With the international break in the rear-view mirror and domestic football returning this weekend, all eyes will be on the midweek matches in Europe, as the Champions League headlines Tuesday and Wednesday, with the Europa and Conference League on screens and in stadiums this Thursday. The battle for table places in the UEFA Champions League standings is truly on.
Olympiacos at FC Barcelona
Not a week goes by without FC Barcelona being in the headlines. Barca has been embroiled in a controversy after the approval they received for their December La Liga game against fellow Champions League side Villarreal to take place in Miami. All weekend, La Liga players staged a protest at kickoff that was blocked from the TV broadcasts by the league itself. