Bayern coach looks forward to meeting Lewandowski as they host Barcelona
Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann says he is looking forward to seeing Robert Lewandowski again as they host Barcelona in the Champions League.
Poland striker Lewandowski scored 344 times in 374 games for Bayern before joining Barca this summer for £42.6m.
The 34-year-old has scored nine goals in six games for his new club.
“I am looking forward to it, not so much as an opponent because he’s very dangerous, but as a person I will be pleased to see him,” said Nagelsmann.
“I hope the fans will honour that too, regardless of how things were with his departure.”
Lewandowski won the German Bundesliga title in each of his eight seasons with Bayern – and the 2020 Champions League, plus three German Cups.
He is their second top scorer of all time, but sullied his reputation when he forced through a move to La Liga this summer.
“He is their most dangerous threat in front of goal,” added Nagelsmann. “If he maintains the physical fitness he can play for sure a few more seasons at this level.
“In the last few years he has been scoring about 40 goals a year. He is on a good road towards achieving that this season.
“We have to stop passes and crosses to him. But there are several other very good players in that team as well.”
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Klopp seeks Liverpool reaction against Ajax
Liverpool have identified their shortcomings from their Champions League loss to Napoli and must find consistency in their performances again if they are to beat Ajax Amsterdam in their second group game, manager Jurgen Klopp said on Monday.
Klopp said the 4-1 loss at Napoli last week was the “worst game we played since I was here”, adding that analysing the match was akin to watching a “horror film” with at least eight players playing below their level.
Liverpool, however, were dealt another injury blow with Klopp saying full back Andy Robertson is out until after the international break this month while Curtis Jones is also unavailable.
Liverpool and Ajax have faced in one previous UEFA Champions League campaign in 2020-21, with the Reds winning both games 1-0 home and away in the group stage.
Ajax are looking for their first win over Liverpool since December 1966, beating them 5-1 in the European Cup.
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Atletico Madrid have slight edge over Bayer Leverkusen
The UEFA Champions League returns to the fold with another round of matches this week as Atletico Madrid take on Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. Both teams can pack a punch on their day and will want to win this game.
Atletico Madrid have a slight edge over Bayer Leverkusen and have won three out of the eight matches played between the two teams. Bayer Leverkusen have managed two victories against Atletico Madrid and will need to level the scales.
The previous meeting between the two teams took place in 2019 and ended in a 2-1 victory in favor of Bayer Leverkusen. Atletico Madrid were not at their best on the day and will need to step up today.
Atletico Madrid have improved over the past week but have plenty of work to do in the coming weeks. The Spanish giants have been inconsistent this season and will need the likes of Joao Felix and Alvaro Morata to step up in this match.
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Sporting Lisbon welcome Tottenham Hotspur
Sporting will entertain Tottenham Hotspur at the Estadio Jose Alvalade. The hosts kicked off their group stage campaign against Eintracht Frankfurt with a 3-0 away win. Sporting continued their solid form in the Portuguese Primeira Liga with a 4-0 win over Portimonense on Saturday.
Tottenham, meanwhile, overcame Marseille in midweek, thanks to Richarlison’s second-half brace. They will travel to Lisbon with a week’s rest, as their Premier League game against Manchester City was postponed after the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
This will be the first competitive game between the two teams. The hosts are winless in their six meetings against English teams in the UEFA Champions League. Antonio Conte has an almost full strength squad at his disposal, as winger Lucas is the only one sidelined with injury.
The hosts have hit good form in recent games, keeping three straight clean sheets. Tottenham, meanwhile, have seen fewer than 2.5 goals scored in their last five games but are undefeated across competitions this season.
Considering the form both teams are in, a high-scoring draw could ensue.
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Marseille host Frankfurt at the Orange Velodrome
Olympique Marseille will host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Orange Velodrome today in their second group game of the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League campaign.
The Ligue 1 outfit kicked off their continental campaign on the wrong foot, losing 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in midweek The first half was a fairly even one, with both teams struggling to create much before Chancel Mbemba’s dismissal after the restart saw the game go away from Igor Tudor’s men. Marseille are enjoying a good run of form in the league and will now look to carry that momentum onto the European stage.
Marseille have won their last five Ligue 1 outings. Their only defeat across competitions this season came against Spurs last week, and they will now look to put that behind them.
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