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Franzi | Games 
19-Nov-2025 | Sportsbetting
Champions League Matchday Predictions Matchday 5 25/26
All predictions for Matchday 5 of the 2025/26 Champions League. Current form, key insights and exciting duels at a glance. Top info on Europe’s elite competition.
approx. 3 min.
Champions League Matchday Predictions Matchday 5 25/26
On Matchday 5 of the Champions League, the group stage is tightening up noticeably. The current Champions League matchday predictions show: while some teams have been marching confidently through the competition from the start — such as Bayern, Inter or Manchester City — others like Ajax, Leverkusen or Juventus are still struggling for stability. The 2025/26 season has been full of surprises so far. Even top teams are wobbling and getting caught off guard. At the moment, it’s especially clubs like Real Madrid, Liverpool or Barcelona that fluctuate between convincing performances and inexplicable lapses. This opens up opportunities for others, and Bayern have shown: even defending champions PSG are no longer untouchable. So who will give everything on Matchday 5, when it matters most?
Fans can look forward to a matchday that could hardly be more decisive – for some teams it’s about the top of the table, for others it’s about their reputation.
MERKUR Quick Tips for Matchday 5 of the Champions League
Ajax Amsterdam vs. Benfica Lisbon
Ajax continue to stumble through a deep form slump: only two wins from ten games, no Champions League success and a lacklustre 3–0 defeat to Galatasaray. A coaching change is supposed to provide a lift, but Benfica look more stable and dangerous — especially thanks to Lukebakio. The Portuguese side appear more mature, structured and efficient. An away win in Amsterdam is likely.
Tip: Benfica to win (2) + both teams to score – No
Galatasaray Istanbul vs. Union Saint-Gilloise
Galatasaray remain in strong overall form despite Osimhen’s renewed muscle issues and travel to the match with a clear 3–0 win over Ajax behind them. Union Saint-Gilloise, on the other hand, have been steadily dropping off since their opening win, showing recurring defensive issues and suffering heavy defeats to Newcastle, Inter and Atletico. Form, quality and stability speak for the Turkish champions. Gala are favourites.
Tip: Galatasaray to win (1) + over 3.5 goals
Manchester City vs. Bayer Leverkusen
A 3–0 Premier League win over Liverpool reaffirmed Manchester City’s dominance. In the Champions League, they have only slipped up once — in a draw against Monaco. Leverkusen are still searching for stability, oscillating between draws, heavy losses and small bright spots like their win over Benfica. City’s quality, pace and cohesion make the roles crystal clear.
Tip: City -1 to -1.5 handicap + over 3.5 goals
Chelsea FC vs. FC Barcelona
Chelsea bounced back from a 2–2 draw in Baku with a confident Premier League win but remain difficult to assess due to Maresca’s constant rotation and Lavia’s injury problems. Barcelona showed fighting spirit in their 3–3 draw against Brugge, but also revealed some gaps. Offensively, Flick’s team plays direct and high-pressure football. With aggressive pressing, the Catalans could score again.
Tip: Both teams to score + over 2.5 goals
Borussia Dortmund vs. Villarreal
Dortmund have lost sharpness after a strong Champions League start. Recent results include a 4–1 defeat to Man City and a 1–1 against HSV. On top of that, Schlotterbeck’s situation brings more uncertainty. But Villarreal also remain unpredictable — sometimes controlled, sometimes completely without ideas, then unexpectedly successful again. Two inconsistent sides meet here. If Dortmund can regain their early-season stability, they can win the match.
Tip: Dortmund to win (1) + under 3.5 goals
SSC Napoli vs. Qarabag Agdam
After a goalless match against Frankfurt and a 2–0 defeat to Bologna, Napoli lack efficiency and cutting edge. Despite high possession, they show clear finishing problems that even Conte cannot seem to solve. Qarabag, meanwhile, have impressed as underdogs and recently held 60% possession against Chelsea while threatening on the counter. Although Napoli are more experienced, they must prepare for a tough challenge.
Tip: Napoli to win (1) + under 3.5 goals
FK Bodø/Glimt vs. Juventus Turin
Bodø/Glimt remain stuck after two draws and two defeats despite showing fighting spirit. Juventus, their next opponent, are also struggling but showed more structure and braver pressing against Sporting. Both clubs are still searching for their first win of the season. Juventus’ Champions League experience and squad depth weigh slightly heavier. Will the coaching change bring the desired effect?
