James GordonOctober 2020
- Mark Ogden
- Tom Hamilton
Shut up.
Main author
-
- – Member of ESPN since 2011.
- – I’ve seen two Olympic Games, a couple of rugby world championships and two sets of British and Irish Lion games.
– Previously he was Editor-in-Chief of Rugby and became Senior Editor in 2018.
After the drawing of lots for the group phase 2020-21 at 1. In October in Geneva, the Champions League is back in force. On the front line? Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will go head-to-head, while Juventus and FC Barcelona will be pulled into Group G, in a match that fans will also be able to watch in the stadium, after UEFA has confirmed that the field can be up to 30% full for matches if local rules allow it.
The excellent duo from the group phase also has an American division, with American teammates Weston McKenney and Sergino Dest facing each other.
– ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (USA only)
– Prediction results in ESPN Soccer Pick ‘Em!
– ESPN+ Navigation Guide : Bundesliga, Series A, MLS, FA Cup and higher
2 Related
The second match is the first of two blockbusters in the group stage between Juventus and Barcelona, although it is not yet clear whether Ronaldo is suitable to do so in light of his recent positive coronavirus tests. (Editor’s note: Late on the night before the game it turned out that Ronaldo would NOT be available to play).
Elsewhere there is Atletico Madrid, hoping for a heavy defeat in Group A in Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, hoping to break their Marseille invasion in Group C, Ajax, which will go to Atalanta with many knockouts in a Group D match, and a chance for Chelsea to end their stalemate in Group E in Krasnodar. Dortmund and Real Madrid, two of the strongest teams this year, also hope to make up for their shocking defeats against Lazio and Shakhtar Donetsk on match day 1 and lead them to victory.
Editor’s note : This information was updated during the group draw on 1 January. October in Geneva. Advanced analysis of the second round group stage – Tom Hamilton.
Jumping in groups:
– Tuesday games: A | B | C | D
– Wednesday games: E | F | G | H
Fault! The file name is not specified. Lionel Messi and Barcelona lost a bad game against Real in Madrid on Saturday, but they have little time to relax as they travel to Juventus to pick up their second round games. Alex Caparros/Getty Pictures
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW vs. BAVARIA MUNICH
Tuesday, 13:55 GREEN TIME
Reigning champions Bavarian Munich travel to Moscow after a stormy weekend in which they beat the transport in Frankfurt by 5-0. Robert Lewandowski scored another hat-trick this season and scored ten goals in five league games, while Leroy Sanah and the young Jamal Musiala also scored. After their 4-0 victory in their opening game of the Champions League last week against Atletico Madrid, Bayern caused a sensation, but without left-back Alfonso Davis, who suffered an ankle injury Saturday, that will not be possible.
Lokomotiv drew 2-2 in their first Group A match in Salzburg and lost home 2-1 to Rotor on Saturday. Grzegorz Kryhovyak left the group on Saturday. It’s a bad result as the rotor is on the wrong side of the table in the Russian Premier League, and Lokomotiv will have a hard time winning in Bavaria on Tuesday night. Expect a complete victory for the German team.
Fault! The file name is not specified. – set
1:31
Steve Nichol praises the Bavarian Municher Robert Lewandowski after his hat-trick against Eintransport Frankfurt.
ATLETICO MADRID vs. FC SALZBURG
Tuesday, 4 p.m. 8 p.m. and GREEN TIME.
After a 4-0 first round defeat in Bavaria, the only way out for Diego Simeon’s men. On Saturday they will be happy with their 2-0 victory over Real Betis, where Marcos Llorente and Luis Suarez met, but on Tuesday they will probably have to do without Diego Costa and Saul Niger.
Salzburg overcame him in the Austrian Bundesliga and on Saturday won 2-0 in Vienna thanks to goals by Mergim Berisch and Paatson Duck. They are without Antoine Bernedet’s long absence and will do their best to qualify for everything from the Atletico team, which can share most of the opposition.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK vs. INTER MILAN
Tuesday, 13:55 GREEN TIME
The biggest shock of Shakhtar in the first round was the 3-2 victory of Real Madrid over aunt and the domain of the Solomon Islands, which coincided with the goal of Rafael Varan. It was a nice performance by Luis Castro, but they stuttered at home in Vorskla in a 1-1 draw last weekend despite playing 37 minutes against ten men.
