Champions League: Fixtures, predictions, team news and more
Match day three of the Champions League continues this evening with the headline fixture between Barcelona and Manchester City.
On Tuesday, October 18, 10-man Juventus secured a win at Lyon while Real Madrid defeated Legia Warsaw 5 – 1 at the Santiago Bernabeu with Cristiano Ronaldo ironically not getting on the score sheet.
Below are all the info you need to know about tonight’s clashes;
Group A
Arsenal vs Ludogorets Razgrad
Without looking too far, neutrals would expect Arsenal to win comfortably. Olivier Giroud, Ramsey, Mertesacker, Welbeck, Akpom are missing for Arsenal.
Arsenal players celebrate a goal
Possible line ups
Arsenal: Ospina; Bellerín, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Cazorla; Walcott, Özil, Iwobi; Sánchez.
Ludogorets: Stoyanov; Minev, Moți, Palomino, Natanael; Dyakov, Anicet; Misidjan, Marcelinho, Wanderson, Cafú.
Predicted scoreline: Arsenal 4 – 0 Ludogarets
Paris Saint Germain vs Basel
Unai Emery’s tactical set-up including Blaise Matuidi on the left was leaked to the press and this could alter the way PSG approach this game. Thiago Motta and Javier Pastore will be missing for the French side.
Cavani scores against Arsenal in the UCL opener
Possible line ups:
PSG: Aréola; Aurier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell; Verratti, Thiago Motta, Matuidi; Lucas, Cavani, Di María.
Basel: Vaclík; Lang, Suchý, Hoegh, Traoré; Xhaka, Zuffi; Bjarnason, Delgado, Steffen; Doumbia.
Predicted scoreline: PSG 3 – 1 Basel
Group B
Dynamo Kyiv vs Benfica
This is one tough match to predict as both teams come into this game with indifferent forms respectively. Despite Benfica looking stronger on paper, Dynamo could use their home advantage to their favour.
Dynamo Kyiv: Rudko; Morozyuk, Khacheridi, Vida, Antunes; Rybalka; Yarmolenko, Sydorchuk, Fedorchuk, Gonzalez; Júnior Moraes.
Benfica: Ederson; Semedo, Jardel, Lindeloff, Grimaldo; Fesja, Pizzi, Salvio, Cervi; Guedes, Mitroglou.
Predicted scoreline: Dynamo Kyiv 2 – 2 Benfica
Napoli vs Besiktas
The long term injury suffered by Milik will have a big impact on Napoli’s season. The Polish striker was hitting form in the league and in the Champions League where he has two goals and two assists.
Napoli have lost their last two games while Besiktas have won their last two.
Napoli captain Marek Hamsik
The Italian side could become the first team to qualify from the group stage after only three games with a win today.
Possible line ups:
Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Maksimović, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Zieliński, Jorginho, Hamšík; Callejón, Gabbiadini; Mertens
Beşiktaş: Fabri; Gönül, Marcelo, Tošić, Caner Erkin; Hutchinson, Inler; Quaresma, Talisca, Adriano; Cenk Tosun
Predicted scoreline: Napoli 2 – 0 Besiktas
Group C
Barcelona vs Manchester City
Pep Guardiola returns to the stadium where he was a ball boy, youth team player, first team player, captain, and coach. He achieved world class status with the Catalan Giants.
Lionel Messi is back from injury, Kevin De Bruyne also. However Samuel Umtiti should miss out for Barcelona.
Kevin De Bruyne
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitić, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez, Neymar
Manchester City: Bravo; Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernandinho, Gündoğan; Sterling, Silva, De Bruyne; Agüero
Possible scoreline: Barcelona 3 – 2 Man City
Celtic vs Borussia Moenchengladbach
Celtic would be buoyed by their 3 – 3 draw against Man City last time out while Gladbach will be ruing how they allow Barcelona to come from a goal down to win 2 – 1 in their home.
On paper, the Scottish side are no match for the Germans, but playing at the Parkhead stadium is always tough. Just ask AC Milan, Barcelona, Man City et al.
Dembele celebrates his bicycle kick against Manchester City
Possible line-ups
Celtic: Gordon: Lustig, Sviatchenko, Touré, Tierney; Forrest, Brown, Bitton, Sinclair; Rogic, Dembélé
Mönchengladbach: Sommer; Elvedi, Vestergaard, Jantschke, Wendt; Kramer, Dahoud; Traoré, Hofmann; Stindl, Hahn
Predicted scoreline: Celtic 2 – 2 Gladbach
Group D
Bayern Munich vs PSV Eindhoven
The two teams have drawn their last two matches in all competitions. Bayern need to win to have a chance of winning Group D given Atletico Madrid defeated them in their last encounter.
Ancelotti is Bayern Munich coach
Possible line-ups
Bayern: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Hummels, Alaba; Thiago, Kimmich, Vidal; Robben, Lewandowski, Müller.
PSV: Zoet; Brenet, Schwaab, Isimat-Mirin, Moreno, Willems; Guardado, Pröpper, S De Jong; Narsingh, L De Jong.
Predicted scoreline: Bayern 4 – 0 PSV
FC Rostov vs Atletico Madrid
What more can be said about Atletico Madrid; underestimate them at your own peril. Diego Simeone’s men have beaten Bayern Munich this season and earned a draw at Barcelona already. FC Rostov will find it tough keeping Carrasco, Gamiero and Griezmann at bay.
Saul Niguez, Augusto Fernandez, Jose Gimenez Luis Moya and Allesandro Cerci should miss out for Atletico.
Atletico Madrid duo Antoine Griezmann and Koke
Possible line-ups
Rostov: Dzhanaev; Bayramyan, Mevlja, Navas, Granat, Kudryashov; Gatskan, Noboa, Erokhin; Azmoun, Poloz
Atlético: Oblak; Juanfran, Savić, Godín, Filipe Luís; Correa, Gabi, Koke, Carrasco; Torres, Griezmann
Predicted scoreline: Rostov 1 – 4 Atletico Madrid
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