5 Bold Predictions for Champions League Matchday 6
Champions League group-stage action returns and concludes in midweek with a full schedule of matches across the continent.
There are still various key issues to settle, with teams vying for the spots in the last 16 or, as a compromise, progression to the Europa League knockout rounds.
There will inevitably be contrasting scenes of emotion across the groups, with some sides disappointed with the midweek outcomes and others delirious at the prospect of future glories.
In this feature, we make five bold predictions for Champions League Matchday 6.
Liverpool to Fall Short
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Liverpool welcome FC Basel to Anfield knowing that victory over the Swiss champions will take them through to the last 16.
Predictably, Brendan Rodgers has called on his charges, via ESPN, to “write themselves into folklore” ahead of this match. The club’s “folklore” contains one or two teams that could, one suspects, quite comfortably see off Basel at Anfield.
But I suggest that this Liverpool side won’t quite manage it.
They picked up only four points from their first five Group B matches, and their league form—they won only once in the Premier League and lost three in November—doesn’t give too much cause for optimism.
Juventus to Play It Safe
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Juventus close off their group-stage campaign at home against Atletico Madrid.
A draw would guarantee a spot in the last 16, but the Italian champions could top the group if they beat last year’s finalists by two goals.
Massimiliano Allegri has insisted that his side won’t play it safe on Tuesday evening.
"Reaching the knockout stages is our first target of the season,” he began, speaking to Juventus’s official website, via Sky Sports.
“Topping the group would enable us to face the second-placed teams and we must do all we can to win by a two-goal margin.
"Having said that, it won't be easy because Atletico limit you to very few chances."
While Allegri is right to consider Atletico’s defensive resiliency, he must also be aware of their offensive prowess.
Only one side, FC Porto, have scored more than Diego Simeone’s outfit in the tournament this season, and if Juve do open themselves up in search of a two-goal victory, they risk leaving themselves vulnerable in defence.
Allegri surely won’t want to risk that.
Dortmund to Glimpse Their Future
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There are signs that Jurgen Klopp is beginning to turn Dortmund’s season around.
While the German giants have had little trouble in the Champions League—they have already confirmed their spot in the last 16—they have struggled in the Bundesliga.
On November 2, they had lost seven of their opening 10 fixtures in the top flight. Since then, however, they have won two, drawn one and lost only one more, against Eintracht Frankfurt.
While Klopp will be keen to secure top spot in the group—and a draw will almost certainly be enough—he will surely see the value in giving game time to some of the peripheries of his squad.
I am expecting the manager to give Nuri Sahin his first start of the season. The midfielder has so often had his progress stymied by injury, and this term has been no different.
If Klopp allows the Turkey international to fit in alongside Ilkay Gundogan in the centre of the park, Dortmund fans could have a glimpse into the second half of the season where things, surely, will be better.
Real Record Breakers
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Admittedly, it might not be the boldest of predictions, but I expect Real Madrid to break another record when they welcome Ludogorets to the Bernabeu.
Madrid have already confirmed their place at the top of Group B with five wins out of five and will be looking to round-off the opening stage of their title defence in style.
Having beaten Celta Vigo 3-0 on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti’s side equalled the all-time Spanish record of 18 consecutive victories. They would make it 19 if they can overcome Ludogorets—smashing the achievement managed by Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard.
However, the Bulgarians haven’t been the whipping boys that many expected they would be when the competition began. They could still progress to the Europa League and will be looking to upset the odds on one of the biggest nights in the club’s history.
City to Miss out Altogether
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Manchester City appear to be edging towards doomsday.
So long has this albatross of Champions League underachievement been hanging over them that it is beginning to weigh heavy, and unfortunately for the Citizens, it looks like it’s going to happen again.
Manuel Pellegrini would never have expected that his side would have been in fourth place in Group E heading into the final round of matches.
The Premier League champions now face the very real possibility of first-round elimination.
Their situation has been compounded by the injury to Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure’s ongoing suspension. I cannot see them getting the victory or the score-draw they require against AS Roma.
A victory for CSKA Moscow over Bayern Munich in Bavaria would reduce to irrelevance anything that City could muster in the Eternal City. The Russians entered the Group of Death as the firm dark horses, but they have proven their value and will surely be targeting an upset against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Pellegrini knows this and has urged his old rival to field a strong team, via the Daily Mail, even though injuries and a potential fixture pile-up may tempt Guardiola to do the opposite.
Ultimately, I can see City stuck at the bottom of the pile come the end of play on Matchday 6.
