OneFootball
Alex Mott·14 September 2021
OneFootball
Alex Mott·14 September 2021
The Champions League group stage is back. And with fans!
Let’s take a look at what’s in store for matchday one.
A first Champions League game for Barcelona without Lionel Messi, a first Champions League game with Bayern Munich for Julian Nagelsmann.
This is a game of firsts for both sides but a game steeped in European football tradition.
The home side’s fortunes may have faded over the past couple of seasons but their early season form in LaLiga has been relatively impressive and in Memphis Depay, the Camp Nou have a new hero to idolise.
The Bundesliga giants meanwhile are unbeaten in their first four domestic games, having scored 13 goals in the process.
📊 Fun fact: This is the first meeting between Barcelona and Bayern Munich since their quarter-final clash in 2020, a game Bayern won 8-2.
🔮 Our prediction: Barcelona 1-3 Bayern Munich
A remarkable statistic which will finally be laid to rest on Wednesday night.
Despite these two titans of European football having won 13 Champions League between them, Milan have never once played at Anfield.
Some history this week then, as the Rossoneri travel to Merseyside to taste some of that famous atmosphere in what looks being an intriguing encounter.
Jürgen Klopp’s men are coming off the back of some brilliant Premier League form, including a thoroughly professional 3-0 win over Leeds on Sunday.
Stefano Pioli’s side meanwhile put Lazio to the sword with ease in their previous fixture and currently sit joint-top of Serie A.
This is definitely going to be one to watch.
📊 Fun fact: Liverpool and Milan have only met on two occasions in the Champions League, both of them in finals.
🔮 Our prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Milan
Malmö are back in the Champions League after a six year hiatus.
Finalists in this competition back in 1979, the reigning Swedish champions beat Rangers and Ludogorets to get here and, first up, face Juventus.
The Old Lady have been desperately poor so far this season in Serie A, failing to win any of their first three games and scoring just three goals in the process.
If Malmö are going to beat Juve at any point, it’s now.
📊 Fun fact: Juventus have never lost to a Swedish side in European competition, winning three and drawing one of their four games.
🔮 Our prediction: Malmö 1-0 Juventus
Poor Club Brugge.
A perennial qualifier in recent seasons but consistently drawn in groups that are almost impossible to get out of.
The same has happened this time around with the Belgian side drawn against Manchester City, RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain.
This is no ordinary PSG outfit though, for the first time this season they could well start a game with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar as an attacking trident.
Good luck with that lads.