The Champions League returns on 24 and 25 November for Matchday 5 of the league phase. With four rounds played, only a handful of teams still have perfect records, and the race for the top eight is heating up. Here is what to know, including the India timings.
Where the table stands
After Matchday 4, which ended on 4 November, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid were the only teams with perfect records, each on 12 points from four games. Arsenal won 2-1 away at Slavia Praha in that round, and Viking beat Sabah 4-1.
Matchday 5 fixtures
Among the games listed for Tuesday, 24 November are Bodo/Glimt against LASK, Galatasaray against Aston Villa, Arsenal against Borussia Dortmund, Como against AEK Athens and Feyenoord against Porto. On Wednesday, 25 November, the fixtures include Sabah against Barcelona, Slavia Praha against Villarreal, Atletico Madrid against Viking, Club Brugge against Liverpool and Inter against Stuttgart. The full list is on UEFA’s website.
Kick-off times in India
Most games start at 9 pm Central European Time, with a smaller number at 6:45 pm. Central Europe is 4.5 hours behind India in late November, so:
- A 6:45 pm CET kick-off is 11:15 pm IST.
- A 9 pm CET kick-off is 1:30 am IST the next day.
Check each fixture on the official UEFA page, because some games have different start times.
What is at stake
The top eight teams after eight matches qualify directly for the round of 16, and teams from ninth to 24th go into the knockout play-offs. Our guide to the Champions League format explains how it works. With four games left after Matchday 5, every result can move a club across one of those lines.
The rest of the calendar
Matchday 6 is on 8 and 9 December, Matchday 7 on 19 and 20 January and the final round on 27 January 2027. The knockout play-offs follow in February, and the final is on 5 June 2027 in Madrid.
Where to watch in India
Sony Sports Network shows the matches on television, and SonyLIV streams them. Our guide to watching the Champions League in India has the details.
What to watch for
Keep an eye on goal difference, since it separates clubs on equal points, and on the clubs that began with heavy defeats and now need results. For more football coverage, visit our Football section.