Vital Games Ahead in the Champions League
The international break is over and now it’s time to get back to club football. October 19 and 20 sees the next set of games in the Champions League and there are some vital games to be played.
We’re at the stage of the Champions League when the next two matches for each club are against the same team. Home and away games that will go a long way towards deciding the final outcome of the group.
Manchester City began Group A with a thrilling 6-3 home win over RB Leipzig. That was followed though by a 2-0 defeat at PSG. City will hope to get their revenge and repeat last season’s home win over the French side, even if they do now have Lionel Messi.
What City wouldn’t have expected is for that loss to leave them third in the group.
Club Brugge have drawn at home to PSG and then come from behind to win at Leipzig. They host City on October 19 and a win for the Belgians will really make the group interesting. Only one of their last seven home Champions League games have been won though and City should be able to return home with three points.
Defending champions Chelsea are second in Group H after beating Zenit at home and losing at Juventus. There’s no need for panic yet though with only a two point gap between them and the Italians. Their next two games are against Malmo. The Swedes have played two games so far, losing them both and conceding seven goals. They are the whipping boys in this group and Chelsea can look forward to two wins. With Juventus yet to come to Stamford Bridge, winning the group is still possible.
Away from the British clubs, there are plenty of odds available on the top continental teams. Barcelona are bottom of Group E and four points behind the top two after two losses. They have two games against Dinamo Kiev and just have to get plenty of points on the board.
Inter Milan are also in trouble. The odds on the Serie A champions have lengthened after losing to Real Madrid and drawing with Shakhtar. Bookies didn’t rate Sheriff Tiraspolbut the side from Moldova have six points and top Group D. Can they defy the odds again and cause big problems for Milan?
Liverpool have started Group B with two wins and eight goals. They put three past Milan at Anfield and then added five goals away in Porto. Now come two games against La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, who trail them by two points. A top two finish is going to be easy to achieve as long as they get some points against Atletico. The Spaniards have beaten them in the past, but they should be able to get something from these games.
Manchester United haven’t been impressive so far but have three points and are third in Group F. They lost to Young Boys and then beat Villarreal with a last-gasp Ronaldo goal. Two games against group leaders Atalanta (a point ahead of them) won’t be easy at all. At least three points will be their target and a couple of draws between Young Boys and Villarreal wouldn’t hurt them either. Bad results against Atalanta though could easily see United back in the Europa League.