Real Madrid to bounce back as they travel to face Kairat
Real Madrid will look to bounce back from a heavy derby defeat to Atletico Madrid when they travel to Kazakhstan for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Kairat.
Los Blancos saw off Marseille in their Champions League opener, while Kairat fell to a 4-1 defeat in their matchday one clash against Sporting Lisbon.
Kairat Almaty are participating in the Champions League main draw for the first time after successfully negotiating their way through qualifying.
However, the Kazakhstan Premier League champions were given a brutal reality check in their matchday one clash against Sporting Lisbon, which saw Edmilson score a consolation goal in a 4-1 victory.
Xabi Alonso made an impressive start to his first campaign as Real Madrid boss, seeing his side win their opening seven competitive matches, including a 2-1 victory over Marseille on matchday one of the Champions League league phase.
Los Blancos followed that result with a 2-0 win over Espanyol and a commanding 4-1 victory over Levante, ensuring they carried significant momentum into Saturday’s derby clash with Atletico Madrid.
However, just 90 minutes later, Real Madrid were left reeling after slumping to a surprise 5-2 loss against their local rivals.
To rub salt into Real Madrid’s wounds, they lost their grip on top spot and are now one point behind their arch-rivals, Barcelona, who clinched a narrow win over Real Sociedad to take full advantage of the Madrid derby result.
Real Madrid will be desperate to right the wrongs of Saturday’s derby defeat, and while they may be contending with a defensive injury crisis, we think they will have far too much quality for their hosts, which will see them cruise to a comfortable victory in Kazakhstan.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Marseille and Ajax seek their first points
Meeting in a Champions League fixture for the first time in over 50 years, Marseille and Ajax will seek their first points of the competition this season when they square off on Tuesday at the Stade Velodrome.
On matchday one, Marseille were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid, while the Dutch side lost 2-0 at home to last season’s runners-up Inter.
Marseille have not won their opening home match in the group portion of this tournament since 2011.
Defensively, they have struggled in Champions League fixtures, conceding in 21 of their last 22 matches in this competition, but have posted a clean sheet in two successive Ligue 1 home contests, shutting out Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique last Monday.
In their last five meetings with Ajax, Marseille are undefeated, winning a thriller 4-3 the last time they met at the Stade Velodrome in a 2023 Europa League fixture, with the winner coming in second-half stoppage time.
Ajax have a 100% record against Marseille in this tournament, having come from behind to beat them 2-1 in their only previous visit to the Velodrome in 1971, with the legendary Johan Cruyff netting the winner.
Marseille were unlucky to come away with nothing on matchday one, but that should propel them to a win versus an Ajax side that are still finding themselves under new management.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Will Mourinho enjoy Chelsea homecoming with Benfica?
A ‘special’ evening is in store at Stamford Bridge on today, as Benfica boss Jose Mourinho enjoys a Chelsea homecoming in the league phase of the Champions League.
The 62-year-old takes charge of his first UCL game for the Eagles at his former headquarters, where both the hosts and the visitors seek to get off the mark in Europe at the second attempt.
Despite already winning every UEFA honour that is there to be won – a feat that no other club in Europe can shout about – Chelsea’s quest to become kings of the continent for a third time started on the wrong foot against their 2012 final foes Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga champions strode to a 3-1 victory in matchweek one, as Cole Palmer‘s fine finish was in vain thanks to a Harry Kane double and Trevoh Chalobah own goal.
The latter’s unintentional villain arc against Chelsea continued in Premier League action at the weekend, where his early second-half red card triggered a barnstorming Brighton comeback in West London, as Enzo Maresca‘s men slumped to a 3-1 loss to the Danny Welbeck-inspired Seagulls.
Losing three of their last four games, winning just one of their last five – against lower-league Lincoln City in the EFL Cup – and already grappling with an absentee crisis, the Club World Cup champions are arguably now counting the cost of their success in the United States over the summer.
The same cannot be said for upcoming opponents Benfica, whose final game under head coach Bruno Lage ended in a shock 3-2 home loss to Qarabag in catastrophic fashion.
Benfica board have now placed their faith in a familiar face, Mourinho.
The former Chelsea head coach has overseen two wins and a draw from his first three Primeira Liga games at the helm, including a 2-1 comeback victory over Gil Vicente on Saturday, but history suggests that the Special One’s homecoming will not be a happy one.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Galatasaray welcome Liverpool to RAMS Park
Liverpool must bounce back in the Champions League on Tuesday against hosts Galatasaray at RAMS Park after they were beaten in the Premier League against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Turkish Super Lig side lost 5-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt , whereas the Reds beat Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
Galatasaray Boss Okan Buruk will also be confident that his side can find the back of the net on Tuesday given they have scored at least two goals in nine of their 11 most recent European outings at home.
Galatasaray have won all three of their home fixtures this campaign, scoring on nine occasions while only conceding twice in that time.
Liverpool have been leaky at the back in 2025-26, conceding two goals in four of their eight games this season while only keeping two clean sheets.
Arne Slot‘s side have at least been productive in the final third, scoring at least two goals in five of their eight fixtures.
If striker Osimhen is at the top of his game, then it would not be surprising if he caused the Reds’ backline serious problems, and perhaps Slot will have to settle for a point.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Atletico Madrid 19:00 Frankfurt
