Champions League 2016: Group Live Stream, TV Schedule, Wednesday Predictions
Barcelona will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Wednesday, but they’ll face a major test when they take on Celtic at what’ll be a raucous Celtic Park in the UEFA Champions League.
After their defeat to Manchester City in their last European outing, Barca need to triumph to ensure they remain in top spot in Group C; Celtic need three points if they’re to preserve their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League, and they’ll be hoping City can do them a favour against Borussia Monchengladbach.
There are plenty more fascinating fixtures on Wednesday, too, including Arsenal’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain that’s set to determine top spot in Group A.
Here are the key viewing details for the matches, a prediction for each and a closer look at two of the standout tussles from this round of fixtures.
| A | Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain | 2-1 |
| A | Ludogorets Razgrad vs. FC Basel | 1-1 |
| B | Napoli vs. Dynamo Kiev | 2-0 |
| B | Besiktas vs. Benfica | 2-2 |
| C | Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Manchester City | 2-2 |
| C | Celtic vs. Barcelona | 1-3 |
| D | FC Rostov vs. Bayern Munich | 0-2 |
| D | Atletico Madrid vs. PSV Eindhoven | 2-1 |
| 1 | Arsenal | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 10 |
| 2 | Paris Saint-Germain | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 10 |
| 3 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | -9 | 1 |
| 4 | FC Basel | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 1 |
| 1 | Napoli | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 7 |
| 2 | Benfica | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 7 |
| 3 | Besiktas | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 6 |
| 4 | Dynamo Kiev | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
| 1 | Barcelona | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 4 | +10 | 9 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 7 |
| 3 | Borussia M.Gladbach | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 4 |
| 4 | Celtic | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | -9 | 2 |
| 1 | Atletico Madrid | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 12 |
| 2 | Bayern Munich | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 9 |
| 3 | PSV Eindhoven | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 1 |
| 4 | FC Rostov | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 1 |
TV Info: BT Sport (U.K.), ESPN 3 (U.S.)
Live Stream: BT Sport Website (U.K.), Watch ESPN (U.S.)
Celtic vs. Barcelona
Celtic Park has already played host to two memorable evenings in the Champions League this season against City and Borussia, but there’ll be even more magic in the air when Barcelona come to visit.
The fixture will stir memories of an iconic night for the Scottish champions in 2012, when goals from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt propelled Celtic to a 2-1 win over the Blaugrana. Those flocking to the venue known as “Paradise” will be hopeful of a repeat.
In Moussa Dembele, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers possesses one of the competition’s hottest strikers. The Champions League Twitter feed broke down his brilliant recent form:
Celtic are huge underdogs given the chasm in class between the two sides, but Barcelona have shown signs of vulnerability recently.
The Blaugrana failed to beat nine-man Malaga in their previous La Liga outing and were humbled 3-1 by Manchester City in their last European clash. Manager Luis Enrique will at least be able to call upon Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez for this one, as the pair missed the Malaga stalemate due to illness and suspension, respectively.
However, Spanish football journalist Sergi Dominguez is far from happy with the manager and the way things are going at the Camp Nou:
Even so, they should have enough to triumph here. Andres Iniesta and Samuel Umtiti are set to sit this one out, and they’ll be key absences.
However, after what will surely be a frantic start from the hosts, expect Barca’s quality—the kind that was on show in this season's 7-0 win over Celtic—to push them to a much-needed victory.
Prediction: Celtic 1-3 Barcelona
Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain
In the past, Arsenal have been left to rue not finishing at the top of their Champions League group, but they can take a big step towards doing so when they meet with PSG at the Emirates Stadium.
When the two went head-to-head in the reverse fixture, the Gunners emerged with a 1-1 draw after being dominated for much of the match in Paris; Alexis Sanchez’s late strike eventually cancelled out Edinson Cavani’s opener, with the latter missing a string of chances to put the match beyond doubt.
Cavani has been finding the net regularly this term, though, with 15 goals in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Finishing in top spot in the group would be a big help to the French champions, although Arsenal will be tough to get the better of on home soil.
Indeed, while manager Arsene Wenger’s side were passive in their performance at Old Trafford in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Saturday, the Gunners have at least shown resoluteness at key points in the campaign. In seasons gone by, matches like the ones against United and PSG would have ended in losses for Arsenal.
A win in this kind of match would be a big step forward for the Gunners—in a key Champions League game with a lot on the line.
In a clash between two evenly matched outfits, home advantage will just swing this one the way of the Premier League side.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 PSG
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