⛅️ UCL forecast: Fired up Xavi, Messi out, Brugge on fire and Kvaradona | OneFootball

The Champions League season continues apace with the matchday number four this week.

Here’s what to expect from another intriguing set of fixtures.

💪 Game of the week

Barcelona v Inter

Few would’ve predicted that Inter, struggling under Simone Inzaghi, could’ve taken all three points from Barcelona but that’s what happened last week.

Barça coach Xavi was fuming over a handball for a potential penalty that was not picked up by VAR in the closing seconds of that match but the end result certainly set up an interesting encounter at Camp Nou this Wednesday.

With Bayern Munich already on nine points from their opening three matches, it seems like second place in Group C could be between Barcelona and Inter to fight it out amongst themselves, and there’s no better opportunity to cement that place in the table than against each other.

Xavi understood the ramifications of that Inter result all too well.

“We should have put in a better performance,” the boss admitted to reporters after the match. “This defeat leaves us in a very difficult position.”

Despite Inter’s win over Sassuolo in the league at the weekend, there are still question marks over their form this season but they certainly look like they are growing in confidence and will take heart from their triumph over Xavi’s men last week.

📊 Fun fact: Barcelona have won all five of their European home games against Inter, including a 1-0 win for Pep Guardiola versus José Mourinho’s Inter in the 2010 semi-final. However the Nerazzzuri advanced having won 3-1 at San Siro in the first leg.

🔮 Our prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Inter

🤔 Too close to call

PSG v Benfica

Benfica earned an excellent draw with PSG last week, after Lionel Messi’s sumptuous strike was cancelled out by an own goal from Danilo Pereira.

The two sides are delicately poised on equal points with seven apiece after three matches and both are doing well in terms of their league form.

Benfica coach Roger Schmidt has won 13 and drawn twice in his first 15 games, while his counterpart Christophe Gaultier has won 11 and drawn twice in his first 13 matches in charge of PSG.

It seems like nothing can separate these two, except perhaps for a moment of genius. And Messi has been ruled out with injury …

📊 Fun fact: The last time these two sides met at the Parc des Princes was in 2013, a Champions League group stage clash which the home side won 3-0.

🔮 Our prediction: PSG 2-2 Benfica

😨 Potential upset

Atlético Madrid v Club Brugge

Yes, Club Brugge already shocked Atleti last week, however that was on home soil and a win in Madrid would really put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Atlético have finally captured the permanent signing of Antoine Griezmann but are six points off the pace at the top of La Liga, sit bottom of Champions League Group B and seem strangely out of sorts.

“We’re not throwing in the towel,” revealed Atleti boss Diego Simeone after last week’s defeat. “There are three matches left for us to put things right.”

Match that with the carefree confidence of Brugge in Europe this season and you may have (another) potential upset on the cards.

They’ve done it once so why can’t they do it again?

📊 Fun fact: Club Brugge have scored seven goals on previous visits to Madrid but have never won a match in the Spanish capital.

🔮 Our prediction: Atlético Madrid 1-2 Club Brugge

🤩 Star man

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

This 21-year-old attacker arrived at Napoli this summer as somewhat of an unknown player, having been snapped up from Dinamo Batumi in his native Georgia.

If you didn’t know him then, you almost certainly know him now, as Kvaratskhelia has six goals and four assists across all competitions already this season.

The locals are already enamoured with his mazy runs and quick feet, giving him the nickname ‘Kvaradona’, a moniker that is not handed out lightly in Naples.

Having scored already in a shocking 6-1 demolition of Ajax last week, Kvaratskhelia is certainly one to keep an eye on as Napoli take on that same opponent on Wednesday.