Exciting contests to watchout for as the CL reaches matchday III

We take a look at the deciding factors that might give certain teams the edge over their rivals.

Easily one of the two toughest groups in the Champions League this season. The outcome will become more unpredictable in the final days after Club Brugge earned a point against Paris Saint Germain in the first group game.

Les Parisens did pick up their first win of the group stages last time out with a 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who won their first game against RB Leipzig 6-3.

However, Club Brugge, whom many had branded the black sheep in the group, defeated Leipzig away from home, leaving the Bundesliga on the brink and the double-header against French Champions to determine if they will get anything or anywhere in Europe this term.

Club Brugge will take on Manchester City in Belgium on Tuesday before traveling to Manchester in the next matchday and it is PSG who are at home today against Leipzig.

PSG have won two and lost one in each of their three competitive meetings with Leipzig, one of those coming in the one legged semi final in the 2019-20 champions league season and the other two in the group stages last season.

It hasn’t been the best start to the season for Leipzig, who apart from losing their first two group game in the competition have also been underwhelming in the league, picking up just eleven points in eight games.

For PSG, just one loss and nine wins in the league, they are in good shape heading into the contest and on the back of a 2-1 come from behind win on Friday night. Though the Mauricio Pochettino side have not been really convincing with the expectations, but they should be able to do enough to overcome the Red Bull club.

For Manchester City and Club Brugge, both are set to go head to head for the first time and the host are on a run of seven games without a loss and have lost just once this season, a good test for the defending Champions in England, who have had a mixed start to the season but are recently getting their bearing.

Verdict: Manchester City and PSG Paris-Saint Germain remain the favourites to qualify from the group while Club Brugge’s performances in the first two rounds could have secured them a third place finish, but so much about that will be determined by what happens in the double-header between Leipzig and PSG, which is expected go the laters way.

Liverpool have made a good start in the group and are the number one favourite to make it out of the group ahead of their double-header against Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile Atletico are places second with four points. Their win at the San Siro was questionable as poor officiating denied AC Milan, who are brilliant on the night.

However, Atletico Madrid will have to step up against a we’ll organized and on form Liverpool and avoid rumbling over the two legs, in order not to open up the group again.

The Reds are favourite and Diego Simeone’s side responsible is first to avoid losing at their home on Tuesday night and can maybe replicate the performance of the last time they came up against the Jurgen Klopp side.

Atletico have lost just once to Liverpool in six meetings, winning each of the last two and this good history will give them extra motivation and hence the clash more exciting.

In the other game in the group, Porto host AC Milan. The Portuguese are on one point earn in Spain and as they reignite their rivalry with Milan, whom they faced eight times in the past century in the competition, winning twice and losing three times.

Milan are unbeaten in the Serie A this season and will be high in belief, after coming from two goals down to beat Hellas Verona on Saturday. Porto are also unbeaten after eight games in the Portuguese league this term so a very interesting match to anticipate at the Estadio Do Dragao.

Verdict: The group still very much unpredictable but due to the results in the first two matchdays, however, much about who will probably join Liverpool in the next round will be determined by what happens on Tuesday night.

Not many knew what to expect from this group when the draws were made as little to nothing separate the members of the group but after the first two group games, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax have made big statements that they are the real deal.

Two wins from two each, both are top of the standings and Ajax edging their compatriot on goal difference. The double-header which starts on Tuesday night at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam is expected to be a tiebreaker and determine who will lead the group.

Both Ajax and Dortmund have clashed four times in the competition in the past each winning twice. Borussia Dortmund won each of the last two which was in the group stages of the 2012-13 season.

Both are doing good in their respective league so far and the return of Erlin Haaland, who missed the last Champions league game against Sporting is expected to give Dortmund extra boost.

Sporting and Besiktas battle for supremacy in what will be a contest for the third spot in the group. The Portuguese champions have won one and draw one in each of their last two meetings with Besiktas and replicating that will mean they have done themselves a really great favour.

Defending Turkish champions are in a very bad form heading into the contest with just one win and three loss in their last five games while their opponent are yet to lose a league game this season.

Verdict: Borussia Dortmund and Ajax as the table states are the favourite and look to be heading into the next round. However a slip up for either side in both could open up the group for either of the other two teams in the group, if one can dominate the other in both leg.

But it is expected that Sporting CP take the third spot in the group, and Besiktas to be eliminated.

In their first ever appearance in the competition, Sheriff Tiraspol have been unbelievable, winning their first two games against Shaktar Donesk and away to Real Madrid.

They head into decisive double-header against Inter Milan who have just one point so far and lost their unbeaten start to the Serie A this last weekend in a 3-1 loss to Lazio despite taking an early lead.

After their disastrous outing in the competition last season, Inter had face two of the teams they met last season in their first two games, picking up just a point and the next two meetings against the top performers in the group now expected to determine their fate.

Shaktar Donesk completed a double over Real Madrid last season and the 13 times Champions will look to avoid a repetition to avoid putting themselves in an awkward situation.

Verdict: Despite Sheriff Tiraspol early impression, it will be too immature to conclude they are going to the next round but then knowing this is a team that has lost just once in 27 games, their fairytale could well extend farther in Europe biggest club competition.

