his ideas across to his players, who understandably took some time to adjust to the sudden change of managers.

Last week’s victory against Milan was arguably the most impressive win of Potter’s tenure so far, a controlled, measured performance that suggested Chelsea should have few issues getting out of their group.

But the trip to San Siro is a much more difficult prospect, especially given the Blues’ recent record against Italian sides: they’ve not won on any of their last seven visits to Italy in the Champions League.

Milan welcomed back left-back Theo Hernandez for the Juventus win on Saturday, so he is expected to start against Chelsea.

The only new injury concern for Potter is Wesley Fofana, who picked up a knee injury in the reverse fixture and will likely be replaced by Trevoh Chalobah.

PSG vs Benfica - 7.45pm (8pm kick-off) live on BT Sport 5

PSG and Benfica played out one of the most entertaining games of matchday 3, drawing 1-1 after Lionel Messi’s superb finish was cancelled out by a Danilo Pereira own goal.

Another draw on Tuesday night would certainly suit the Portuguese side, who would then be in an excellent position to qualify from a group that looked extremely challenging.

For PSG, anything less than a win will be a disappointment. Head coach Christophe Galtier will want to finish top and avoid the possibility of playing another European heavyweight in the last 16.

Regardless of the outcome in Paris, both teams look in good shape to reach the knockout stages, although Juventus will have different ideas.

PSG appeared to have one eye on this match at the weekend as they drew 0-0 with Reims in Ligue 1.

Lionel Messi missed that game with a calf problem, so he’s unlikely to be risked against Benfica. That could mean a start for Pablo Sarabia alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, while Juan Bernat should come in for the injured Nuno Mendes at left wing-back.

Benfica are expected to name an unchanged starting XI after impressing last week.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Real Madrid - 7.45pm (8pm kick-off) live on BT Sport 6

Shakhtar’s players could be forgiven for having their minds elsewhere heading into this game.

The latest Russian attacks on Kyiv have left many of their team concerned for family members and friends as the war in Ukraine continues. A football match, then, may well seem unimportant. 

Shakhtar host Real Madrid in Warsaw looking to respond after losing 2-1 at the Bernabeu, with goals from Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr enough for the hosts.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have three wins from three and look set to qualify far more comfortably than they did last season.

For Shakhtar, a result of any kind will be a big boost to their campaign. They currently sit second on four points, and have proved already that they are a tough team to beat in any circumstances.

Real Madrid may have one eye on El Clasico this weekend, so Ancelotti is unlikely to risk any players with minor injuries. Defender Militao is expected to miss out and could be replaced by Antonio Rudiger. Thibaut Courtois may also be left out with a back problem.

Celtic vs RB Leipzig - 7.15pm (8pm kick-off) live on BT Sport 3

A 3-1 defeat to RB Leipzig last time out highlighted the size of the task on Celtic’s hands if they want to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2012/13.

The Bundesliga outfit were too strong for Ange Postecoglou’s side, with the prolific Christopher Nkunku opening the scoring before Andre Silva sealed victory with a brace.

Leipzig had lost to Real Madrid and Shakhtar before facing Celtic, so that will give the Bhoys hope ahead of their meeting at Celtic Park.

A win is essential for the Scottish champions if they are to keep their hopes of progression alive, while Leipzig are trying to amend their poor start to the group stages.

Celtic have previous against the German team, winning their previous clash in Glasgow 2-1 in the 2018/19 Europa League. A repeat of that result would spark wild celebrations ahead of another home game against Shakhtar and a trip to the Bernabeu.

Postecoglou will be without captain Callum McGregor after he suffered a knee injury at the Red Bull Arena, but otherwise Celtic have no new injury concerns.

Leipzig also picked up an injury in the reverse fixture, with goalkeeper Peter Gulasci out of action for the foreseeable future. He will be replaced by Janis Blaswich.

Borussia Dortmund vs Sevilla - 7.45pm (8pm kick-off) live on BT Sport 7

Dortmund can seal their place in the last 16 if they make it two wins from two against Sevilla.

Edin Terzic’s side were emphatic winners in Andalucia last week, returning home with a 4-1 victory thanks to some clinical finishing and questionable defending from the hosts.

That has left Sevilla on the brink of an early exit, which is perhaps unsurprising given they currently sit 18th in La Liga, starting the season so poorly that manager Julen Lopetegui was sacked last week and replaced by Chilean Jorge Sampaoli.

He will need to inspire a significant upturn, but even a new manager bounce may not be enough here. 

Dortmund, buoyed by a last-minute equaliser in Der Klassiker on Saturday, will be on the hunt for another victory in a group that looks set to be decided earlier than any other.