Key occasions
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Dinamo Zagreb (Petkovic 7)
Dinamo come down the correct, a cross to the again publish is headed again – by Azpilicueta, I believe – and Petkovic heads dwelling.
Oh pricey, Maccabi Haifa simply missed a extremely good probability in opposition to Benfica, David capturing extensive when he ought to’ve scored, and with Pierro alone within the center.
Gosh, the BT stream is miles behind, but the targets present is just not. Neither is it letting me, because it did final night time, watch two video games on my laptop and one on my telephone. So I’ve gone for the targets present, this being a clockwatch, and Milan v Salzburg, that being the livest recreation of the night time.
Round Europe, our groups come out.
Who doesn’t love Huge Hartdog performing some exhibition fronting-up? My high three:
-
Steven Gerrard
-
Harry Maguire
-
Hartdog, The
I think about the tweak will please Raheem Sterling, who can’t’ve been comfortable to tear up and down at wing-back. It doesn’t make a variety of sense to subject him there both, given he’s not a lot of a defender, and now there are three in midfield, Chelsea ought to be capable of exert higher management and get him extra of the ball, in higher positions.
Just a few moments in the past, talking on BT, Glenn Hoddle referred to “Your Loftus-Cheeks”, which seems like a glance fairly than an individual. Oh, and Potter tells us Chelsea are taking part in a again 4. In the event that they win, I count on they’ll persist with this formation.
Madrid have crushed Celtic 5-1 and Leipzig gained 4-0 away to Shakhtar; Madrid high the group, Leipzig undergo too, Shakhtar go into the Europa playoff and Celtic end backside of the group with two factors and 15 targets conceded.
Who can play who within the last-16, and the way doubtless is every match-up? This tells us, assuming Milan maintain it down tonight.
In any other case, who do we predict goes to win the Champions League this season? If it have been an precise league, every group taking part in every group twice, I’d not hesitate to say Manchester Metropolis who, with margin for error, are the perfect round. However their again 5 continues to be sub sub sub sub substandard in opposition to the perfect assaults, which is why the principle purpose they – and Guardiola’s Bayern – have failed on this competitors. That stated, if Metropolis had had Haaland final season, they’d have been nicely away from Madrid nicely earlier than the insanity commenced, so maybe he’ll be sufficient. In any other case, although, it’s onerous to select, as a result of a lot can change between now and Could – of all of the golf equipment to win all six group video games, just one ended up as champions – Bayern in 19-20 – they usually did it once more this season, however aren’t working that nicely but. Paris, in the meantime, have puncher’s probability in opposition to anybody however nonetheless lack cohesion, and we’ve no concept if Napoli can maintain their kind or rise to the massive event. TLDR: I don’t know.
I believe I’m going to look at Milan v Salzburg, Zagreb v Chelsea and the targets present.
Metropolis have some fascinating gamers beginning tonight – Cole Palmer has expertise, and Pep Guardiola clearly charges him. I’m additionally trying ahead to a different have a look at Julian Alvarez – I count on to see extra of him because the season progresses.
Actual Madrid now lead Celtic 5-1. What a sobering expertise this has been for the Outdated Agency; I’m unsure what they will do to make issues completely different.
It’s not clear whether or not Chelsea are taking part in a again three or 4 tonight – my guess is that in some unspecified time in the future, Potter wish to transfer to the latter, and maybe the weekend tousing shall be his excuse. With out Reece James, the 3-4-3 seems to be loads much less efficient, I believe, and basically, it’s uncommon to see a high aspect play three on the again.
Graham Potter makes seven modifications to the aspect so roundly splattered by Brighton. Matteo Kovacic is injured, however in any other case, Kepa, Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Gallagher and Thiago Silva drop out – Kepa isn’t on the bench – with Mendy, Koulibaly, Chilwell, Zakaria, Jorginho and Aubameyang coming in. Mason Mount, who’ll miss the primary last-16 match if booked tonight, is retained.
Our groups!
Group E
Chelsea: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Chalobah, Chilwell, Zakaria, Jorginho, Mount, Sterling, Aubameyang, Havertz. Subs: Bettinelli, Silva, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Broja, Ziyech, Gallagher, Cucurella.
Dinamo Zagreb: Livakovic, Ristovski, Sutalo, Peric, Misic, Moharrami, Ivanusec, Ademi, Ljubicic, Petkovic, Orisc. Subs: Stefulj, Lauritsen, Baturina, Madatov, Bockaj, Drmic, Marin, Theophile-Catherine, Bulat, Nevistic, Menalo, Spikic.
**
Milan
Salzburg
—
Group G
Manchester Metropolis: Ortega, Laporte, Lewis, Dias, Sergio Gomez, Gundogan, Palmer, Foden, Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish. Subs: Ederson, Carson, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Wilson-Esbrand.
Sevilla: Bono, Navas, Gudelj, Rekik, Acuña, Fernando, Delaney, Papu Gómez, Ocampos, Tecatito, Rafa Mir. Subs: Dmitrovic, Alberto, Alex Telles, Dolberg, Gudelj, Suso, Jordan, Januzaj, Jesus Navas, Lamela, Carlos Alvarez, Kike Salas.
**
FC Copenhagen
Borussia Dortmund
—-
Group F
Maccabi Haifa
Benfica
**
PSG
Juventus
In actual fact, let’s first remind ourselves that Actual Madrid at present lead Celtic 4-0 – you’ll be able to comply with that match under – and Leipzig lead 3-0 away to Shakhtar.
Righto, let’s have some groups…
Preamble
At this level yesterday, I famous that the Champions League group phases are sometimes criticised – with good purpose – for being an train in wealth administration, and that we had in entrance of us a lower than thrilling night. Properly, I used to be mistaken. The Group D shenaniga have been nice as a result of there was jeopardy, however even these video games with nothing using on them have been enjoyable, partly as a result of soccer simply is, but additionally as a result of the gamers and managers attacked them within the correct method.
Tonight’s Group D is Group E, with Milan and Salzburg assembly at San Siro and competing for second place behind Chelsea. Meantime, Dinamo Zagreb go to London needing a win – and a Salzburg defeat – to earn themselves a Europa playoff. Elsewhere, we’ve bought Juventus battling Maccabi Haifa for Group H’s Europa slot – no laughing; OK, laughing – with Haifa, dwelling to Benfica, needing to beat no matter Juve file away to Paris.
In any other case, we’ve bought Man Metropolis v Sevilla and Copenhagen v Dortmund – I daresay we’ll get some first rate motion in each of these – so persist with me and let’s see what occurs.
Kick-offs: 8pm GMT