Liverpool welcome Bologna to Anfield
Liverpool hosts Bologna on matchday two as Arne Slot’s side looks to continue their impressive start to the season. Liverpool are top of the Premier League after six games played, with five wins and one loss from their first six games.
Bologna may be unbeaten in their previous five games, however, four of those games have been draws, and the Italian side has found scoring difficult of late.
Liverpool have been on a run of four consecutive wins since the surprise defeat at home to Nottingham Forest. Liverpool’s defence separates them from the chasing pack in the Premier League, with two goals conceded in their first six – one home and one away – with four clean sheets coming from their other fixtures.
We can’t see anything more than a victory for Arne Slot’s side. Defensively, they have been resolute despite conceding twice in their last two games.
Liverpool are back amongst European Elite once again this season, following their third-placed finish in the Premier League under Juergen Klopp. This will be Liverpool’s first game in the UEFA Champions League back at Anfield since their defeat to Real Madrid in the 2022/23 competition. Liverpool were excellent in their opening game against AC Milan and exploited the space left by Milan, and the Reds ran out 3-1 winners.
Bologna are making their first appearance in the competition this season, following their remarkable success under Thiago Motta.
Credit: footyaccumulators.com
Lille clash with Real Madrid in first ever meeting
The Stade Pierre-Mauroy will host the first ever meeting between Lille and Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Reigning champions Real Madrid made the perfect start, beating Stuttgart on matchday one, while Lille returned to the top table of European football with defeat in Portugal.
In what has been an unbeaten start so far for Real Madrid, they backed up their opening day victory in this competition with two more wins over Espanyol and Alaves.
In one of the biggest games of the season at the weekend though, Los Blancos dropped two points late on in an ill-tempered affair with bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.
While it is the first time the two clubs have met, manager Carlo Ancelotti has a slightly underwhelming record against Lille, having won only two of his five meetings with their upcoming opponents.
Real are unbeaten in 14 Champions League games though – winning 10 – and they could equal the streak they recorded between April 2016 and May 2017, when they went 15 undefeated under Zinedine Zidane, if they pick up a result here.
That impressive run will be put to the test during this league phase though, as the holders will face two particularly tricky trips to Liverpool and Atalanta later in the campaign.
Lille’s home record in Europe is excellent, but they are the underdogs for good reason, and Les Dogues are set to lose four straight Champions League games for the first time since 2012.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Benfica lock horns with Atletico Madrid
The UEFA Champions League returns to the fold with another set of matches this week as Benfica lock horns with Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side in an important encounter at the Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Wednesday. Both teams have good players in their ranks and will want to win this game.
Atletico Madrid are currently in fourth place in the La Liga standings and have stepped up to the plate so far this season. Los Colchoneros held Real Madrid to an admirable 1-1 draw in their previous game and will need to take it up a notch this week.
Benfica, on the other hand, are in third place in the Liga Portugal table at the moment and have also been impressive this season. The Portuguese outfit defeated Gil Vicente by a 5-1 margin over the weekend and will be confident ahead of this fixture.
Atletico Madrid have a good squad at their disposal and have a point to prove going into this game. Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth can be lethal on their day and will look to make their mark this week.
Benfica can pack a punch on their day and are capable of pulling off an upset on the European stage. Atletico Madrid are the better team on paper, however, and should be able to win this game.
Credit: sportskeeda.com
Aston Villa, Bayern in an important clash at Villa Park
The UEFA Champions League is back in action with another round of matches this week as Bayern Munich take on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side in an important clash at Villa Park on Wednesday. Both teams have good players in their ranks and will want to win this game.
Bayern Munich are currently at the top of the Bundesliga standings and have been in excellent form so far this season. The Bavarian giants were held to a 1-1 draw by Bayer Leverkusen in their previous game and will look to take it up a notch this week.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, are in fifth place in the Premier League table at the moment and have been fairly impressive this year. The home side played out a 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town last week and has a point to prove going into this game.
Bayern Munich have made a good start to their season under Vincent Kompany but will be up against a formidable opponent on Wednesday. The Bavarians have stuttered against Unai Emery in the past and will need to be wary of an upset in this fixture.
Aston Villa have shown tremendous improvement over the past year and will need to be at their best to stand a chance in this game. Bayern Munich are a seasoned European outfit, however, and should be able to win this game.
Credit: sportskeeda.com
Fixtures
Shakhtar Donetsk 17:45 Atalanta
Aston Villa 20:00 Bayern Munich