Inter Antonio Conte went 2-2 with Borussia Monchengladbach in their first Champions League group B-game, but were defeated 2-0 on Saturday by Genoa Romela Lucca and Danilo D’Ambrosio. They’ve got Ashley Young, Milan Screennar and Alexis Sanchez. Everywhere you see a tense drawing.
Fault! The file name is not specified. – set
0:58
According to Ale Moreno, the fighting spirit of Real Madrid was different from the Clásico against Barcelona (3-1).
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH vs. REAL MADRID
Tuesday 16.00 м. 8 p.m. AND GREEN TIME
Borussia continues to play this season, beating Lars Stindl, Jonas Hoffmann and Matthias Ginter 3-2 in Mainz. They are fifth in the Bundesliga and still without Denis Zakarius for Tuesday’s match against the unpredictable Real Madrid.
On Saturday Real won 3-1 in Barcelona in the first season of the Classico, where they met Federico Valverde, Sergio Ramos and Luca Modrique. But the big news is that Eden Hazard is back on the team, while we’re wondering who’s going to play with Dani Carvagal, Alvaro Audriozola and Nacho from right to left – everyone is injured. Ferland Mundy can be named there, or they can choose Lucas Vasquez, who played well from right to left after leaving the bench on Saturday.
In Germany it promises to be a novel in the barrel, but Ramos & Co. has enough class to bounce back, because they can’t afford to lose any more land after a shocking defeat on the first day.
FC PORTO vs. OLYMPIAKOS
Tuesday 4 p.m. 00 м. 8 p.m. AND GREEN TIME
Porto lost 3-1 in Manchester City last week, but was able to achieve a decisive victory over Gil Vicente on Saturday thanks to a goal from Evanilson, which was reduced to ten men in the last 16 minutes when Zaidu Sanusi got a red card.
Olympiacos made an excellent start to the Champions League season by beating Marseille 1-0 thanks to Ahmed Mahgoub, who scored the winner. They’ve had a day off and they’ll be ready to go to Lisbon. We’re fighting for a shocking victory in this case.
Fault! The file name is not specified. – set
2:08
Don Hutchison wondered if signing a contract with Harry Kane would solve Manchester City’s problems.
MARSEILLE vs MAN CITY
Tuesday 4 p.m. 8 p.m. AND GREEN TIME
André Villas-Boas’ Marseille won 1-0 with Lorient on Saturday thanks to a goal by Leonardo Balerdi, and they have a well-prepared Pep Guardiola on Tuesday evening.
The 2020-21 stutter in Manchester (at least by their high standards) continued with a 1-1 tie in West Ham on Saturday, replacing Phil Fodin who levelled. Guardiola is under increasing pressure to decide where his future lies with his contract in eight months, and his team will travel to France without Fernandinho (who was injured against Porto), Eimerick Laport, Benjamin Mendi and Gabrielle Jesus.
We wouldn’t bet that the visitors would take all three points, but Marseille has the guts to take advantage of what’s wrong with Man City right now.
ATALANTA vs. AJAX
Tuesday 4 p.m. 8 p.m. and GREEN TIME.
Atalanta lost 4-0 to Midtjill in the first week of the Champions League, but that triumph was wedged between two heavy Series A defeats. After last week’s 4-1 defeat in Naples, they lost 3-1 to Sampdoria on Saturday. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side will look to return to winning ways against Ajax, but it won’t be easy against record breakers.
On Saturday, Ajax won 13-0 at VVV-Venlo, a record in the Eredivisie. Lassina Traore scored five points and Jürgen Eckelenkamp and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made up for lost time. After their 1-0 home defeat at Liverpool in the first round, the Dutch giants know they need a victory over Atalanta to maintain their Champions League chances. However, they will be left without the new signature of Mohammed Kudus, who suffered an unpleasant injury last week.
