UEFA Champions League: 10 Bold Predictions for Group Stage Upsets

Readers of Bleacher Report, the UEFA Champions League is up and running, and we have been treated to sensational football in the Group Stage.

With the fight for the knockout rounds in earnest, the possibility of a upset or two in the Group Stage will add some more intrigue to what has been an intriguing Champions League.

But we at Bleacher Report will not be settled with just two. How about 10? Here are 10 bold predictions for group stage upsets in Match Days 2 and 3 of the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League.

1. Lille vs. Inter Milan

Moussa Sow has been on a roll scoring goals for the Mastiffs of Lille OSC, salvaging 2-2 and 1-1 draws with CSKA Moscow and Trabzonspor, respectively. They are due for a win.

Meanwhile, Inter has been struggling, dropping a 1-0 decision to the Turks on the first match day and escaping the Luzhniki with a 3-2 win over CSKA.

Someone ought to let the dogs out. And that man might as well be Moussa.

Lille OSC 3, Inter Milan 2

2. Napoli vs. Bayern Munich

Edinson Cavani has paced Napoli to a strong start in the UEFA Champions League, with a 1-1 draw against Manchester City and a 2-0 result at home to Villareal.

As for Bayern Munich, 2-0 results to Villareal and Manchester City have set the stage for a big showdown at the Stadio San Paolo.

As with Lille against Inter, look for Napoli to defend their home turf, with the back line holding red-hot Mario Gomez at bay.

Napoli 2, Bayern Munich 1

3. FC Basel vs. S.L. Benfica

Hold on here, let me read this clearly: Manchester United are not at the top of the table? Seriously? The Red Devils are not at the top of the table? Instead, it's these two teams in Basel and Benfica? Someone's gonna have to rise to the top of Group C by the end of Match Day 3.

And that club will be Basel. Fabian and Alexander Frei are not related, but they have teamed up to fry their opponents to a crisp, defeating Otelul Galati 2-1 and holding United to a 3-3 draw.

As for Benfica, they have been a bit quieter in their endeavors, holding Manchester United to a 1-1 draw and beating Otelul Galati 1-0.

FC Basel 2, S.L. Benfica 0

4. Real Madrid vs. Olympique Lyonnais

Sure, Los Blancos have been flying in the UEFA Champions League, whipping Ajax 3-0 after escaping Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 at the Stadion Maksimir.

However, they are facing a Lyon side that is also unbeaten, holding Ajax to a scoreless draw and beating Dinamo 2-0. Moreover, OL are due for a statement victory, and they get their chance with an invasion of the Bernabeu.

Olympique Lyonnais 3, Real Madrid 2

5. Valencia vs. Chelsea

The Mestalla will not be touched. Genk tried to pull off an upset of their own over Valencia and came away with just a scoreless draw.

Valencia will look to launch an upset of their own when they take on a Chelsea outfit that demolished Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at the Bridge.

Once again, Estadio Mestalla will not be touched.

Valencia 3, Chelsea 1

6. Olympique De Marseille vs. Borussia Dortmund

A little dooping could be on the way on Wednesday. Borussia are coming off a gutsy 1-1 draw with Arsenal thanks to late second-half heroics from Ivan Perisic. Marseille could only manage a 51st minute goal from Lucho in their win over Olympiacos.

Marseille come in as favorites, but they could see their house broken by Borussia. And Scooter. Yes, we like it loud, thank you.

Borussia Dortmund 3, Olympique de Marseille 0

7. Shakhtar Donetsk vs. APOEL

Shakhtar come into the contest as favorites to claim all three points, but a shock 2-1 result over Zenit St. Petersburg means that the kings of Cyprus may have something on the way at the Donbass Arena.

Look for another late rally to give the Nicosia outfit another surprise result.

APOEL 2, Shakhtar Donetsk 1

8. AC Milan vs. Viktoria Plzen

With all four teams in a literal deadlock in Group H, the possibility of a upset special brewing is very strong. Viktoria could be the team that pulls off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, over Milan, who had to salvage a 2-2 draw late on the first match day against defending champions F.C. Barcelona.

The San Siro invasion is now in full swing.

Viktoria Plzen 2, A.C. Milan 1

9. CSKA Moscow vs. Trabzonspor

Trabzonspor is lucky to be at the top of Group B, after securing a 1-1 draw with Lille. As for CSKA, they suffered a tough loss against Inter Milan and are due to bounce back at the Luzhniki Stadium, a very tough place to play if you are the road side. 

But if they can beat Inter, they can also beat CSKA. The bookies have the Horses running loose, but a large, mean and deadly Black Sea Storm is coming their way...in the form of Trabzonspor Kulubu.

Trabzonspor 3, CSKA Moscow 2

10. Dinamo Zagreb vs. Ajax

The Maksimir is another tough place to play if you are on the road. Real Madrid knew it all too well and escaped with a - victory. Ajax has only one point in their two matches of action and will be facing a desparate Dinamo side hungry for points.

Need we say more?

Dinamo Zagreb 5, Ajax 3