Real Madrid look well as though they will make the next round but they will have to do better than they did last season against the same team. Shaktar’s loss to Sheriff is their only defeat in 16 games, and Real will know there will be no room for error when they kickoff in Ukraine on Tuesday and at the Santiago Bernabéu in a fortnight.

Bayern Munich expectedly but Barcelona surprisingly occupied either end of the group with Bayern Munich picking up two wins in as many games while Barcelona as many losses in two games.

Ronald Koeman side are on their worst start to a champions league campaign. Yet to register a shot on target after matchday two, the double header against Dynamo Kiev gives them the avenue to get back their campaign on track.

Even if they are able to win the two games, they will also hope that Bayern dominate Benfica over their two legged meetings and do themselves a favour by beating the Portuguese outfit in the return leg in Camp Nou.

It will not be easy but these are things that should come to be on papers, and Barcelona will hope it happens for their good.

Dynamo Kiev also will not be going down without a fight. They currently have one point from two games and will look to fancy their chance against a Barcelona side who are unconvincing this term.

They know this is a club that have weaknesses and that they will look to capitalize on over two legs. The league leaders in Ukraine though lost each of their last two meetings with Barcelona but the circumstances are now different, and that will be extra motivation for the Ukrainian champions.

Benfica though will hope to avoid a walkover in their clash with the Bavarians knowing what is at stake.  Draw is the best they have got in each of their last four meetings with Bayern and getting a draw over the coming two legs will not be too bad for them, knowing what the German champions are capable of.

Verdict: Bayern undoubtedly will make the next round, thus leaving the other trio in the group to fight it out for the second spot.

As awkward as it is for Barcelona to miss out in the next round, the two games against Dynamo Kiev will be crucial as well as the one between Bayern and Benfica. It happened to Manchester United last season and Barcelona have a lot to do to avoid the situation.

They look to be getting into gears and in the weekend won by three goals to one against Valencia, a result that will give them much confidence on Wednesday. The return from injury of some important players will also aid their cause and all will be know and almost settle, after the final whistle at Kiev in a fortnight.

After two games, only three points separate first from fourth. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s red card in the first group games between United and Young Boys look to have turned the group on its head as the Swiss side ended up coming from behind and winning the game.

On a run of one win and three defeats in their last five games, Manchester United face group leader Atalanta, in what is a must win game on Wednesday night. Ole Gunnar Solskjær knows a loss will mean back to back elimination from the Champions league from the group stage.

As many continue to call for his dismissal, anything aside a win will not be the right response to their 4-2 loss to Leicester City in the weekend. Atalanta meanwhile are in good shape with their only loss in seven games coming against AC Milan, whence they scored two late goals in a 3-2 defeat.

In the other group game, Young Boys host Villarreal. Unai Emery’s Villarreal have a host of players back from injury but that could not avoid a league loss last weekend to Osasuna, leaving them with two losses and two wins in eleven competitive games this term.

For Young Boys, the 1-0 loss to Atalanta is their only one in 12 games, whence they have won nine. They have also not lost at home this season, and incredible record which will give them the advantage over their opponent.

Verdict: Manchester United find themselves in the same position they were last season but bettering Atalanta over two legs will be huge for their chances, and that they will be looking to achieve between Wednesday night and a fortnight. However, it is not going to come easy.

Between Wednesday and a fortnight, each member of the group would have know what they have made of themselves and what they have left.

On four points, Salzburg lead the way after two games and even will count themselves unlucky in the first game in Spain, where they lost two first half penalties in a 1-1 draw with Sevilla. Coming out on top in a two legged meeting with Wolfsburg will mean they are few steps away from a place in the next round.

Wolfsburg have picked up two draws in the competition and their good start to the season has faded away having now gone six games without a win, losing in each of their last two. Not the best side to come up against Salzburg, who are unbeaten in all competitions this term.

Sevilla, who have lost just one game this season travel to France champions Lille. Lille suffered a league defeat to newly promoted Clermont Foot in the weekend and bouncing back is the only antidote to salvage anything from Europe this season.

Verdict: Salzburg are well placed if they avoid coming short against Wolfsburg over two legs while Sevilla on papers have the edge over their opponents. These are the top two teams tipped for the next round and no change is expected after Wednesday game and the ones in a fortnight.

The last group and one containing the defending Champions Chelsea, who looked as though they will easily better everyone in the group until falling to a 1-0 defeat in Turin.

After that win, Juventus move to six point and made themselves favourite in the group, though along with Chelsea are expected to make their way out of the group and into the next rounds.

Zenith St. Petersburg are also on three points along with Chelsea as they host Juventus in Russia. They realize that the loss to Chelsea in the first game was narrow and will fancy themselves in the next round doing what they do.

However, Juventus’ resurgence could mean their only chance will come from a permutation. Notwithstanding Chelsea and Juventus are the favourites. The Blues are expected to come out on top in both their meetings with Malmö.

Verdict: Malmö FF look like a team no one wants to drop points against in the group and if so, the results against direct opponents among the other three will only help in sealing progression into the next round.