With the Qatar World Cup from November all major leagues were forced to change their schedules with the Champions League no different with group stage matches being condensed into a two-month window.
Already at the beginning of October, we are heading towards the fourth day of the Champions League 2022/23 group stage and already a handful of teams are close to mathematically securing a place in the next stage of the competition, with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid being one of those few teams.
The Italian coach takes his side to the Polish capital where they face exiles Shakhtar Donetsk, knowing that a win or even a draw would be enough to secure a spot in the round of 16 of the competition. Madrid the aim, however, is to lock in top spot in Group F and, in theory, secure an easier path into the knockout stage, with ‘Los Blancos’ yet to travel to Leipzig with this tricky test ahead on matchday five as they travel to Germany to face the Bundesliga.
The first two teams in the group qualify for Champions League Round of 16 with the third-placed team heading into the Europa League Round of 16.
Group F: matches of the 4th day
Shakhtar Donetsk-Real Madrid
Celtic-RB Leipzig
Group F: matches of the 5th day
RB Leipzig-Real Madrid
Celtic-Shakhtar Donetsk
Group F: matches of the 6th day
Real Madrid-Celtic
Shakhtar Donetsk-RB Leipzig