UCL: GW 2 PREVIEW

Inter visits the Nou Camp, Spurs hosts the Bavarians and more; The Road to Istanbul - European Royalty. 

                                                                         Ref: UEFA via AA.

The two-day European soccer festival is back again in mid-week. A fortnight ago, game week one got underway and that left fans with awkward surprises. It may be a hectic week for players but one laced with admittedly pure excitement for fans.

Antonio Conte may not have expected to enjoy an easy ride in his early days at Inter Milan but he is bossing matters in Italy. He makes a tough trip to the home of the Catalan giants, FC Barcelona. Both teams played out a frustrating draw in the first game week. Pressure mounts as either would want to leap into the first position. Conte's machine seems to be well oiled now. 
The tactics of Ernesto Valverde have been called to question and fans are fuming with how football has been played at times. Happily, Messi and Dembele are back in training for the Blaugranas. 

Bayern Munich will make a trek to London as Spurs host the Bavarians at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It has not been rosy for Pochettino this season, with mixed results and players not being in sync with the general team approach. A hard-fought victory over the weekend and options for right-back limited. The draw at Olympiacos leaves the host with just a point after one game. 
Coutinho, on one hand, has been the lynchpin for Niko Kovac's side. He seems to have found his feet and the added threat he gives this Bayern side is one Pochettino should be looking to curb. A victory in the last game round keeps them so comfortable at the top of the table.

Early kickoffs for Real Madrid and Atalanta as they play Club Brugge and Shakhtar Donetsk respectively. Atalanta must redeem themselves after the 4-0 mauling in Zagreb. PSG after their heavy victory over Madrid will be looking to continue that fine form when they make the trip to Turkey to face Galatasaray. Bayern Leverkusen will travel to Turin to face Juventus. Mauricio Sarri must pick all the maximum points at home while Atletico Madrid does a dicey trip to Russia. Pep Guardiola will be expecting all 3 points when his side comes up against the Croatian outfit, Dinamo Zagreb.

Valencia and RB Leipzig will await the visits of Ajax and Lyon respectively. Early kickoffs on Wednesday for Dortmund and Napoli away also. Chelsea's trip to Lille will be difficult as Lille's manager, Christophe Galtier will be making up for the loss suffered in GW 1.
A disappointing start for the holders, Liverpool in the previous game week but chances are still wide and aplenty as Klopp faces RB Salzburg with red hot Haaland after getting a hattrick in his first UCL appearance. 

Another good week of football. We can only but enjoy it.
 
 



 

THE UCL REVIEW

Holders disappointed, Hazard ghosted, an exciting stalemate at the Wanda and the new boy Haaland stole the show in gameweek 1.
 

Things may not have gone according to plan for the current champions, Liverpool but Dries Merten's penalty and Virgil Van Dijk's error cushioned Ancelotti's side to victory in Naples. The much-applauded front three were not on song and misfired. A reverse fixture at Anfield lies in wait. 

The Portuguese stars could not get on the score sheet in Spain when Atletico Madrid and Juventus faced off. A curler from Cuadrado and a guided header from Matuidi put the visitors in front but goals from Savic and Hector Herrara late on got them level pegging. Cristiano watched his solo effort whisk past the upright as it ended in a draw. 

The French champions, PSG, the floating bulwark tore Real Madrid to shreds in a thrilling encounter in Paris. A Di Maria brace and a late counter saw Meunier finish off a move he started. Zidane's defense could not find answers to a seemingly second string PSG attack. Iddrisa Gana Gueye was magnificent in that midfield and Hazard was ghosted. 

Not the start Chelsea would have hoped for as they lost at home to Valencia as Barkley missed a penalty. Bayern were at their ruthless best as they saw off Red Star Belgrade in Munich. Mixed fortunes for Spurs away in Greece. A disappointing start for Antonio Conte and new boy Erling Haaland stole the show in an eight-goal thriller as he fired home a hattrick for RB Salzburg.   

Dinamo Zagreb was mercilessly and Pep's Manchester City smile back to England after their victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. 

picture referrence: oklahoma n.com

Player of The Week.

It must be the hattrick hero Haaland. Just 19 years old in his first CL game. 

Goal of The Week.

You decide.  I will be waiting for the comments.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

European soccer takes another spin this year as current champions, Liverpool FC look to defend their title. 

The European club competition returns to our screens more promptly as clubs go again to see who becomes the team of Europe. 32 teams will be joining the shuttle when they move across Europe as two will be booking tickets to Turkey come May 30, 2020. Similarly, there will be kickoffs at 4:55 pm and 7 pm this year. 

Liverpool dispatched fellow countrymen Spurs in the final at the Wanda Metropolitano to lift the trophy and make it their sixth UCL title after a failed attempt against Real Madrid a year prior. Liverpool's title defense will begin with Napoli and Europa League champions, Chelsea will take on Valencia at 7 pm. 

The favorites, Barcelona locks horns with Borussia Dortmund with Messi a doubt despite beginning early training on Monday. Wonder boys, Ajax will welcome Lille but will be without Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt. 

Pep's Manchester City takes a trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk too. Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus face Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano while Joao Felix gets to make his UCL debut against his compatriot.   

We are ready to enjoy another year of exciting Champions league football - art and culture of European soccer on display.