3) Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid is the fixture to watch
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PSV Eindhoven and FC Rostov might as well start drawing up plans on how to beat each other to ensure they finish third and qualify for the Europa League knockout stages. It is highly unlikely that Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich will slip up in the group stages.
Two-time finalists in the last three years, Atletico Madrid will be hurting after two losses to arch rivals Real in the 2014 and 2016 finals. Diego Simeone’s future seemed uncertain at the time but he has committed to the Rojiblancos. And after a brief hiccup at the start of the season, Atletico seem to be flying high, smashing four past a hapless Celta Vigo last weekend.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, look a different animal under new boss Carlo Ancelotti. A serial winner of Champions League titles (he has won five as player and coach), he has already set up Bayern to play a lot more free-flowing football and has a variety of options to give him a selection headache.
Simeone is a familiar foe after having battled with him in Madrid derbies and the 2014 final. And Bayern will be out for revenge following the semi-final defeat last season. Ancelotti, too, is keen to make a point – even stating that Bayern were one of many teams who could win the title this year.
