Champions League Matchday Three Preview

After two matchdays that have provided us with memorable moments and some surprising wins, the UEFA Champions League returns for its only October stint in 2009 on October 20 and 21 due to World Cup qualifiers.

Matchday two was filled with several great games, such as Manchester United coming from behind to beat Wolfsburg, Fiorentina defeating Liverpool in Italy, Inter Milan tying with Rubin Kazan and AC Milan losing to FC Zurich at the San Siro.

In Matchday Three, we will once again be treated to several great matchups between these great European sides, and here is a quick preview to each Champions League matchup during Matchday Three.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Group E

Debrecen v Fiorentina

After defeating Liverpool at the Stadio Artemio Franchi during Matchday Two, Fiorentina will travel to Budapest to take on Debrecen. Fiorentina will try to get their first ever win in Hungary in this match, while Debrecen will be playing their first ever Italian opponent in this match, and will be looking for their first ever win in the Champions League.

Liverpool v Lyon

With two wins in two Champions League group stage matches so far, Lyon will travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool for the first time in club history. Liverpool will be looking to avenge their 2-0 loss in Fiorentina during Matchday Two, but will have to do so without the services of star Fernando Torres due to injury, but Steven Gerrard will be back for the Reds after training on Monday.

Group F

FC Barcelona v Rubin Kazan

After a 2-0 win in their first Champions League match in the Camp Nou during Matchday Two, FC Barcelona will now take on Rubin Kazan in Matchday Three. Kazan will be looking for success in their first ever Champions League match against a Spanish opponent, especially after drawing with Inter Milan at home during Matchday Two.

Inter Milan v Dynamo Kiev

After drawing with Rubin Kazan, Inter will travel back to the San Siro to take on Dynamo Kiev. Inter, who currently are third in Group F, will be looking to overtake current second place holder Dynamo Kiev with a win at home. Dynamo will be looking for a win to bolster their chances of advancing from the group stage, and this will be the return of former AC Milan player Andriy Shevchenko to the San Siro.

Group G

Rangers v Unirea Urziceni

After an embarrassing 4-1 loss at home to Sevilla during Matchday Two, Rangers will look to avenge their loss against Romanian opponent Unirea Urziceni. Urziceni will be looking to get their first ever Champions League win in Scotland in this match, and will be looking for their first ever win against a Scottish side in a competitive fixture.

VfB Stuttgart v Sevilla

With two draws in their first two matches, Stuttgart have found themselves lagging, but they have a chance to beat their first ever Spanish opponent at VfB Arena when they take on the current Group G leaders in Sevilla. In last year's UEFA Cup, Sevilla won at VfB Arena 2-0, and will be looking to for another win here in Matchday Three.

Group H

AZ Alkmaar v Arsenal

After a thrilling come-from-behind win against Standard de Liege during Matchday One, and a 2-0 win against Olympiacos at home, Arsenal will travel out to the DS-Stadium to take on AZ Alkmaar, who are still looking for their first Champions League group stage victory.

Alkmaar, who have lost only one match to an English opponent in European competition (to Everton in 2007), will be looking for that first win, and to beat the Gunners, who will be trying to win their third straight away victory in the Champions League this year.

Olympiacos v Standard de Liege

After a 2-0 loss in London to Arsenal in Matchday Two, Olympiacos will be looking to get back on track at home against Standard de Liege. Meanwhile, Standard de Liege will be looking for their first win in Greece since 1977, and will be looking to get a win at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Group A

Bordeaux v Bayern Munich

After a win against Maccabi Haifa during Matchday Two, Bordeaux will host Group A co-leader Bayern Munich at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. Bayern, who drew with Juventus during Matchday Two, will want to continue their prior success over Bordeaux from 1996 when they beat Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup final.

Juventus v Maccabi Haifa

After drawing their first two matches in Group A against Bordeaux and Bayern Munich, Juventus will look to get back into position to qualify for the round of 16 with a win over Maccabi Haifa at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino. Haifa will be looking to get their first points in this match after losing their first two matches to Bayern and Bordeaux.

Group B

CSKA Moscow v Manchester United

Manchester United,the current leaders of Group B, will travel to the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to take on CSKA Moscow. United have had prior success at the Luzhniki Stadium, winning there in 2008 over Chelsea to wint the Champions League final, but United will be without the services of Wayne Rooney due to a calf injury, and Ryan Giggs, due to a minor knock he received in last weekend's game against Bolton.

Meanwhile, Moscow will be looking to build off of their win against Beşiktaş, but they will have to do so without Mark González, who will miss the rest of the group stage due to an ankle injury he suffered with Chile in World Cup qualifying last week.

Wolfsburg v Beşiktaş

After losing their first two Champions League group stage matches, Beşiktaş will look to turn it around against Wolfsburg. However, Beşiktaş have never beaten a Bundesliga opponent in their history. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg will look to win their second home match in the Champions League group stage after losing 2-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Group C

Real Madrid v AC Milan

After spending over 250 million euros this summer in Florentino Pérez's new Galáctico's era, Real Madrid have not disapointed so far in the Champions League, as they have won their first two matches this year.

But they will now face AC Milan without the world's most expensive player in Cristiano Ronaldo, who injured his ankle in World Cup qualifying for Portugal, and is expected to miss four weeks. Meanwhile, AC Milan will try to get back on track in the Bernabéu after losing to FC Zurich 1-0 at the San Siro during Matchday two.

FC Zurich v Olympique Marseille

After two losses in their first two Champions League matches to AC Milan and Real Madrid, Marseille will try to get their first win so far in the Champions League when they travel to the Letzigrund to take on FC Zurich. Meanwhile, Zurich will try to build off their stunning 1-0 at the San Siro against AC Milan during Matchday two.

Group D

FC Porto v APOEL

After defeating Atletico Madrid 2-0 at the Estádio do Dragão during Matchday two, Porto will host APOEL at the Dragão on Matchday three. APOEL already have achieved a draw at Atletico Madrid during Matchday one, and will be looking for some more success away from Cyprus in this match.

Chelsea v Atletico Madrid

Already with two 1-0 in Group D, Chelsea will be looking to add onto their success against Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge in this match, where they haven't lost in 19 straight Champions League matches. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will be looking to get their first win in the group stage after a home draw with APOEL, and a loss at the Dragão against Porto during Matchday two.