Groups A, B, C and D play their second round of games this evening all over Europe. The big teams in Groups A, C and D kicked off their campaigns with little surprise. Bayern Munich thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0. Man City beat Porto 3-1 while Liverpool held off Ajax without the services of Virgil Van Dijk. Much has been made of the Dutchman’s absence but his team beat a good Ajax side and held off Sheffield United at the weekend.
Real Madrid suffered a shock defeat to Shaktar Donetsk at home last week. A last minute equaliser was ruled out after Vinicius Jr. was deemed to be offside and interfering with the goalkeeper’s line of sight. Inter drew two all with German side Borussia Moenchengladbach. Neither Madrid nor Inter will be happy with that start.
Let’s have a look at some of tonight’s big games.
Bayern Munich will be looking to continue their brilliant start to this year’s competition. They travel to Russia to take on Lokomotiv Moscow. They are still in fine form having hammered Frankfurt over the weekend. It would be difficult to see any joy for Moscow tonight.
Atletico Madrid host Salzburg at home tonight. They continued their unbeaten run in La Liga with a 2-0 win over Real Betis. They will be hoping for a victory over Salzburg who sit at the top of the Austrian League. This will be no easy match for the Spanish side.
Shaktar Donetsk will be looking to take another scalp when they welcome Inter Milan to the Ukraine. They need a win before facing Madrid in Matchday 5.
Madrid need to get points on the board but Moenchengladbach won’t fear them after the defeat in Madrid last week.
Man City head to France to take on Marseille who lost last week. Sergio Aguero is possibly out for a month after suffering an injury against West Ham at the weekend. This leaves City without an established striker for the game tonight. Has Pep’s latest quest for European glory already suffered a flat tire?
The best game of the evening will undoubtedly be Atalanta v. Ajax. Last year’s quarter finalists take on the side that ran Tottenham to the finish line in 2019’s semi-final. Two attacking teams that play the ball so well and excite in every single game will undoubtedly provide another brilliant match.
Liverpool have coped well since losing their towering centre-back a few weeks ago. They should ease past group minnows Midtjylland.
Predictions
Group A – Lokomotiv Moscow 0-3 Bayern Munich.
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Salzburg.
Group B – Shaktar Donetsk 1-1 Inter.
Moenchengladbach 0-2 Real Madrid.
Group C – Marseille 1-2 Man. City.
Group D – Atalanta 3-2 Ajax.
Liverpool 3-0 Midtjylland.
The Rathpeacon Rambler 