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Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) comes up this week. As usual, there will be a lot of sub-plots already as the season revolves around Europe.
Old Trafford has become an uncomfortable place to be. Jose Mourinho’s third-season syndrome is in full flow and it is providing compelling drama for the rest of the league. Defending UCL champions Real Madrid have been uninspiring in recent games; same goes for El Clasico rivals FC Barcelona.
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich’s invincible aura is being tested. On the other hand, Lucien Favre’s Borussia Dortmund is coming along nicely.
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Matchday One had its fair share of drama. Lyon shocked Manchester City at home. Serbian side Crvena Zvezda held Napoli to a goalless draw. There were winning returns for old favourites AFC Ajax and Inter Milan, not so for Valencia.
Matchday Two promises more of the same, here are 5 things to look forward to:
#5 Manchester City condemned to win against plucky Hoffenheim
The UCL is a competition that Manchester City struggles with. Despite winning three Premier League titles in the last decade, the team has only made the UCL semifinals once in the same period. After the shock home loss to Olympique Lyon at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola knows the team is condemned to beat Hoffenheim in Germany.
The Cityzens have a doubleheader against Shakhtar Donetsk coming up. Therefore, they know that its win or burst time. The full attacking arsenal of the City team is expected to feature. Their hosts have been charitable in defence this season so a high scoring affair is expected.
Julian Nagelsmann’s Achtzehn99 (1899) is expected to test Guardiola’s men. They threw away a lead in the dying minutes of Matchday One away against Shakhtar. Well aware of the English champions’ verve and need for the points, Adam Szalai and co. will not roll over for the men from Manchester.
#4 Jose Mourinho in the eye of the storm as Valencia comes to town
These are troubling times for Manchester United and manager Jose Mourinho. The loss to West Ham at the weekend has further heightened the tensions at Old Trafford. Issues with Paul Pogba may dominate headlines but, the team itself is dysfunctional at the moment.
Mourinho will be well aware of this. The visit of a strangely subdued Valencia side may be just what the doctor ordered. Los Che has struggled badly this season and maybe obliging guests for the under-pressure United boss.
European nights have always provided a welcome sight at Old Trafford. The embattled Portuguese manager will be hoping the atmosphere puts a bounce in his players’ steps.
Opponents Valencia is also in need of a pickup in Europe after an underwhelming start to La Liga. They got their first win of the season over Real Sociedad over the weekend. Marcelino will be eager to avoid a second straight loss after the fiasco at the Mestalla against Juventus on Matchday One.
#3 Bayern face Ajax with crisis talks on the front burner
It’s unarguable; Bayern Munich has not had a good start to the season. Defeat to Hertha Berlin and the draw with Augsburg have sent alarm bells ringing at the Allianz Arena. The four wins in the first four Bundesliga games failed to disguise the team’s struggles.
Bayern’s failure to strengthen in the summer was head-scratching and it may hunt them big time this season.
They will be taking on an Ajax side that has started the season well enough. Buoyed by the presence of old heads like Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Dusan Tadic, and Daley Blind, Erik ten Hag’s young side currently sit second on the Eredivisie table.
They were fantastic in the opening day 3-0 win over AEK Athens and will know that the Bavarian giants are currently vulnerable. Arjen Robben and co. know the value of early qualification. After recent wobbles, the match against the 5-time UCL winners will be seen as an opportunity to steady the ship.
#2 UCL thriller expected in Naples as Liverpool visit Napoli
Napoli versus Liverpool sounds like a good game. Throw in the home side’s need for 3 points and the away team’s penchant for high scoring games and it sounds like an instant classic.
On Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti’s men were humbled by Juventus in Serie A. Now, they sit six points behind their title rivals. Liverpool needed a dying minute rocket from Daniel Sturridge to get a point against Chelsea over the weekend.
This sets the stage nicely for the clash at the San Paolo on Wednesday evening. Napoli’s surprising draw on Match Day One against Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) has heaped early pressure on the team. With a double-header against PSG to come, the Partenopei need points badly.
Given the make-up of the group, Jurgen Klopp knows that there will be no let up for his side. The last-gasp win against PSG on Matchday One was encouraging. However, they should have been out of sight long before the French side equalized.
Two teams who are brilliant going forward always makes for a fascinating encounter. This seems like a game for the neutral to sit back, relax and savour.
#1 Argentine flavour the central story in London as Spurs play Barca
Lionel Messi and Mauricio Pochettino are Argentine. They are both graduates of Newell’s Old Boys. On Wednesday, they will be the central protagonists in a clash 11000 miles away from Rosario.
Under Pochettino’s guidance, Tottenham Hotspurs have become semi-regular in the UCL. However, they are yet to make a meaningful impact on the tourney. A loss to Inter Milan on Matchday One makes the clash at Wembley a must-not-lose tie for the Lilywhites.
Harry Kane is back among the goals. The team seems back to its best after a 3-game losing streak. The robust, front foot approach which proved so successful against Real Madrid last season may be repeated.
These are troubling times for Barcelona. A loss and two draws in the last three La Liga games have raised questions about manager Ernesto Valverde’s suitability. At no point have the Blaugrana looked fluent or impressive this season.
The over-dependence on Messi or Messidependencia shows no sign of improving. This is in spite of the summer splurge on new talent. With Inter Milan coming up next, Valverde will know that a good result is imperative.
