We have reached the midpoint of the group stage of the Dialog Champions League 2016, with the groups now taking a more settled shape.
The teams will now know what they have to get in order to reach their season goals, be it qualifying for the Super 8 or staying up for one for season.
Week 4 Review – Champions League 2016
ThePapare.com previews Game Week 5.
Group A
Civil Security SC v Negombo Youth SC (16th July at Kelaniya Football Complex at 3:30pm)
A relegation battle at its finest, with neither team getting any points by the halfway mark of the season.
Negombo Youth have looked more promising; whilst Civil Security SC is yet to even score so the visitors should fancy their chances of winning and avoiding the drop.
Crystal Palace FC v Blue Star SC (21st July at Jayatillake Stadium Nawalapitiya at 3:30pm)
Blue Star have two wins on the trot whilst Crystal Palace go into an all-important home game with two losses on the bounce, making for an interesting clash in the hills.
Both teams are expected to qualify from Group A but things look a bit tricky for the Gampola based team and a win will do them a great deal of good in their push for Super 8 qualification.
Matara City v Solid SC (17th July at Matara Football Complex at 3:30pm)
Solid had the midweek off keeping them fresh for a clash in which they could rub more salt into the wounds of Matara City, who went down 1-0 at home to Up Country Lions midweek.
The teams are on course for opposite ends of the table and expect that trend to continue this week as well.
Army SC v Up Country Lions SC (17th July at Jayatillake Stadium Nawalapitiya at 3:30pm)
Seven points in 3 games at the start of the season was not what many expected of the Lions, and they have done brilliantly to set up the back-end of their campaign.
This week they come across a real test against Army SC who have been ruthless throughout the season so far.
Expect an interesting clash with the underdogs having home advantage to help their cause as well.
Group B
Super Sun SC v New Youngs FC (16th July at Vernon Fernando Stadium Kalutara at 3:15pm)
Super Sun got their first win of the season last week courtesy of a massive upset against Air Force and will have home advantage against New Youngs who have 9 points so far and look well set to qualify for the next stage.
Super Sun need nothing less than a win if their dreams of qualification are to remain intact.
The match will be live streamed on ThePapare.com
Saunders SC v Java Lane SC (17th July at Kelaniya Football Complex at 3:15pm)
Two Colombo based teams with fast fading dreams of qualification clash in what should be an entertaining encounter.
Both teams were on the losing end of a result against the top teams in the group in midweek and their future in the competition will depend much on their result in this game with nothing less than a win doing much for either.
The match will be live streamed on ThePapare.com
Police SC v Air Force SC (16th July at Police Grounds at 3:30pm)
Police have drawn a short straw having to play 2 games in 3 days which may hamper their chances of picking up some points on home turf against Air Force.
Their visitors will be low on confidence after they crumbled to a disastrous 1-0 loss at home to bottom team Super Sun midweek, and would be keen to avoid a mid-season slump in form, by getting back to winning ways.
Navy SC v Thihariya Youth SC (17th July at Navy Ground Welisara at 3:30pm)
Navy will be keen to pick up 3 points against Thihariya Youth at home after having the midweek off.
They dropped 2 points against Java Lane after conceding late and that trend will need to be arrested if they are to make the cut for the Super 8s.
Thihariya Youth on the other hand need to surprise a team somewhere down the line if they are to stay up, but it does not look like Navy will be that team.
