Following the eventful start to the Champions League 2010-2011, Let’s preview the next set of group games to be played on Match Day Two as Tottenham head back into action after dropping a lead against Werder Bremen, Manchester United aim to put three points on the board after failing to beat Rangers, and Chelsea and Arsenal look to pick up where they left off.
Group A – FC Twente; Inter Milan; Tottenham Hotspur; Werder Bremen
Both opening matches ended in draws, leaving all four teams on a point. Champions League newbies Tottenham and FC Twente need to learn to hold on to their leads if they are to progress. Tottenham fans will be hoping their first Champions League match at White Hart Lane ends in a win to bring them nearer to those elusive 10 points, though they will have to manage that without star striker Jermain Defoe.
Inter Milan will be hoping Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o continue to score when they entertain Werder Bremen, as they will have no intention of losing their title without a fight.
Group B – Benfica; Hapoel Tel-Aviv; Lyon; Schalke 04
Lyon will be playing their first match against an Israeli team when they visit the Bloomfield Stadium. Being only the third Israeli team to make the group stages, Hapoel will be playing to win, and the manager must be hoping Romain Rocchi proves he is good enough to play amongst the big boys, after capturing him from French Ligue 2.
The strikers of Schalke against Benfica will be dying to score with the poor home record they had during their last experience in the CL.
Group C – Bursapor; Manchester United; Rangers; Valencia
Three-time European Cup winners Manchester United will need to rediscover their form after a disappointing goalless draw against Rangers. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men might not be looking forward to their match against Valencia at the Mestalla, having failed to score on their last three visits to Spain.
Although Rangers are not expected to qualify from the group, their defensive tactics could still play a role in who does, particularly if their back five performs as it did at Old Trafford. Their match against Bursapor doesn’t scream goals but having the Ibrox crowd cheering them on may be exactly what Walter Smith’s men need.
Group D – Barcelona; Copenhagen; Panathinaikos; Rubin Kazan
Barcelona started their campaign with the style and swagger we have all come to expect from them, putting five past Greek champions Panathinaikos and only conceding one
Lionel Messi was back to his pre-World Cup best and David Villa appears to look comfortable with his new team-mates. They will be looking to carry on their form when they arrive at the Tsentralnyi Stadion. Panathinaikos will hope to score their first points by beating Copenhagen as they did in the UEFA Cup 2007/2008.
Group E – Basel; Bayern Munich; CFR Cluj; Roma
This group may not have the allure of Group G, but could well be the hardest one to call. Basel manager Thorsten Fink will be looking to beat his former club Bayern Munich when they travel to Switzerland. He won the CL with them in 2001 as well as four titles and three German cups.
Roma will entertain CFR Cluj, hoping they can cope without first choice goalkeeper, Júlio Sérgio, who is sidelined with ankle and foot injuries.
Group F – Chelsea; Marseille; MSK Zilina; Spartak Moscow
Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be without one of their star performers following the news that Salomon Kalou is out for three weeks with a thigh injury. They will be buoyed by the return of Frank Lampard when the Marseille team visit Stamford Bridge. Spartak will be hoping to continue their winning run when Slovakia’s Zilina travel to Moscow.
Group G – AC Milan; Ajax, Auxerre; Real Madrid
After being named the ‘Group of Death’ by the media, this is the group many fans and pundits will be watching, but there was quite a subdued start with both home teams winning 2-0. Auxerre and Ajax host Real Madrid and Milan respectively - hopefully they’ll achieve the win to make this group the one everyone else is glad they are not in.
Group H – Arsenal; SC Braga; Partizan Belgrade; Shakhtar Donetsk
Arsene Wenger’s team made their intentions very clear with a six-goal mauling of Braga at the Emirates. Captain Cesc Fabregas was man of the match with a marauding display, but they will be without him when they travel to Serbia to face Belgrade. The Gunners will be hoping English starlet Jack Wilshere can step up to the plate.
Braga will be hoping to improve their goal difference when they play Shakhtar Donetsk on their home turf in Portugal. This being Braga’s first foray into the CL, they will be trying to show that they deserve to be here.
What are your predictions for this week’s matches?
Tags: Champions League