– Is the victory of Ajax of the utmost importance?
All signs indicate that Atalanta is in charge.
LIVERPOOL vs FC MIDTJYLAND
Tuesday 16:00 20:00 AND GREEN TIME
The men of Jurgen Klopp are still trying to find their way without Dyke’s mascot Virgil, but are happy with their 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at Enfield on Saturday, where Roberto Firmino opened his account this season and Diego Jota scored for the winner. Goalkeeper Alisson is back for the weekend, but this week the Reds are without Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Nabi Keita.
Midjillland will be a strong outsider for their trip to Enfield and will have to do without Jesper Hansen and Junior Brumado. But they defeated Anders Dreyer and the brilliant Pione Sisto 3-2 in Brondby this weekend, and the winner came with a 94th minute goal from Marvin Schwabe himself.
In general we opt for a nervous but complete home victory for the Reds.
KRASNODAR vs. CHELSEA
Wednesday, 13:55 GREEN TIME
The Russian Krasnodar earned a convincing 1-1 tie against Rennes in his first group E match, but he is still in midfield in the Premier League. On Saturday she lost 3-1 from Spartak Moscow – a match in which Alexander Martynovich was eliminated.
Chelsea played two goalless games, with a 0-0 tie against Sevilla in the first round and again on Saturday with Manchester United. But apart from the missing Capa Arrizabalaga and Billy Gilmore, they have a complete unit, so expect that their summer signature fits with life under Frank Lampard.
It should be a match that puts them in the winning position for the first time in this beginning 2020-21 Champions League campaign.
Fault! The file name is not specified. – set
1:38
Steve Nichol can’t understand why Chelsea didn’t score a penalty against Manchester United.
SEVILLA vs. NATIONALITY
Wednesday 16.00 20.00 GREEN TIME
Seville’s point at Stamford Bridge on Matchday 1 could be important for a possible reformulation of the group, but after the unexpected 1-0 defeat at Eybar this weekend, the Sevillians will have to bounce back. And because of KOVID-19, they’ll be without Jules’ client protector – who’s on Manchester City’s radar.
For their first Champions League game, Rennes hoped for more than a 1-1 draw. They were beaten 2-1 at home in Angers on Friday, so they had to clear their heads on Wednesday for a trip to Spain. They’re still without Faith Maouassa and M’bay Niang.
Expect Seville to qualify for all three points given their rich experience in Europe.
CLUB BRUGGE vs. LAZIO
Wednesday, 4 p.m. м. 8 p.m. AND GREEN TIME
The impressive victory of Bruges in the first round over Zenit (2-1) was tempered by Saturday’s defeat in Leuven. Noa Lang’s first half penalty shoot-out was not enough to let them continue at home and they need to improve their performance against Lazio, encouraged by their 3-1 first-round victory over Dortmund Borussia in Europe and the 2-1 victory in Bologna on Saturday, when Luis Alberto and Ciro Immobil scored.
Lazio will have to do without Stefan Radu, Silvio Proto and Senad Lulich, while on the club side Bruges Simon Mignolet doubts the results of the COVID 19 test. All signs point to a victory on the outside.
Fault! The file name is not specified. – set
1:00
Steve Nichol finds the maturity of Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland unusual for a player of his age.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. SIT ST. PETERSBURG
Wednesday 16.00 м. 8 p.m. AND GREEN TIME
Dortmund scored a 3-0 victory over Schalke in the Reverderby on Saturday, with Manuel Akangi, Erling Haaland and Mats Hummels. They are without Emre Kahn for Wednesday’s competition because of KOVID-19, while Marcel Schmelzer and Dan-Axel Zagadu are also absent. They must win at all costs after losing Rome to Lazio last week.
It’s all too urgent for Zenith to get the campaign back on track after a surprising defeat in the first round against Club Brugge, and their 2-1 defeat against Rubin last weekend didn’t help. Douglas Santos is suspended for Wednesday’s race before Malcolm is injured.
