How will Barcelona fare without Messi?
HOW DO YOU replace Lionel Messi? According to his coach, Luis Enrique, it’s impossible but that’s the task facing the Barcelona manager as his side prepare to welcome Bayer Leverkusen to the Camp Nou.
Barcelona moved above Real Madrid into second in the La Liga table at the weekend but their victory over Las Palmas came at a cost after Messi suffered a serious knee injury.
The last time Barca and Bayer Leverkusen met, the Argentinian scored five goals in a 7-1 rout back in 2011/12. This time around, the Germans won’t need to worry about Messi running rings around them and while it’s not the first time he’s been sidelined, Barcelona’s options aren’t as plentiful.
20-year-old Munir looks set to deputise alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar and even though it remains a formidable forward line, there certainly isn’t as much fear factor than one with Messi in it.
After being held by Roma in gameweek one, Barcelona will be determined to record their first victory of the campaign and put themselves in prime position to advance from Group E as table toppers.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, made a winning start by hammering Bate Borisov 4-1 and Roger Schmidt will go to Spain infused with the confidence that they can cause an upset and take a stranglehold of the group.
English clubs already face must-win ties
It’s certainly not ideal to be facing a must-win game in the second fixture of the group stages but that’s the situation facing Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City after all three English clubs suffered defeat in gameweek one.
Arsene Wenger went as far as admitting his side can’t afford to slip-up against Greek champions Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium after being humbled by Dinamo Zagreb last time out.
The Gunners recorded an encouraging victory at Leicester on Saturday and they’ll be confident of continuing that winning run against familiar opposition on Tuesday. These two sides have been paired together five out of the last seven seasons.
Olympiacos have lost on each of their last 12 visits to England, letting in 37 goals and scoring only three so this is the ideal fixture for Arsenal to get their campaign back on track.
Man United, meanwhile, are also hoping to get their first points on the board after throwing away the lead in Eindhoven a fortnight ago. Louis van Gaal’s side are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League but will need to convert their form onto the European stage or face the prospect of their campaign being over before it really gets going.
Wolfsburg are the visitors to Old Trafford on Wednesday.
City are also in action on Wednesday as they travel to Germany to face Borussia Mönchengladbach in Group D. It’s the Bundesliga club’s first time in the European competition for 37 years.
Mourinho’s return to Porto
Jose Mourinho and Chelsea are under the microscope and the scrutiny will increase as he returns to Porto and the scene of some of his greatest triumphs on Tuesday.
The Premier League champions have endured a rocky start to the season and Mourinho will be hoping the Champions League will offer his stuttering side some respite and an opportunity to click into gear.
Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto back in 2004 before heading to Stamford Bridge and victory at his old stomping ground would be the perfect tonic for the Blues boss.
Chelsea strolled past Maccabi Tel-Aviv on the opening night but they won’t have it as easy at the Estádio do Dragão.
That said, the Blues have won their last eight encounters with Portuguese sides and victory in Porto would be some comfort to Chelsea and Mourinho in the midst of a frustrating start to the season.
Ronaldo has Raul’s record in sight
Cristiano Ronaldo needs just three goals to overtake Raul as Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer – and you wouldn’t put it past him to break the record on Wednesday night.
Rafa Benitez’s side visit Malmo in Group A and after putting down an early marker with a 4-0 rout of Shakhtar Donetsk last time out, Real are looking to seal their passage through as early as possible.
Currently sitting on 320 goals for Real Madrid, Ronaldo can etch his name into the history books in Sweden after becoming the Champions League’s all-time leading goalscorer with a hat-trick against Shakther.
Can Dinamo Zagreb continue their incredible unbeaten run?
After they stunned Arsenal two weeks ago, Dinamo Zagreb have now not lost in 45 outings in all competitions. The last time the Croatian outfit suffered defeat was November last year when they lost to Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League.
Now they head to the Allianz Arena for their stiffest test yet. A visit to the five-time winners is as difficult as it comes but after an absence of three years, it’s clear Dinamo are intent on making their mark on this competition.
Bayern are up and running too after a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Olympiacos but Pep Guardiola has a litany of injuries to contend with. Badstuber, Ribery and Robben are all reportedly sidelined and the first meeting between these two sides could be a lot closer than many predict.
If Dinamo can maintain their unbeaten run, well that would be a standout result.
Tuesday and Wednesday’s Champions League fixtures available here.
Dare I say it, an Irishman in the Champions League? He fully deserves it. Great to see the likes of himself and McCarthy making progress with a strong team like Everton.
More than Premier League out there Guys , Anthony Stokes has started for Celtic this season in Champions League. GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT !
Thats true, but I meant “Irishman” as in someone who plays regularly for the Irish soccer team. I know Stokes is both eligible and has played a few games recently, but he hasn’t played a game for Ireland with anything at stake for years. It’s like that young Irish Man City keeper. He went to Plzen for their CL game there. I wouldn’t say he’s playing in the CL, just like, prior to two dead rubbers against Germany and Kazakhstan, Stokes didn’t feature for years.
