Group A
Porto v Dynamo Kiev
After a huge win at home to PSG in their
most recent champions league encounter, Porto will host the Ukrainian side
Dynamo Kiev hoping to make it nine points from nine. However, Dynamo Kiev will
be looking to take all three points after they lost to PSG in match day one
4-1. Their win at home to Dinamo Zagreb last time out will give the Ukrainian
side hope, but to get something from this game will be the desire of their
coach Oleh Blokin.
Key clash: João Moutinho v Miguel Veloso
Dinamo Zagreb v PSG
Super rich Paris Saint Germain's second
away game in Europe this season will take them to Zagreb as the face Croatian
champions, Zagreb. PSG haven't won away in the champions league since 1998, but
with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi in their ranks,
they'll expect to get all three points and recover from their disappointing 1-0
loss against Porto last time out. Zagreb will have to get a result here, having
lost both their opening games.
Key clash: Josip Simunic v Zlatan
Ibrahimovic
Group B Arsenal v Schalke 04
When the champions league group stage draw
was conducted, many expected these two teams to comfortably progress to the
knockout stages. However after Schalke's disappointing 2-2 draw against
Montpellier, the group is looking quite tight. After Schalke's 2-1 win away at
Dortmund this past weekend, and Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Norwich, this game could
be an unpredictable one. Expect fireworks
Key clash: Oliver Giroud v Benedikt Höwedes
Montpellier v Olympiakos
With two games gone both these sides have
work to do if they want to progress to the round of 16. Montpellier's 2-2 draw
away at Schalke however has given the French champions hope, especially
considering how well they played against Arsenal in a 2-1 loss first time out.
With both teams looking to win, this should be an interesting one.
Key clash: Konstantinos Mitroglou v V.
Hilton
Malaga v AC Milan
An emphatic 3-0 destruction of Zenit St
Petersburg on match day one surprised many at just how good Malaga can be. Away
at Anderlecht, Malaga put in another solid performance winning 2-0 leading to
many calling them favourites to get through group C. European giants AC Milan
currently have 4 points and are slowly improving after a poor start to their
Serie A campaign. With the exciting Malaga side hosting the experienced and
adjusting Milan side this game could well be one of the best of match day
three.
Key clash: Martin Demechelis v Robinho
Zenit St. Petersburg v Anderlecht
Pre match day one, there was a certain
level of expectation surrounding Zenit St. Petersburg, heightened by their
signing of powerful Brazilian striker Hulk. But with the Russian champions having lost both their champions league games this
season, this game at home to Anderlecht is essentially a must win. The Belgian
champions got an impressive 0-0 draw at the San Siro first time out but lost at
home to Malaga, meaning they'll need to try and win this.
Key clash: Hulk v Cheikhou Kouyaté
Group D
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
An excellent and fearless away performance
away at Manchester City mean Borussia Dortmund will be going into this fixture
with plenty of encouragement about their champions league hopes. Meanwhile,
Real Madrid are now back to their best after a slow start to their La Liga
campaign. They have won both their champions league fixtures so far too so they
are in a great position to qualify from the "group of death". With
Dortmund being the German champions and Real Madrid being the Spanish
champions, this is a dream match that I'm personally very excited about.
Key clash: Mario Götze v Sami Khedira
Ajax v Manchester City
The always united and determined Ajax will
represent a tough challenge for the premier league champions as they travel to
Amsterdam needing three points to get their so far disappointing champions
league campaign. Having lost both of their games so far, the Dutch champions
are also needing a win or it could be a swift exit for Ajax.
Key clash: Christian Eriksen v Vincent
Kompany
Group E
Shakhtar Donetsk v Chelsea
In form Chelsea will travel to Donetsk on
Tuesday night in what will be a tricky game in the hostile Donbass arena. Both
sides drew to have already drawn to Juventus and beat Nordsjaelland in their
other group E games, but only one of the teams will be able to be on seven
points at the end of the game. Shakhtar's Brazilian striker Willian allegedly
nearly joined Chelsea both last summer and this, so many will be watching how
he plays.
Key clash: Willian v John Terry.
Nordsjaelland v Juventus
Despite losing both of their champions
league games so far, Nordsjaelland have impressed many with their passing moves
and Juventus should expect a tough game at the Parken stadium on Tuesday night.
The Danish side haven't yet scored a champions league goal, but they'll be
determined to change that against the old lady. However, Juventus will be
determined to get their first champions league win this season in what should
be an interesting game.
Key clash: Jores Okore v Sebastian Giovinco
Group F
Lille v Bayern Munich
A shock 3-1 defeat against BATE Borisov
last time out means Bayern Munich will need a result away at Lille to be in a
strong position going into the next game. However, last season's runners up
have had a superb start to the season domestically, winning all of their eight
games played so far. Lille will be desperate for a win themselves though as a defeat
would leave them on zero points after three games and essentially out of the
competition.
Key clash:
Mathieu Debuchy v Arjen Robben
BATE Borisov v Valencia
Arguably more than any other team in the
competition, BATE Borisov have shocked many by their performances in the
champions league. With a team that is very similar to that of the Belarusian
national team, BATE have won both of their champions league games so far by
three goals to one, firstly against Lille then even more impressively against
Bayern. Valencia currently sit on three points after losing 2-1 away in Munich,
but 2-0 against Lille at the Mestalla. A win for BATE would put them on nine
points and excitingly close to progressing to the knockout stages. Valencia are
always dangerous however, so it won't be easy.
Key clash: Alexander Hleb v Fernando Gago
Group G
Barcelona v Celtic
Although both clubs are amongst the most
famous and recognisable in world football, many people are fearing for Celtic
as they travel to Spain to face the Catalan giants. If they are to take
something from the game, Celtic will need to take advantage of a shaky
Barcelona defence which conceded 4 in a 5-4 victory away at Deportivo La Coruna
on Saturday. Barcelona are expected to win, and win emphatically but Celtic
should not be underestimated after their 3-2 win against Spartak Moscow in
match day 2.
Key clash: Cesc Fabregas v Victor Wanyama
Spartak Moscow v Benfica
Neither of these two sides have had the best
of starts to their champions league campaigns but for different reasons.
Spartak Moscow lost to both Celtic and Barcelona 3-2, showing evidence of a
leaky defence. On the other hand, Benfica are yet to score in the champions
league, and they were beaten comfortably 2-0 by Barcelona last time out.
Group H
Manchester United v Braga
Although they are one of only seven sides
to have won both of their champions league fixtures so far, Manchester United
are yet to have hit their best form in Europe this season. The visit of Braga
on Tuesday will represent a tough challenge for the Red Devils, as it did for
Galatasaray three weeks ago, when Braga won 2-0 thanks to goals by Ruben Micael
and Alan. As United will remember from last year's horrible champions league
campaign: underestimating lesser opposition could cost teams dear.
Key clash: Jonny Evans v Éder
Galatasaray v CFR Cluj
Galatasaray have had a disappointing start
to their champions league campaign, losing both of their two games played so
far, 1-0 to Manchester United and more surprisingly 2-0 at home to Braga.
Romanian side Cluj have had a decent start, however, winning 2-0 away at Braga
and giving Manchester United a very difficult game in what turned out to be a
2-1 loss. For Galatasaray, a loss would be disastrous, and a win is needed.
After their last champions league away result, Cluj will be full of confidence,
but can they thrive in the immensely intimidating Türk Telecom arena?
Key clash: Aldin Yilmaz v Ivo Pirlo.
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