5 Top Storylines for Champions League Matchday 3
Club football returns to its hectic best this week, with a full Champions League card punctuating domestic campaigns.
Europe's premier prize has reached Matchday 3, and by the end of these results, each side will have faced every group opponent once.
Here's a look ahead to the major storylines for Tuesday and Wednesday's action.
Two of Europe's Form Sides Collide
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Two marquee fixtures stand out on the card in Matchday 3, the first being Bayern Munich's trip to Rome on Tuesday.
The Germans have been in typically irrepressible form, unbeaten in all competitions and conceding just two goals in eight Bundesliga games so far this season.
However, the Bavarian outfit will face a challenge in Roma, particularly at the Stadio Olimpico. Rudi Garcia's side are unbeaten at home this season. In fact, they have won 20 of their past 24 home games in Serie A, losing just once.
Writing for The Guardian, WhoScored.com's Martin Laurence noted:
"It’s generally a case of anything you can do, we can do better for Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola. The Bundesliga champions have gone eight games and 748 minutes without conceding in the league and Champions League. The game on Tuesday night will showcase an abundance of talent, and it may well follow the trend of Bayern’s European matches thus far this season, with each of their two group matches ending in narrow 1-0 victories.
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Roma have the players to test Bayern Munich and can make a huge statement with a win.
Key Russian Test for Manchester City
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Before Roma and Bayern Munich lock horns, Manchester City face a testing away trip to CSKA Moscow in Tuesday's early kick-off.
Another slow start for Manuel Pellegrini's men has left them with just one point from two games, already behind Roma (four points) and Bayern (six points).
That makes this a crucial game for City and one they cannot afford to lose, especially with one or both of the sides above them set to drop points.
"It’s important we win both games against CSKA," City midfielder James Milner told MCFC.co.uk. "We haven’t performed as well as we wanted to in the first two group games but it’s still in our hands and we know we are capable of beating anyone so we have to make sure we do that starting by winning our next two games."
Paired with CSKA Moscow last season, Pellegrini's side had to come from behind to secure a narrow 2-1 win in the corresponding fixture.
Anything less this time around will seriously dent their qualification hopes.
Can Liverpool Keep Up in Group B?
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The second must-watch game is Liverpool's home tie with Real Madrid on Wednesday.
While this is obviously a clash of two European giants, holders of 15 trophies between them, there is also a huge amount at stake in this game.
In short, Liverpool need a win.
Already three points behind the Spanish giants and level with Basel—who face two games with Ludogorets—a poor result could see the Reds cut adrift ahead of the return fixture at the Bernabeu.
Brendan Rodgers' side must look to create another memorable European night and hope their shaky defence can somehow halt Cristiano Ronaldo and company.
There will be no English return for Gareth Bale, however, with the former Tottenham Hotspur player ruled out, according to Sky Sports.
A Chance for Group A to Take Shape
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A couple of unexpected results have left Group A effectively tied, with all four teams level on three points.
Last year's finalists, Atletico Madrid, are clear favourites to advance alongside Juventus, and both can use this double header against Malmo and Olympiakos, respectively, to grind out a lead.
Given the Italians' laboured group results last season, which ultimately ended with a shock elimination to Galatasaray, Juventus will be especially keen to win.
They travel to Olympiakos, who managed to beat Atletico Madrid at home during the opening round of fixtures.
Will Pot 4 Teams Continue to Prosper?
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A number of lower-ranked sides—those in Pot 4 of the draw—have begun the group stages with some surprising results.
Maribor are unbeaten and second in Group G, Monaco beat Bayer Leverkusen to leave them well-placed in Group C, Malmo defeated Olympiakos and BATE Borisov claimed an impressive home win against Athletic Bilbao.
A third of the way through the group stages, four of these teams from Pot 4 currently sit in an automatic qualifying spot.
This set of double headers provides a chance to prolong the improbable and keep ahead of Europe's more decorated sides.
