Champions League Preview

This week sees the third round of fixtures in the group stage of the Champions League. With five British teams in action, we take a look at what to to expect.

Tuesday:

Barcelona vs Celtic

While there are four Premier League teams in the competition, the glamour tie involves the side from Scotland as Celtic travel to the Barcelona. It’s fair to say they have a tough job on their hands; only Chelsea and Read Madric have avoided defeat in Barcelona’s last 27 competitive game at the Nou Camp. The Catalan giant have dropped just 2 points in their opening eight La Liga games, and won both of their Champions League fixtures thus far.

Celtic can take solace from their performances in the competition, with a superb 3-2 win away to Spartak Moscow leaving them second in Group G. They also sit three point clear of St Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League, having thrashed St Mirren 5-0 last time out. However, it would be a huge shock if they were to take anything away from this one, and it’s hard to look past a comprehensive victory for the home side.

BBBG Prediction: Barcelona 4-0 Celtic

Manchester United vs Braga

It’s been an odd start to the season for United. Having been beaten at home by Tottenham, they put on a 20-minute masterclass against Newcastle, before again struggling against Stoke. It’s been the same story in the Champions League. While the table shows them to have a 100% record, wins at home to Galatasaray and away to Cluj were less than convincing, and they had to come from behind to win the latter 2-1.

Their opponents, Braga, were beaten at home by Cluj, but earned an impressive 2-0 win away to Galatasaray last time out. The Portuguese outfit currently sit behind Porto and Benfica in the Premeira Liga after playing out an astonishing 4-4 draw at home to Olhanense in their last league fixture. In theory, they shouldn’t trouble United too much at Old Trafford, but it depends on which United show up.

BBBG Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 Braga

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Chelsea

Chelsea are in rampant form this season, and Roberto Di Matteo’s men look the real deal. A hugely impressive 4-2 victory at White Hart Lane consolidated their position at the top of the Premier League, while a comfortable 4-0 success at FC Nordsjaelland put them top of Group E. Shakhtar, however, will be no pushover. In their previous Champions League fixture they earned a very impressive draw against Juventus in Turin.

The Ukranians have made an astonishing start to their domestic campaign, having won all 12 of their opening fixtures, scoring 38 goals in the process, putting them 12 points clear already. Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has started the season like a man possessed, having scored 14 goals in 12 appearances, including a brace in Shakhtar’s opening group game against FC Nordsjaelland. Chelsea will also be wary of Brazilian Willian, with whom they have been strongly linked throughout the last two transfer windows.

Both team are playing expansive, flowing football, which should result in plenty of goal being scored in this clash.

BBBG Prediction: Shakhtar Donestk 2-2 Chelsea

Wednesday

Arsenal vs Schalke 04

Arsenal sit top of Group B having taken maximum points from their opening two fixtures, but suffered a shock 1-0 reversal away to Norwich at the weekend. A strong start to the season has hit a blip in recent weeks, and the Gunners find themselves sat in 9th place in the Premier League.

Schalke, in contrast, are sat in 3rd in the Bundesliga, albeit seven points behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich. The German side are on a three-game winning streak having recorded an impressive 2-1 victory away to Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, and will look to Dutchman Klass-Jan Huntelaar to lead the line at The Emirates.

Arsenal new-boy Olivier Giroud followed up his first Premier League goal with a strike for France against Spain, and Arsene Wenger will hope he is rediscovering the form that saw him earn the golden boot in Ligue 1 for Montpellier last season. It should be a tight game, but home advantage might just swing it in Arsenal’s favour.

BBBG Prediction: Arsenal 1-0 Schalke 04

Manchester City vs Ajax

Group D. The group of death. Four sides. Four domestic champions. City couldn’t have had a tougher draw for the group stages, and have taken just a single point from their opening two fixtures. Having suffered late heart-break in their opening game away to Real Madrid, they had Joe Hart to thank for his heroics against Borussia Dortmund at The Etihad. He single-handedly kept the scoreline down to 1-0 until the last minute, when a Balotelli penalty earned them a scarcely deserved draw.

Life hasn’t been any easier for the Dutch champions. Having narrowly lost 1-0 away to Dortmund, they were brushed away by Real Madrid at the Amsterdam Arena, losing 4-1.

Both sides have made unspectacular starts domestically. Ajax currently sit 4th in the Eredivisie following a 3-3 draw away to Heracles, while City’s smash-and-grab victory at West Brom leaves them third in the table. It’s a game City absolutely must win if they want to progress to the knock-out stages, and it’s one I think they will.

BBBG Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Ajax