UEFA Champions League 2020-21 round-up: Liverpool tame Ajax as race for pre-quarters intensifies

The 2020-21 edition of the UEFA Champions League has entered Matchweek 5 of its group stage. Tuesday saw some exciting matches, besides some team ensuring their spot in the pre-quarters, as the race for the same continues to intensify.

Tuesday marked the commencing of Matchweek 5 of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League. It saw a few exciting matches, as some teams sealed their spot in the pre-quarters, including former champions Liverpool. Nonetheless, the race for the spot seems to be intensifying, as we have to wait until Matchweek 6 to confirm all the qualifiers, while we take a look at the round-up from Tuesday.

We start with the vital group of D, where Liverpool faced off against Ajax at Anfield, which ended in favour of the hosts, as they won 1-0. The win takes them to the 12 points, sealing their place on the top. Meanwhile, Atalanta, who are coming off a 1-1 draw against Midtjylland, stay in the second with eight points. Nonetheless, below them are Atalanta with seven, while Midtjylland are already out of the race.

In Group A, defending champions, Bayern Munich were up against Atletico Madrid in a high-profile encounter, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Bayern have already sealed their place on the top, while the latter stay in the second with six points. They are followed by Salzburg, who are in third with six points, following a 3-1 win over Lokomotiv Moscow, while the latter is out of the race.

As for Group B, it is the most open one so far. For now, it is Borussia Monchengladbach on the top with eight points, despite a 2-3 loss to Inter Milan on Tuesday, while the latter is placed fourth with five points. Meanwhile, in the second spot in Shakhtar Donetsk, with seven points, having beaten Real Madrid 2-0 last night, while the latter stays on third with same points, as the former is ahead on head-to-head count.

Group C is dominated by Manchester City, who have already made it to the pre-quarters, while they are coming off a goalless draw against FC Porto last night, as the latter is in the second place with 10 points, thereby sealing their spot as well. As for the remaining two, Olympiacos and Olympique de Marseille are on third and fourth, on three points each, having already been out of the race.

Meanwhile, Wednesday night would see some more teams vying for the pre-quarters. Big teams like Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have a chance to seal their spot, while Barcelona and Juventus are already through.