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Pointless Ajax face struggling Mourinho, Chelsea host Rashford as Manchester City and Newcastle look to shine again
It promises to be another compelling night of action in the Champions League as Matchday 5 kicks off tonight.
Fallen Dutch giants Ajax host fellow strugglers Benfica, Chelsea face Barcelona while Manchester City and Newcastle will look to shine again.
Here, DAZN News' Ross Heppenstall picks out five key storylines from Tuesday's nine games.
Ajax and Benfica are pointless
Dutch giants Ajax are one of European football’s great names, having lifted the European Cup three consecutive times between 1971 and 1973.
Johan Cruyff was the star of the “Total Football” team, and his leadership and skill were central to the club’s dominance during that era.
But the current Ajax side – who are way off the pace in the Dutch Eredivisie – prop up the Champions League group after four straight defeats.
They host Jose Mourinho’s Benfica this evening aiming to finally get off the mark at the fifth attempt.
Ironically, Mourinho’s side are the only other team yet to collect a single point this season – with only their superior goal difference over Ajax keeping them off the bottom of the pile.
@SLBenfica
Chelsea looking to make home advantage pay
Enzo Maresca’s side host La Liga champions Barcelona in what is undoubtedly one of the games of the round in Matchday 5.
Chelsea have made a decent start to their Champions League campaign after collecting seven points from their opening four games.
But a win against Barca would be huge and could lift them into the top eight depending on other results.
For Marcus Rashford, on loan at the Spanish giants from Manchester United, it is another chance to remind English fans how good he is.
The England striker scored both goals when Barcelona won 2-1 at Newcastle in Matchday 1.
@FCBarcelona_es
City quietly emerging as serious contenders
Manchester City host Bayer Leverkusen and will be confident of extending their unbeaten run in this season’s Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s men have already beaten Napoli, Villarreal and Borussia Dortmund and drawn at Monaco.
Could they go all the way in European football’s most prestigious competition for only the second time in the club’s history?
With Erland Haaland in the kind of form he has shown this season, you wouldn’t rule it out.
Expect City, still smarting from their defeat at Newcastle on Saturday, to dispatch their German visitors tonight.
Michael Steele/Getty Images
Magpies in rude health ahead of Marseille trip
Much has been made of Newcastle’s inconsistent Premier League form this season – but their Champions League exploits tells a different story.
Eddie Howe’s men, who won the club’s first domestic trophy for 70 years when beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final last term, have shone brightly in Europe.
After losing at home to Barcelona in Matchday 1, the Magpies have racked up convincing wins over Union St Gilloise, Benfica and Athletic Club without conceding a goal.
Marseille, in contrast, have won one and lost three in the competition so far and Newcastle, buoyed by Saturday's stirring home win over Manchester City, will fancy their chances of winning in the south of France.
Getty Images
Time for Conte’s men to step up
Serie A title winners twice in the last three campaigns, Napoli have been a pronounced let-down in this season’s Champions League.
Antonio Conte’s men opened their campaign with defeat at Manchester City before bouncing back with a home win over Sporting.
Yet they were seriously humiliated by a 6-2 hammering at PSV before a goalless draw with Eintract Frankfurt steadied the ship.
Victory at home to Qarabag is non-negotiable if Napoli are to even begin to start thinking about qualifying for the knockout round, never mind think about winning the competition.
Yet Qarabag, of the Azerbaijan Premier League, are proving no mugs after taking a hugely impressive seven points from their first four games.
They won at Benfica, beat Copenhagen and then held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw at home.
Napoli, beware.
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Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday 5
Tuesday 25 November
- Ajax vs Benfica
- Galatasaray vs Union Saint-Gilloise
- Bodø / Glimt vs Juventus
- Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal
- Chelsea vs Barcelona
- Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen
- Marseille vs Newcastle United
- Napoli vs Qarabağ
- Slavia Prague vs Athletic Club
Wednesday 26 November
- Copenhagen vs Kairat
- Pafos vs Monaco
- Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
- Atletico Madrid vs Inter Milan
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs Atalanta
- Liverpool vs PSV
- Olympiakos vs Real Madrid
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Sporting CP vs Club Brugge
Visionhaus/Getty Images
How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high-definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
