Champions League Fixtures 2014: Schedule, Live Stream and Predictions for Week 1
Week 1 of the UEFA Champions League is headlined by two enticing clashes between Premier League and Bundesliga heavyweights. English sides Arsenal and Manchester City both face daunting trips to Germany.
The former will take on Borussia Dortmund, a fixture the Gunners actually won 1-0 in last season's tournament. City face a similar situation.
The Citizens will be hosted by FC Bayern Munich. The reigning Premier League champions won 3-2 at the Allianz Arena at the end of the group stage last season.
TOP NEWS
Best Deals for EPL Spenders 🤑
Controversy in Champions League Semi
Projecting Spain's World Cup Squad 🇪🇸
Here's the full breakdown of the fixtures, including schedule and stream information, as well as predictions:
| Fixture | Group | Date | Time | TV | Stream | Prediction |
| Olympiaco vs. Atletico Madrid | A | Tuesday, September 16 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 0-1 Atletico win |
| Juventus vs. Malmo | A | Tuesday, September 16 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 2-0 Juventus win |
| Liverpool vs. Ludogorets | B | Tuesday, September 16 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 p.m. ET | ITV 1 / Fox Sports 2 | ITV Player / Fox Soccer 2Go | 3-0 Liverpool win |
| Real Madrid vs. Basel | B | Tuesday, September 16 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 1 | Sky Go | 4-1 Madrid win |
| Monaco vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen | C | Tuesday, September 16 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 1-2 Leverkusen win |
| Benfia vs. Zenit St. Petersburg | C | Tuesday, September 16 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 | Sky Go | 1-1 |
| Galatasaray vs. Anderlecht | D | Tuesday, September 16 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 1-0 Galatasaray win |
| Borussia Dortmund vs. Arsenal | D | Tuesday, September 16 | 7.45 p.m. BST 2.45 p.m. ET | Sky Sports 5 / Fox Sports 1 | Sky Go / Fox Soccer 2Go | 2-1 Dortmund win |
| AS Roma vs. CSKA Moscow | E | Wednesday, September 17 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 2-0 Roma win |
| FC Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City | E | Wednesday, September 17 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 / Fox Sports 1 | Sky Go / Fox Soccer2Go | 2-1 Bayern win |
| FC Barcelona vs. APOEL Nicosia | F | Wednesday, September 17 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 5-0 Barcelona win |
| Ajax vs. Paris Saint-Germain | F | Wednesday, September 17 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 1-2 PSG win |
| Chelsea vs. Schalke 04 | G | Wednesday, September 17 | 7.45 p.m. BST / 2.45 ET | Sky Sports 1 / Fox Sports 2 | Sky Go / Fox Soccer 2Go | 2-1 Chelsea win |
| Maribor vs. Sporting Lisbon | G | Wednesday, September 17 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 1-0 Maribor win |
| FC Porto vs. BATE Borisov | H | Wednesday, September 17 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 2-0 Porto win |
| Athletic Bilbao vs. Shakhtar Donetsk | H | Wednesday, September 17 | 7.45 p.m. BST | Sky Sports 5 (Red Button) | Sky Go | 3-1 Bilbao win |
Depleted, Struggling Dortmund Face a Tough Test from Arsenal
Dortmund are an accomplished side and formidable at home, particularly in this competition. However, manager Jurgen Klopp's team has been depleted by injury ahead of the game with Arsenal.
The biggest blow is the loss of prolific forward Marco Reus. The pacy and intelligent attacker is currently laid low by an ankle injury, per The Guardian.
Reus plays a key role as the free mover in a lightning-fast and fluid Dortmund attack. Supporting forwards Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are sure to miss the attention Reus demands from opposition defenders.
Klopp's side will also rue the absence of energetic wide man Jakub Blaszczykowski. The fleet-footed Poland international offers quickness and industry from wide areas.
But Blaszczykowski recently succumbed to a torn muscle, per Bundesliga.com. The same source also confirmed Dortmund wll be without midfield schemer Nuri Sahin.
But it's Reus and Blaszczykowski who will really be missed. Their omissions will be a huge boost for a plodding Arsenal defence that often struggles to cope with pace.
Further forward, the Gunners will welcome facing a Dortmund back four set to be without star stopper Mats Hummels. He will miss the game, per German newspaper Bild (h/t Daily Star reporter Rhys Turrell).
Injuries aside, Klopp will also be concerned by his team's stuttering start to the season. He's called for patience and stability, per a report from Goal.com:
"Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has warned his new-look team need time to gel fully.
After losing Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich, Klopp added firepower to his squad in the shape of Adrian Ramos, Shinji Kagawa, Ji Dong-won and Ciro Immobile - as well as signing defender Matthias Ginter and securing a permanent return for playmaker Nuri Sahin.
'Everything is far from perfect but we've got to stabilise our game while we collect results. Most likely we have to do that with a new player in the starting line-up who will have to reclaim his self-assurance as well.'
"
Dortmund may have endured some struggles but Arsenal haven't exactly sprinted through the opening stages of the season. Arsene Wenger's team has drawn three out of four Premier League games and barely scraped through the qualifying round of the Champions League, winning 1-0 against Besiktas.
Whichever teams settles quicker in Germany will win this game and lay down an early marker in Group D.
City can Upset Bayern
Bayern don't look as formidable as last season's vintage, something that should give City hope of springing the upset. In particular, Manuel Pellegrini's Premier League powerhouse can capitalise on a wafer-thin Munich midfield.
A report in Deutsche Welle detailed how threadbare Bayern boss Pep Guardiola's options in the middle are:
"The mystery deepens in Bayern's midfield though, both in terms of personnel and structure. With Javi Martinez probably out injured until January, Thiago and Bastian Schweinsteiger still some way off top fitness and Xabi Alonso still looking to shake a foot injury, Guardiola looks like he has found a solution though. Lahm, or Alaba as has been Pep's preference of late, looks set to take up the defensive midfield mantle should Alonso not recover in time.
"
Of course, midfield power is the one thing City have in abundance. Fernando, Fernandinho and Yaya Toure give City a trio of strength that can help the team win anywhere.
Whatever duo Pellegrini favours in Munich, he can feel confident about having a platform to not only stifle City, but also build counter-attacks. It will be interesting to see if Pellegrini continues to rely on two strikers up front, or opts for David Silva behind a lone forward.
That would give City a spare man to clog the passing lanes and nullify Munich's possession-based game.
Elsewhere, the fixtures will see impressive wins for defending tournament-holders Real Madrid, as well as bitter rival FC Barcelona. They will both send out an early signal of their respective prowess as two of the favourites for this season's trophy.
In fact, the groups will be set into a familiar pattern after the opening fixtures. The fancied teams will hold sway in preparation for some of the tougher tests ahead.
.jpg?w=600 "Shedeur not currently in line for Browns QB1")