Because both teams need glasses, we chose Dortmund in a light and continuous novel.
FERENCVAROS vs. DYNAMO KIEV
Wednesday, 4 p.m. 00 м. 8 p.m. AND GREEN TIME
The Hungarian team of Ferencvaros felt the full force of Barcelona’s first week and lost 5-1 at the Camp Nou. But in Saturday’s game against Uzbekistan, where Tokmak Nguyen and Somalia helped win 2-0, Abraham Freemong saw red.
Dynamo Kiev lost 2-0 in the first round of the games against Juventus and missed Oleksandriiya 1-0 on Saturday, while Mykola Shaparenko was forced to resign. We think Kiev will be too good for their masters.
Fault! The file name is not specified. – set
1:09
Ale Moreno appreciates the performance of Sergino Desta in his first by El Clasico, despite the defeat of Barcelona (3-1).
JUVENTUS vs. BARCELONA
Wednesday, 4 p.m. 00 м. 8 p.m. AND GREEN TIME
It’s a round game, keep your fingers crossed and we’ll see how Cristian Ronald wins against Lionel Messi. Ronald’s availability depends on a medical examination after a positive test on Kowid 19 last week – he has to give a negative result 24 hours before Wednesday night’s game to play. Without Ronaldo Juventus in Verona on Sunday, he went 1-1 and Dejan Kulusevsky’s goal earned him a point.
Andrea Pirlo was not impressed by his side and thought the result should be a slap in the face. They will probably have to manage without the veterans Giorgio Chiellini, Mathias de Ligt and Alex Sandro.
Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others have joined Dan Thomas to bring you the latest news and discuss the most important plots. Flows to ESPN+ (USA only).
Saturday at the Camp Nu, Barcelona has failed to defeat their archrivals Real Madrid and will be desperate to make up for their defeat in the Clásico on the way to Juventus. The Messi’s are in good condition, but they are without Samuel Umtiti and Cutinho, while the Marc-André-ter bridge is probably missing as well. Gerard Peak also missed a suspension, but after recovering from the injury of Geordi Alba he is available again.
It can indeed go both ways, but maybe Barca is the right sample to pick up the glasses of their trip to Turin after the weekend.
ISTANBUL BASAKSEHIR vs. PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Wednesday, 1:55 PM GREEN TIME
The Turkish team lost the first round of RB Leipzig 2-0 thanks to Angelino’s catch, but this weekend they won in basketball style against Antalliaspora and beat Edin Vischi 5-1, giving them a comfortable win. Okechukwu Azubuike doubts because of Wednesday’s collision with the Ligue 1 champions.
The MTP has a growing list of victims: Idrissa Gueye, Leandro Paredes, Marco Verratti, Mauro Icardi, Tilo Kehrer and Juan Bernat will still be smart after their first defeat at Manchester United. But Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Dijon would have given Moise Keene and Kilian Mbappe two goals.
They would have had a hard time choosing PSG, but that’s not the strength they found in last year’s Champions League campaign – at least not yet.
MAN UNITED vs. RB LEIPZIG
Wednesday 16.00 м. 8 p.m. AND GREEN TIME
United’s mixed start to the season continued last weekend with a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford and Chelsea. Although their form is not very good in the Premier League, the team made an excellent start to the Champions League season with the 2-1 victory on PSG last week. They are without Eric Bailey and Jesse Lingard on Wednesday, while Donny van de Beek continues to believe that his involvement is limited to a few minutes on the bench of the replacements.
Leipzig has made an excellent start with its 2020-21 campaign. They were unbeaten in the Bundesliga and defeated Gertha Berlin 2-1 last weekend, with Diot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer both scoring. With the victory at Istanbul’s Basaksehir they also made an excellent start with their Champions League campaign and hope for more at Old Trafford on Wednesday, but probably without Tyler Adams, Nordi Mukela, Marcel Halstenberg, Conrad Limer and Lucas Klostermann.
At home the team should be strong, but Leipzig is undoubtedly a team on its way to Wednesday’s game.
James Gordon