Obviously lots of blinkered Premier League “Fans” on here , I just corrected a incorrect statement
Traps dropped him for no reason , FFS he setup wee James Forrest and Celtic in the Final Qualifier this season.
The great brainwashed EPL Brigade are out in force….
The facts are Anthony Stokes who has 8 Full Irish Caps 4 of which were won this season ,
Source http://www.fai.ie/international/senior-men/30-anthony-stokes.html
He has played 10 times this season in the Champions League , 5 qualifiers and 5 in CL Proper
Source http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2014/clubs/player=74715/
Just accept it …..
And when were the other 4? I didn’t suggest he is a poor player and from the performances he put in during the last four caps, he deserved to be in the squad. I meant “Irishman” as in regular Irish player, not 8 caps in just under 7 years, but I know I didn’t explicitly state that. As for EPLcentric comments, the article is about a Prem player. If I made the comment about McGeady, wojld that make me a Russian soccer snob. Pull your head out.
“Dare I say it, an Irishman in the Champions League? ” This is clearly a false untrue statement and you along with the other 131 who liked the comment are idiots for not accepting you were wrong
He’s clearly trying to back out of it by adding on that ridiculous explanation
Right, if a light humoured, albeit poorly explained remark is causing an arguement, I fully retract that statement. I shall replace it with “Dare I say it, an Irishman (that has played regularly for the past 15 months despite a bonkers manager and plays in the premier league, which is not an important factor but does make followers of the SPL a little annoyed when someone mentions it) playing in the champions league?” If any sarcasm or possible inferences are not clearly stated, please let me know.
Stokes is a stocking,very average player in a poor league……not good enough for the epl
Poor League Yeah , When is the last time a Premier League team have beaten Barcelona , Read it an weep – More Rubbish from EPL Barstool Fan
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/nov/07/celtic-barcelona-champions-league-report
Im not a fan of the epl to be honest,just have an interest in football,stokes not good enough for arsenal, fair enough,but couldnt cut it at Sunderland……I say again poor player in a poor league,and its not that long ago that Chelsea beat Barcelona if memory serves…..
Again with the EPL bashing! If you going to trash about irrelevant stats, when was the last time a Scottish team won the CL or made it to the semis for that matter? The very fact that there are four slots allocated to EPL teams and only two (or three, not certain) for the SPL is based on EPL teams being more successful in the tournament. But by virtue of defending the EPL, I am now going to be called a blinkered barstool fan?
Barstooler? Aren’t Irish fans that support celtic barstoolers???? If every muppet on here went n supported league of Ireland then scots league wud be same standard as ours. Same population as ours so no reason why not. Our country is only one in europe that is obsessed with foreign leagues, embarrassing . FACT
Delighted Coleman is finally getting recognition he deserves! He’s Ireland’s most consistent player and week in, week out in the Premier League he plays well! Am an Arsenal fan and Sagna has been brilliant for us, but if he goes this is a more than capable replacement if it happens!
Feck of I’m a blue and he’s staying!!!
Dare I say it but maybe not yet? To be a game changer in Everton or a utility player in arsenal ?
Fair point, its like everything I suppose its a gamble. Look at Steven Carr when he was at spurs, best full back in the league but never moved to the biggest club. Linked but nothing ever happened. What I will say about Coleman is that I think he’s got a mean streak in him, a bit of hardness about him that would make me think that if he did move he could step up the grade
No coincidence that this comes out the same weekend Arsenal play an inform Everton. Wenger has a habit of doing that
10 million is a bargain for Coleman. Should be at least 15-20 million.
As much as I’d like him to progress , I like the Irish connection that’s coming together at Everton
I would love to see him go right to the top,but look at how things have gone for Fellani at old trafford,moving to a big club,Not always a goodcareer move
Good point Gerard… but I think coleman a real gem.. fellaini not in the same class at all
As a united fan I’d love to get him… watched him with sligo and now with Everton and believe he can be the best to play for Ireland yet…what a talent
Future Irish captain!
Already captained us. Oops. Am I due an avalanche of red thumbs too?
He’s the type of player arsenal need, a defender with a bit of fight and not afraid to move forward. If Everton get champions league football I think e10m might not be enough to lure him to London.
Tough to know if this would be a good move for him; no doubt that training znd playing with ozil, ramsey and others would certainly improve him, but would he pay every game? If he spends half his time on bench would be better of at a good Everton team
If he had a name like Colemani or Colemanez I’d be more likely to believe it
Absolutely true ; anyway if Everton are able to resist Man Utd over Baines, they should be just as keen to keep Coleman from Arsenal. Coleman has far more importance for Everton than he would have for Arsenal.
Its only made up sunday paper drivel so i wouldnt pay attention to it
Great player
10 million?! Granted Baines is probably the most productive full back in the league but surely Coleman is worth 15 to 20 million, defensively sound and serious pace going forward
Coleman and Mccarthy are very good footballers, but they are now becoming so overrated by the Irish media.
MU could do with Coleman….Rafael is useless!!!!