Five key UEFA Champions League Match Day 4 games that will make groups more clear

After three match days of the UEFA Champions League, there are three groups that look to be pretty clear about which two teams will advance into the knockout stages next February.

Group A comes to mind, with the defending champions Bayern Munich steamrolling every team in its path, foreign and domestic.

But there are five groups (in fact, maybe six) that could come down to the final match day on December 8-9. 

With the international break giving teams a three-week reprieve to regroup, here are five key Match Day 4 (November 24-25) contests that could ultimately prove to be separate teams from the rest of the trailing pack.

Group B-Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

Wednesday, Nov. 25, 12:55 p.m. EDT (CBS All-Access, TUDN, and Fubo.tv)

No one saw the Match Day 3 result between these two teams coming. Mönchengladbach went to Ukraine and obliterated Shakhtar 6-0, changing the whole dynamic of the group. Shakhtar had beaten Real Madrid on Match Day 1, and now has to go to Germany and try to get a result. These two teams sit in the top two spots (Mönchengladbach top with five points, Shakhtar second with four).

Group B-Inter vs. Real Madrid 

Wednesday, Nov. 25, 3 p.m. EDT (CBS All-Access and Fubo.tv)

The two teams that most thought would advance play what is essentially a knockout game here, especially if Mönchengladbach beats Skakhtar in the other Match Day 4 contest. 

I have said this 1,000 times, but I don’t trust Inter in games like this, especially against a Real Madrid side that has loads of experience in spots like this.

Group F-Borussia Dortmund vs. Club Brugge

Tuesday, Nov. 24, 3 p.m. EDT (CBS All-Access and Fubo.tv)

While you could probably make the case that the Lazio Zenit St. Petersburg game is equally important, the other match in Group F is key, because it could go a long way towards opening up this group or shutting it.

If Dortmund (which went to Belgium on Match Day 3 and won 3-0) can get another victory, it will put Dortmund five points clear at the top with just two matches left, essentially moving them into the knockout stages. But if Brugge can get any result, and Zenit can win in Italy, this group becomes the clear “Group of Death” over the final two match days.

Group H-Manchester United vs. Istanbul Bașakșehir 

Tuesday, Nov. 24, 3 p.m. EDT (CBS All-Access and Fubo.tv)

Oh, to be a Manchester United fan, and actually know what your team is going to do that day. United beat PSG and RB Leipzig, then went to Turkey with a chance to lock up advancement and fell 2-0.

If the Red Devils can win at Old Trafford after the break, it puts them in a good spot, especially if Leipzig can get a result against PSG once again.

Group H-PSG vs. RB Leipzig

Tuesday, Nov. 24, 3 p.m. EDT (CBS All-Access and Fubo.tv)

This is actually pretty simple. If RB Leipzig can replicate the 2-1 win from Match Day 3, and Manchester United wins, both teams will be six points ahead of PSG with six points up for grabs. Leipzig and United play on the final day, and a draw would see both go through.

If PSG wins, though, the last two match days could be must-watch TV.