Advertisement
David Moyes speaks to Robin van Persie in training yesterday. Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images

3 things to look out for in tonight's Champions League games

The Manchester clubs will be eyeing wins while Juventus travel to the Bernabeu for a meeting with Real Madrid.

1. Old Trafford hosts Spanish opposition

MANCHESTER UNITED TURN their attentions to Europe once again after another disappointing result in the Premier League over the weekend. Dejan Lovren’s 89th-minute equaliser saw the champions drop two more points at home in what has been a difficult start to David Moyes’ career at the club.

In the Champions League, they were convincing in the win over Bayer Leverkusen and came away from the Donbass Arena with a respectable 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.  Real Sociedad, contrastingly, are bottom of Group A and without a single point.

It is only  the second time that the Basque club will play in England having been thumped 6-0 by Liverpool in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup.

United could be without one or both of central defensive pairing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans is likely to start while Adnan Januzaj could make his Champions League debut.

2. To Russia with Love

An early kick-off in the Russian capital sees CSKA Moscow host Manchester City, who will be hoping to put the humbling defeat to champions Bayern Munich behind them with a victory. The Premier League outfit were completely outplayed in the 3-1 defeat but have won both league outings since by the same scoreline — against Everton and West Ham.

They must continue without the services of captain Vincent Kompany against their main rivals for second place in Group D. CSKA are sixth in the Russian Premier League and withou  a win in five having most recently lost out to Zenit St Petersburg 2-0.

3. Two old foes meet in Madrid

Former winners of the competition Real Madrid and Juventus face off at the Santiago Bernabeu with the Serie A champions still looking for their first win in this season’s Champions League.

The Old Lady of Turin could only manage draws against FC Copenhagen and Roberto Mancini’s Galatasaray but do sit second in Group B behind tonight’s opponents. They don’t go into the tie in the best shape, however, after a Giuseppe Rossi hat-trick completed Fiorentina’s 4-2 comeback in the league on Sunday.

Madrid have recorded two wins from two so far and have world record signing Gareth Bale available again as the Welsh international made a return from a thigh injury in the victory over Malaga on Saturday.

Alex Ferguson’s autobiography — the best bits

Long admits he could leave West Brom

Close
12 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.