Tip: Juventus to win (2) + under 3.5 goals
Olympique Marseille vs. Newcastle United
Marseille fought hard in their 1–0 loss to Atalanta and pushed relentlessly late on, but once again came away empty-handed. Numerous changes did not produce a turnaround. Newcastle, on the other hand, show a clear upward trend internationally: efficient finishing, defensive stability and maturity despite league struggles. This overall package gives the Magpies noticeable advantages.
Tip: Newcastle to win (2) + under 3.5 goals
Slavia Prague vs. Athletic Bilbao
Slavia Prague showed strong tackling and concentrated defending against Arsenal, but in terms of quality they remain below the level of their next opponent. Bilbao’s performances fluctuate — strong outings followed by weak ones, such as the recent match against Newcastle. These inconsistencies give Slavia opportunities, but the Basques will make life difficult for them.
Tip: Draw + under 3.5 goals
FC Copenhagen vs. Kairat Almaty
Copenhagen are under enormous pressure after three heavy defeats and just one point in the Champions League. Against Tottenham, they lacked pace, control and penetration — even with a man advantage. Kairat also show weaknesses but looked more robust against Inter and continue to perform steadily in the league. Both teams are unstable. Copenhagen’s experience might finally earn them three points.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals + double chance Kairat
Pafos FC vs. AS Monaco
Pafos celebrated their first-ever Champions League win with a 1–0 victory over Villarreal, led by a strong David Luiz. Still, the heavy 5–1 defeat to Bayern lingers. Whether the Cypriots can secure another win depends on how solidly Monaco defend on the island and whether they can generate quicker attacking moments. For now, the Monegasques remain favourites.
Tip: Monaco to win (2) + under 3.5 goals
Paris SG vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Defending champions PSG were shown their limits by Bayern on Matchday 4 and looked surprisingly unimaginative at times. Only late in the match did Luis Enrique’s team increase the pressure. Tottenham remain unbeaten in this year’s Champions League and performed well against Copenhagen, but their Premier League form shows stronger fluctuations. Considering recent Spurs losses, the advantage clearly lies with PSG.
Tip: Both teams to score + over 2.5 goals
Liverpool FC vs. PSV Eindhoven
Liverpool are sending mixed signals: after an important 1–0 win over Real Madrid, they delivered a flat performance against Man City with almost no counter-attacking threat. Wirtz is under criticism, Isak struggles to connect, and manager Arne Slot appears error-prone. Still, at Anfield, the chances look good. PSV earned a late 1–1 in Piraeus but remained relatively harmless despite dominating possession.
Tip: Liverpool to win (1) + under 3.5 goals
Arsenal FC vs. Bayern Munich
Arsenal head into Matchday 5 confident and composed. But Bayern Munich are in exceptional form: four wins from four Champions League matches, an impressive victory over Paris, and a level of ease and consistency at the highest quality for weeks. Even down to ten men, Bayern dominated both tactically and mentally. In this condition, they rank among Europe’s strongest teams.
Tip: Bayern to win (2) + over 2.5 goals
Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan
Atletico recently rediscovered their offensive strength, scoring three goals each against Levante, Sevilla and Union Saint-Gilloise, benefitting from Griezmann’s excellent form. The heavy defeat to Arsenal still raises questions, though. Inter remain unbeaten in the Champions League but showed unusual nervousness against Kairat. Nonetheless, the Italians appear slightly more consistent.
Tip: Both teams to score + over 2.5 goals
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Atalanta Bergamo
Eintracht remain inconsistent: just one win from seven matches and two 5–1 thrashings. Changes to the starting XI have hardly made an impact. The focus is shifting more and more towards damage control. Atalanta scraped a lucky win in Marseille, showed good game control but remain limited in attack. Overall, the Italians seem more stable — which may be their advantage.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals + double chance Atalanta
Sporting Lisbon vs. Club Brugge
Sporting Lisbon are stable domestically but inconsistent in the Champions League. Against Juventus, they impressed defensively with strong compactness but found almost no attacking solutions. Brugge, on the other hand, gained new confidence through their 3–3 draw with Barcelona. Once again, quick transitions and the in-form Forbs will be crucial. Sporting are more structured; Brugge more explosive.
Tip: Both teams to score + over 2.5 goals
Olympiakos vs. Real Madrid
Olympiakos have shown an inconsistent Champions League form. After an opening draw came a clear defeat against Barcelona and most recently a solid but imprecise draw against Eindhoven. Real Madrid arrive slightly shaken after their 1–0 loss to Liverpool but have collected several more wins and pose a serious threat to the Greeks.
Tip: Real Madrid to win (2) + under 3.5 goals
