Here we go again with Champions League soccer. Today I will deal with the games to be played later today, which are Groups E, F, G and H and then come back tomorrow to see my preview for the Groups A-D.
This is where the Groups start to take shape as we reach the halfway point of the competition so these games could be vital for some of the clubs struggling right now.
(All Kick Off times 7:45 BST/2:45 ET)
GROUP E:
Schalke v Chelsea.
The German hosts are currently top of the table with two wins from two going into this game. A win today and they can almost taste the next round of Champions League football. However the hosts do face some injury concerns before the game and therefore a draw may not be such a bad result for them.
For American audiences it might be a chance to see Jermaine Jones in Champions League action while personally I want to get another look at the teenager Leon Goretzka. The youngster scored the second goal on their way to a 3-2 win at the weekend.
Chelsea will be looking for a win here with their Champions League progress not going as well as they would have liked. The opening day defeat at home to FC Basel certainly wasn’t expected and so now instead of being tied for the top spot and almost qualified, they find themselves fighting for Champions League survival and a defeat tonight will not help.
Prediction: 2-0
Steaua Bucurest v FC Basel.
This is a win or go home for the Romanian hosts are winless in the Group so far this season. At the beginning of the campaign most people would have suggested the previous Group E match contained the two teams to progress to the next stage, which makes this one a play off for the Europa.
While that is still true for the hosts, FC Basel may still be thinking of a bigger prize, and why shouldn’t they! A win for FC Basel tonight would see them keep pace with the top two sides and, depending on the Schalke result, might even find themselves in second place.
Prediction: 1-1
GROUP F:
Arsenal v Dortmund.
I must admit that Arsenal are currently doing better than I had expected in both the League and Champions League play. This group was considered by many to be one of the toughest groups to get out of, with the likes of these two teams and also Napoli and Marseille.
However, two games and two wins now see Arsenal top of the group and in great shape to progress. A win tonight will all but secure the Londoners progression to the knockout stage.
For Dortmund the scenario is a little bleaker. A defeat tonight would not be the end of the road for the German side but could make things a little more difficult, again depending on the other result.
Prediction: 2-1
Marseille v Napoli.
The French sides coach, Elie Baup has said that it is now or never if his side wish to progress. Rooted to the bottom of the league and coming off a weekend defeat to Nice at the weekend.
In the other dugout sees ex Liverpool and Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez also heads into this Champions League game coming off a weekend defeat in their league. In fact is was the first time the side had failed to score in this season.
The win is more important for the home side with Benitez, I am sure, happy to settle for a draw in this game.
Prediction: 1-1
GROUP G:
FC Porto v Zenit
Hulk returns to FC Porto in this clash but the Porto manager suggests it will not be a distraction for the team, and why would it. Zenit are bottom of the Champions League Group and although lost to Atletico Madrid, as did Porto, they also only managed a 0-0 draw at home to Austria Vienna.
For me, it will more of a concern for Zenit and how their player reacts to the reception he gets from his old clubs fans which could make it a very difficult night for them. Hulk was touted as a potential player for clubs like Chelsea but I haven’t seen enough to suggest he is anything more than an average player.
Prediction: 3-1
Austria Vienna v Atletico Madrid.
I think any points the home side can get from this game will be bonus points in the grand scheme of things. The visitors are going great both domestically in their own league but also are two for two in the Champions League.
Despite their weekend defeat away to Espanyol I think the visitors will have too much for the hosts tonight. If they do win today in Austria then it will be the first time the Spanish side would have completed a three successive win sequence since their first European competition back in 1958/59.
Prediction: 0-3
GROUP H:
AC Milan v Barcelona
The top two teams in Group H face off against each other in what could be the game of the day, which seems to involve teams from this Group every time! The Italians will be without Nigel DeJong and Philipe Mexes who will be suspended for the Spanish giants visit.
For Barcelona a win is not vital and a draw would be a good result in the long run. At the halfway point to have seven points would be fantastic for Gerardo Martino’s side as he looks toward the qualification process as a marathon rather than a sprint.
Prediction: 2-2
Celtic v Ajax
The Scottish side have been unlucky at times so far in this campaign but also sometimes very much outplayed. The next two Champions League games, starting at home and then heading away to Amsterdam, will be the two Lennon will have seen as the most likely for his side to get points.
That said he would have loved to not have so many players suspended or injured for this game. Brown is suspended while Matthews, Boerrigter and Commons all look to unavailable through injury.
Ajax themselves will be looking at the next two fixtures in much the same way. A draw away and win at home in the following game would certainly make the last two games very interesting and could see Ajax get themselves in a good position to progress in place of Milan maybe.
Prediction: 1-1
