Yesterday the first four Groups played on match day one of the Champions League. The eight games saw a total of 30 goals scored. Tonight the last four Groups play, will we see just as many goals this time around? Let’s take a look.
Group E:
Chelsea see the return of a Mourinho led Chelsea back in Champions League football. The Special One left with this particular mission left unaccomplished the first time around. They have, like most Premiership teams, been stuttering in the season opening. Against FC Basel tonight though they should be too much for the Swiss side.
Schalke take on Steaua Bucuresti in the other game in the group and I think Bundesliga side, like Chelsea, will have too much for their opposition. Today’s two home sides I can see progressing from the Group come the end of the six rounds.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 FC Basel, Schalke 3-0 Steaua.
GROUP F:
Yesterday I spoke of Group B being a ‘Group of Death‘. Group F could certainly have a claim to that title too though with teams such as Arsenal, Marseille, Napoli and Borussia Dortmund taking part. All but Napoli have appeared in the Final of this competition before and together have won it twice.
Marseille host Arsenal in the first game and with only Giroud fit in the striker position it may be a tough ask for Wengers side to come away from the Stade Velodrome with points.
Napoli host Dortmund in the other game in what will also be an interesting game.
Prediction: Marseille 1-0 Arsenal, Napoli 0-0 Dortmund
Group G:
Atletico Madrid host Zenit in the opening game of this group with the Spanish side favorites to progress from the group. The Russian side will be tough on their own ground and will be hoping to beat their 8pt haul from last season.
Austria Vienna take on FC Porto in the other game with Porto my other picks to progress. Last seasons Champions League saw Porto start away in Croatia and come back with the win. This time I expect a little bit of the same.
Prediction: Atletico 2-0 Zenit, Austria Vienna 0-2 Porto
Group H:
The final group and what matches we have to look forward to with this one. AC Milan host Celtic in their opening game. Celtic fans will get to see some good games and great players but when the draw was made they must have cried into their beers a little. Between all of Celtics opponents this competition in it’s various forms has been won a combined fifteen times. Celtic did win it back in 1967 and will forever be the first British side to lift the trophy but to get out of the Group this time would be a great achievement for the Scottish side.
Barcelona take on Ajax in the other game and I think Ajax will be looking at their home games and even the away against Celtic as the games they get their points in.
Prediction: Milan 4-0 Celtic, Barcelona 3-1 Ajax.
