After a disappointing start for most of the English clubs in Europe the pressure is on for them to kickstart their Champions League campaigns in the second round of matches. Chelsea were the only team to win in the first set of fixtures as Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City all sit on zero points after opening losses. If those three don’t get results this week they will have a mountain to climb if they are to quality for the knock-out stages.
Tonight Arsenal face Olympiakos at home after their shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb. With the top spot in Group F likely to be filled by German giants Bayern Munich, Wenger’s side can’t afford any more slip-ups. Arsenal and Olympiakos have in fact been drawn in the same group in three recent Champions League campaigns, with both teams winning all their home games against the other. A continuation of that pattern will suffice for tonight, but will need to change when Arsenal travel to Greece. A convincing win against in-form Leicester at the weekend will have given them confidence, but Wenger cannot afford to rest players like he did against Zagreb. Francis Coquelin’s return to fitness will come as a welcome boost as Arsenal look a different side without him in the team, and with a full strength line-up Arsenal should prove too strong for Olympiakos.
Chelsea are also playing tonight, as manager Jose Mourinho returns to FC Porto, where he made his managerial breakthrough. Chelsea won their first match by a comfortable 4-0 scoreline, albeit against lowly Maccabi Tel-Aviv at Stamford Bridge. Porto and Chelsea will both be vying for first place in Group G, and if one team is to win this match they it will be a significant advantage for the rest of the group stage. Happily for Chelsea fans, striker Diego Costa will be available for this game as he is only banned for domestic fixtures. Those matches have not gone well for Chelsea so far this season, and Mourinho will hope that Europe provides a different environment for his team, and perhaps one that his players could thrive in. That said, if you offered Mourinho a draw before kick-off, he’d probably take it and trust his side to beat Porto at home to top the group, so do not be surprised if Chelsea play with little endeavour going forward.
Wednesday sees both Manchester clubs return to European duties. In Group D Manchester City have a trip to Germany to face Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Germans were very impressive in the Bundesliga last season as they finished third and thus qualified for the Champions League, but have had a poor start this season with just six points from seven games leaving them in fourteenth position. They have some talented players in Granit Xhaka and Thorgan Hazard to name two, but City should prove too strong for them. However, their results in the Champions League have not matched their Premier League success. They performed poorly at the weekend against Spurs with a noticeable David Silva-shaped hole in their team, but City will hope to have the Spaniard back, along with other important players in Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany. Group D is by far the most difficult group in the competition, and after a defeat at home to Juventus City will need to get results from difficult fixtures to progress.
The other game featuring an English club is also a team from Manchester playing a side from Germany, as Manchester United host Wolfsburg at Old Trafford. Like Arsenal and City, United lost their first game to PSV and need a win. Unfortunately for them Wolfsburg are a very competent side and will provide a stern test. They may have lost their best player last season in Kevin De Bruyne, but they still have a very talented squad and play with the same energy and vigour that saw them finish second in the Bundesliga and win the German Cup last term. The newly-acquired Julian Draxler is a name to look out for, but the truth is Wolfsburg have dangerous players throughout their team. That said, United sit top of the Premier League and with Anthony Martial impressing almost every time he gets the ball, they have to believe they have enough to claim the three points. Though their group is nothing like City’s, the other two teams in Group B – PSV and CSKA Moscow – should not be underestimated so United really need to perform at home, preferably starting tomorrow night.
Ryan Kirkman