The Champions League schedule has entered the "second half", and fierce battles may determine the promotion pattern

Reprinted from: Yangtze Evening News

From November 25th to 26th, the fifth round of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League will begin. As the first key node in the "second half" of the group stage, the performance of the 36 teams in this round will directly affect the promotion situation. Multiple powerful dialogues are expected to lock in the direct zone seats in advance.

The most watched matchup in this round is undoubtedly the first-place battle between Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the early morning of November 27. The two teams performed strongly on both fronts and maintained a high winning rate in the first four rounds of the Champions League, leading the group. This "leadership dialogue" between the Premier League and the Bundesliga will directly determine the top spot in the group. Arsenal has the home advantage at the Emirates Stadium and builds a solid defense with a high-pressure press. The attack line led by Saka and Eze is full of vitality. Bayern continues its firepower advantage and continues to lead the Bundesliga. Kane's scoring efficiency is still the core attraction. It is worth noting that both teams focus on rapid advancement tactics, and the battle for midfield control will become the vane of the game. Who can maintain the momentum of victory is worth looking forward to.

The other two giant matchups that will be staged in the early morning of November 26 are also very crucial. Chelsea will face Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, with both teams ranked second in their respective leagues. According to the latest Premier League standings, Chelsea has 23 points after five unbeaten games. The midfield and frontcourt are dominated by double-wing impact and speedy forwards. Barcelona ranks second in La Liga and still focuses on passing and control. However, the ability of the strikers to seize opportunities fluctuates from time to time, and the young defense line needs to be adjusted. Chelsea may plan to attack Barcelona's defense with high pressure, while Barcelona needs to control the rhythm to crack the counterattack. Lewandowski's performance is crucial.

In another matchup, Manchester City will face last season's Bundesliga runner-up Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium. The latter performed very well last season and is temporarily ranked third in the Bundesliga this season. It is good at quickly preventing counterattacks. Although Manchester City suffered an upset away defeat in the league, the passing and control system is still dominant. Whether Haaland and Foden can score goals together, and whether Manchester City's defense can withstand the counterattack of the pharmaceutical factory have become the key points to watch.

The performance of the defending Champions League champion Paris Saint-Germain in this round is also crucial. The French team's opponent in this round will be Tottenham from the Premier League. After Paris Saint-Germain defeated Inter Milan to win the Champions League for the first time last season, the Champions League continues to be strong this season but still needs to consolidate its advantage. Although Tottenham are ranked in the middle of the Premier League, their recent form has gradually improved, and they have a "revenge" mentality for losing the UEFA Super Cup. Their away performance deserves attention. The thickness of both sides' lineups will determine the direction of the game.

Judging from the situation of each group, the competition for qualifications for the pass-through area and play-offs has become fierce for most groups. After this round, top teams such as Arsenal and Bayern are expected to lock in direct seats in advance if they win, while teams such as Chelsea and Barcelona need to consolidate their rankings through victory, and some mid-level teams need to strive for points to retain their hope. It is worth noting that although teams such as Manchester City and Leverkusen have mature tactics, their physical distribution under the intensive schedule will face tests. As the cold wave sweeps across Europe, low temperature weather in London, Manchester and other places will also add uncertainty to the game.

Yangzi Evening News/Ziniu News reporter Huang Xiyin