Inter Milan host Arsenal in blockbuster clash
With their Premier League title challenge already faltering, Arsenal have some domestic mistakes to rectify in Wednesday’s Champions League blockbuster clash with Inter Milan at San Siro.
While the Gunners were bested 1-0 by Newcastle United at the weekend, Simone Inzaghi‘s side survived a huge scare at home to Venezia in Serie A and share their visitors’ seven-point total in Europe this season.
Martin Odegaard’s absence has not been majorly felt in some matches over the past several weeks, but Arsenal were crying out for a touch of his ingenuity at St James’ Park.
Arsenal put in an incredibly toothless showing that we have not been accustomed to seeing from Arteta’s side, who are now outside the top four in the Premier League table and are seven points behind leaders Liverpool.
Enduring a miserable three-game winless streak in the Premier League, Arsenal have also been rocked by the news that award-winning sporting director Edu is set to leave the club, as Arteta prepares to wave goodbye to one of his closest allies at a time where he needs them more than ever.
However, an unconvincing 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Champions League matchday three moved Arsenal onto seven points from their opening three matches of the 2024-25 edition – a respectable tally that has them ninth in the 36-team table – and the visitors are still yet to concede a single goal in Europe this season.
Even if Odegaard is given the green light to make the trip to Milan, he is highly unlikely to start, and Arsenal’s attacking endeavours should therefore prove fruitless against a dogged Inter backline.
Credit: .sportsmole.co.uk
PSG, Atlético Madrid faceoff at Parc des Princes
Both struggling to match expectations in this year’s Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid will convene at Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
PSG and Atleti have never met before, but the clubs’ coaches are familiar foes: Luis Enrique and Diego Simeone have gone toe to toe 14 times on the touchline, with the former posting nine wins to three for the latter.
Though Paris Saint-Germain began their latest quest to claim a first Champions League trophy with a fortunate 1-0 home win against newcomers Girona, they have since picked up just one point from two subsequent matches.
Luis Enrique will, therefore, demand that Paris step up their efforts before the break, as his record in Europe’s top club competition has been mediocre since moving to France.
Three points adrift of the top eight – and an automatic route through to the last 16 – Paris cannot afford to slip up again on Wednesday.
As ever, their domestic form has not wavered this term, and the table-toppers remain the only Ligue 1 team still unbeaten following Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Lens, secured by an early Ousmane Dembele goal.
In a battle between youth and experience, PSG’s young guns should prevail, as Atletico Madrid are enduring an identity crisis and rarely produce their best on the road.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Bayern and Benfica aim to bounce back from defeats
Both aiming to bounce back from chastening Champions League defeats on matchday three, Bayern Munich and Benfica lock horns at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening.
Vincent Kompany‘s men were humbled 4-1 by Barcelona in their most recent European affair, while the Portuguese giants went down 3-1 at home to Feyenoord last time out.
Indeed, Bayern have scored 12 goals and conceded zero in three straight wins over VfL Bochum, Mainz 05 – in the DFB-Pokal – and Union Berlin, easing to a 3-0 success over the latter on Saturday to move three points clear of RB Leipzig at the top of the Bundesliga table.
The imminent exit of Ruben Amorim to Manchester United may have Benfica fans feeling more optimistic about their side’s chances of closing the gap to the runaway leaders, but the visitors may travel in hope rather than expectation this week; the Portuguese giants have never won any of their previous 13 Champions League/European Cup games in Germany.
Benfica have also crossed paths with Bayern 10 times without ever emerging triumphant, losing seven times and drawing with the German titans on three occasions.
Benfica have let in at least two goals in each of their last five Champions League games with Bayern Munich, who have been in free-scoring mode since being left battered and bruised by Barcelona.
Expect that trend to continue at the Allianz Arena, where Kompany’s men should not emerge unscathed on the defensive front but will surely possess too much firepower for Lage’s troops.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Barcelona travel away to take on Red Star Belgrade
Barcelona will be looking to win their third successive game in the Champions League when they travel to Serbia to take on Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night.
Aside from minor setbacks against Monaco (2-1) in the Champions League and Osasuna (4-2) in La Liga, Barcelona have been perfect in 13 other fixtures at the start of this season and head into Wednesday’s contest boasting a six-game winning streak, scoring an impressive 24 goals in the process.
Hansi Flick‘s men cruised to a 5-0 home win over Young Boys in their second Champions League fixture of the newly-formed league phase, before putting Bayern Munich to the sword 4-1 on matchday three a fortnight ago, helping them climb up to 10th in the 36-team UCL table and to within three points of the summit.
On the domestic front, Barcelona followed up their memorable 4-0 El Clasico triumph against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 3-1 success against Catalan rivals Espanyol last weekend.
Already sitting nine points clear at the top of the La Liga standings, albeit having played a game more that Real Madrid in second, Barcelona will now shift their focus back to the Champions League and are preparing for their first encounter with Red Star since October 1996 when the Catalan giants won 4-2 on aggregate in the second round of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup en route to winning the competition.
Indeed, Barcelona have been scoring goals for fun recently and we can see the Catalan giants cruising to another comfortable win in Belgrade.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Shakhtar Donetsk 20:00 Young Boys
Feyenoord 20:00 Red Bull Salzburg
