Key Fixtures of the UEFA Champions League

As the UEFA Champions League heats up, teams are preparing for crucial matchups that could determine their fate in the tournament. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of injury and suspension news as well as predicted lineups for the upcoming matches.

Aston Villa vs Celtic

Location: Villa Park, Birmingham
Kick-off: Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. UK
Expected Aston Villa Lineup:

• GK: Emiliano Martínez
• LB: Lucas Digne
• CB: Lamare Bogarde
• CB: Ezri Konsa
• RB: Matty Cash
• DM: Youri Tielemans
• DM: Boubacar Kamara
• LW: Emiliano Buendía
• AM: Morgan Rogers
• RW: Leon Bailey
• ST: Jhon Durán
  Injury/Suspension Updates:
• Ross Barkley (M, calf) - Doubt
• Tyrone Mings (D, knee) - Doubt
• Amadou Onana (M, hamstring) - OUT, return Feb. 1
• Pau Torres (D, foot) - OUT, return Mar. 15

Expected Celtic Lineup:

• GK: Kasper Schmeichel
• LB: Greg Taylor
• CB: Cameron Carter-Vickers
• CB: Auston Trusty
• RB: Alistair Johnston
• CM: Arne Engels
• CM: Reo Hatate
• CM: Callum McGregor
• FW: Yang Hyun-Jun
• ST: Adam Idah
• FW: Nicolas Kuhn
  Injury/Suspension Updates:
• James Forrest (M, foot) - Doubt
• Daizen Maeda (F) - Suspension, return Feb. 1

Barcelona vs Atalanta

Location: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona
Kick-off: Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. UK
Expected Barcelona Lineup:

• GK: Wojciech Szczesny
• LB: Alejandro Balde
• CB: Ronald Araújo
• CB: Pau Cubarsí
• RB: Jules Koundé
• DM: Marc Casadó
• DM: Pedri
• LW: Raphinha
• AM: Gavi
• RW: Lamine Yamal
• ST: Robert Lewandowski
  Injury Updates:
• Marc Bernal (M/D, knee) - OUT, return Sep. 1
• Andreas Christensen (D, calf) - OUT, return Feb. 17
• Iñigo Martínez (D, hamstring) - OUT, return Feb. 16
• Dani Olmo (F/M, calf) - OUT, return Feb. 2
• Marc-André ter Stegen (G, knee) - OUT, return Apr. 6

Expected Atalanta Lineup:

• GK: Marco Carnesecchi
• CB: Isak Hien
• CB: Sead Kolasinac
• CB: Rafael Tolói
• LM: Davide Zappacosta
• CM: Mario Pasalic
• CM: Marten de Roon
• RM: Marco Palestra
• AM: Lazar Samardzic
• ST: Mateo Retegui
• ST: Charles De Ketelaere
  Injury Updates:
• Marten de Roon (M/D, head) - Doubt
• Odilon Kossounou (D, thigh) - OUT, return Apr. 27
• Ademola Lookman (F/M, knee) - OUT, return Feb. 9
• Gianluca Scamacca (F, knee) - OUT, return Feb. 9

Bayer Leverkusen vs Sparta Prague

Location: BayArena, Leverkusen
Kick-off: Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. UK
Expected Bayer Leverkusen Lineup:

• GK: Matej Kovar
• LB: Alejandro Grimaldo
• CB: Jonathan Tah
• CB: Edmond Tapsoba
• RB: Nordi Mukiele
• DM: Exequiel Palacios
• DM: Granit Xhaka
• LW: Nathan Tella
• AM: Florian Wirtz
• RW: Jeremie Frimpong
• ST: Patrik Schick
  Injury Updates:
• Amine Adli (F/M, ankle) - OUT, return Feb. 8
• Jeanuël Belocian (D, knee) - OUT, return Sep. 1
• Piero Hincapié (D) - Suspension, return Jan. 30
• Martin Terrier (F/M, Achilles) - OUT, return Sep. 1

Expected Sparta Prague Lineup:

• GK: Peter Vindahl Jensen
• CB: Elias Cobbaut
• CB: Asger Sörensen
• CB: Martin Vitík
• LM: Matej Rynes
• CM: Kaan Kairinen
• CM: Qazim Laçi
• CM: Lukas Sadilek
• RM: Tomas Wiesner
• ST: Victor Olatunji
• ST: Veljko Birmancevic
  Injury Updates:
• Imanol García de Albéniz (D, knee) - OUT, return Apr. 5
• Ángelo Preciado (M/D, knee) - OUT, return Feb. 1
• Albion Rrahmani (F, illness) - Doubt
• Markus Solbakken (M, undisclosed) - Doubt
• Indrit Tuci (F, undisclosed) - Doubt

Bayern Munich vs Slovan Bratislava

Location: Allianz Arena, München
Kick-off: Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. UK
Expected Bayern Munich Lineup:

• GK: Manuel Neuer
• LB: Raphaël Guerreiro
• CB: Kim Min-Jae
• CB: Dayot Upamecano
• RB: Konrad Laimer
• DM: Aleksandar Pavlovic
• DM: Joshua Kimmich
• LW: Kingsley Coman
• AM: Jamal Musiala
• RW: Michael Olise
• ST: Harry Kane
  Injury Updates:
• Alphonso Davies (M/D, strain) - OUT, return Feb. 15
• Leon Goretzka (M) - Suspension, return Jan. 30
• Hiroki Ito (D, foot) - OUT, return Feb. 23
• Daniel Peretz (G, abdomen) - Doubt
• Dayot Upamecano (D, strain) - Doubt

Expected Slovan Bratislava Lineup:

• GK: Dominik Takac
• LB: Zuberu Sharani
• CB: Guram Kashia
• CB: Kevin Wimmer
• RB: César Blackman
• DM: Kenan Bajric
• DM: Kyriakos Savvidis
• LW: Nino Marcelli
• AM: Marko Tolic
• RW: Róbert Mak
• ST: David Strelec
  Injury Updates:
• Juraj Kucka (M, knee) - OUT, return Aug. 1

Conclusion

Stay tuned as these Champions League fixtures unfold with potential surprises and key player performances, despite the absences due to injuries and suspensions. Make sure to follow the updates as teams finalize their lineups ahead of the matches.