The Champions League give us some awesome match-ups this week as Groups E-G will get the second round of group play under way Tuesday and groups A-D on Wednesday. Here are the match-ups you will see and some backgrounds of the teams coming into the games.
Group E
Bayern Munich vs. CSKA Moscow
The “Bavarians” will face the Russian opponents after scoring 6 goals in their last two games and conceding no goals. Bayern Munich return to the Champions League after their dramatic, last minute, win against Manchester City to beat the 1-0. They currently sit in 2nd in this years “Group of Death” under Italian side Roma. CSKA Moscow return after a 5-1 loss to Roma and currently sit 2nd in the Russian Premier League. Surely Moscow will have much to worry about with Munich having played so well for the past few seasons.
Key players:
Bayern Munich: Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben, Mario Goetze
CSKA Moscow: Bebras Natcho, Zoran Tosic
Manchester City vs. Roma
The current Premier League holders have enjoyed some good soccer this season and last. Roma has had equal success, but the “Scudetto” eluded them last season after a wonderful run. City have scored 12 goals in their last two games having just conceded 2 while Roma had 4 and 1 conceded, yet they remain undefeated in both Domestic and Champions League play. Both teams will need these crucial points in order to proceed to the Round of 16 as only 2 teams can pass.
Key players:
Manchester City: Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva
Roma: Alessandro Florenzi, Francesco Totti
Group F
Paris Saint German vs. Barcelona
The two rivals from last season face off again, but this time the circumstances are not so dramatic. Last season saw the two sides duke it out in the quarter finals as PSG held Barcelona to tie on aggregate, but away will be without super-star Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he will sit the game due to an ankle injury. Barcelona are yet to concede a goal this season with 18 goals in seven games while PSG have tied 5 of their last 8 Ligue 1 matches.
Key players:
PSG: Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Blaise Matudi, Marco Veratti
Barcelona: Lionel Messi, Neymar, Ivan Rakitic
Group G
Sporting Lisbon vs. Chelsea
Jose Mourinho’s side have played well after their summer transfers Cesc Fabregas’ and Diego Costa’s arrival. Chelsea currently sit at the top of the Premier League as Diego Costa has scored 8 goals in 7 games and Cesc Fabregas 6 assists in as many games. They will return to the Champions League after a 1-1 draw to Schalke 04. Sporting is currently undefeated this season but has tied 5 of their last 7 games thus far. They also return with a draw to Slovenian side Maribor, which leaves top of the table open to whoever wants it most.
Key players:
Chelsea: Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard
Sporting Lisbon: Andre Carillo, Luis Nani
Zenit vs. Monaco
Zenit currently has a long undefeated run of 14 games and only one draw and currently sits atop of the Russian Premier League. Monaco, on the other hand, sits in twelfth place in Ligue 1 since selling Columbiana striker Radamel Falcao to Manchester United.
Key players:
Zenit : Jose Saloman Rondon, Givanlindo “Hulk” Viera de Souza
Monaco: Dimitar Berbatov, Ricardo Carvalho
Athletico Madrid vs. Juventus
Diego Simeone and Athletico Madrid have proven time and time again to be a top club in European football the past few seasons. They currently sit in third place in La Liga just two points behind Barcelona. Juventus have been a strong force in Italy and look keen to bring a three-peat to Turin. Surely both teams should pass to the next round, but each will be looking for that top spot in their group.
Key players:
Juventus: Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo, Stephen Lichsteiner
Atletico Madrid: Leo Baptiso, Koke, Mario Mandzukic
Arsenal vs. Galatasaray
Arsenal return to the Champions League in desperate need of a response to their 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. Arsene Wenger’s men currently sit in a familiar fourth place in the Premier League and will again be missing Mikel Arteta as he picked up yet another injury this past weekend in their 1-1 draw against Tottenham. Galatasaray sits in fifth place in the Super Lig and tied Anderlecht in the last round of group play.
Key players:
Arsenal: Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxalade-Chamberlain
Galatasaray: Burak Yilmaz, Wesley Sneijder
Other group games:
Tuesday, Sept. 30th
Apoel vs. Ajax
Schalke 04 vs. Maribor
Shaktar Donetsk vs. FC Porto
Bate vs. Athletic Club
Wednesday, Sept. 31st
Malmo FF vs. Olympiakos
Basel vs. Liverpool
PFC Ludogorets Razgard vs. Real Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Benfica
Anderlecht vs. Burussia Dortmund
PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Hewitt, Getty Images
