⛅️ Champions League forecast: Ronaldo v Messi? Real Madrid in crisis? | OneFootball

The last week has flown by and we’re back to Champions League action on Tuesday.

Here are our tips to look out for as the matchweek two games come thick and fast …

🤩 Game of the Week

Juventus v Barcelona

Juventus v Barcelona and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi. If the former tests negative for coronavirus in time.

We no longer live in an era defined by those two and their jostling, with each of the last two Champions League finals taking place without them, but all eyes will be on the old guard once again on Wednesday night.

Both teams are at slightly different stages in their process. Ronald Koeman is trying to piece Barcelona together again after a mismanaged decline from the great teams that won the Champions League in 2011 and 2015.

Juventus have appointed Andrea Pirlo in the hope he can spark the club back to life and avoid that same sort of drop in form.

The two new bosses have struggled early on this season. Defeat in el Clásico on Saturday was Barcelona’s second of the campaign and they’ll be without Gerard Piqué in Turin. Juventus are unbeaten  in five Serie A matches so far but drew again at the weekend and sit fifth in the table.

Nonetheless, when two giant clubs like these meet, we expect fireworks.

📊 Fun fact: Juventus are looking for their 100th Champions League win in what will be their 200th Champions League match.

🔮 Our prediction: Juventus 2-1 Barcelona

Too close to call 🤔

Manchester United v RB Leipzig

Always there for the taking but usually better against better opposition and then, suddenly, completely limp against Chelsea. Who knows which Manchester United will turn up on Wednesday?

Having beaten PSG last week, United are in a strong position in the group and whoever wins this one will back themselves to reach the knockout stages, even at this early point.

RB Leipzig are top of the Bundesliga and loving life without Timo Werner, whose move to Stamford Bridge has seen Julian Nagelsmann lean heavily into his preference for a collective, fluid frontline.

There is no main threat and it makes them all the more dangerous.

📊 Fun fact: RB Leipzig will become the 108th team Manchester United have hosted in a European game.

🔮 Our prediction: Man Utd 1-2 RB Leipzig

Potential upset 😰

Borussia M’Gladbach v Real Madrid

We’re just one matchday in and Real Madrid are facing crisis.

Having lost at home against Shakhtar Donetsk last time out, the pressure is on to quickly turn things around.

A win in el Clásico was the perfect way to get back on their feet and they have a habit of rising to the occasion under Zinedine Zidane but that won’t be easy against an intelligent and energetic Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Despite struggling to hit their stride so far this season, Gladbach have managed to avoid defeat since the opening day of their league campaign and took a well-deserved point from Inter a week ago.

A win here is perhaps their only chance of qualifying but Marco Rose needs to decide soon if he’s willing to field a more consistent team and sacrifice some points in the Bundesliga.

📊 Fun fact: Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last nine matches against German teams, while Gladbach have won just one of their last 11 games against Spanish teams.

🔮 Our prediction: Gladbach 1-1 Real Madrid

🤩 Star Man

Mohamed Salah

The Liverpool star has 19 goals in 33 Champions League appearances for the Reds and will be hoping to add to that tally against Midtjylland on Tuesday.

Though his record on the big stage is impressive, the Egyptian hasn’t scored in three home Champions League games now – his worst run since joining Liverpool – but has been in blistering form in the Premier League.

We think he’ll shine under the Anfield lights.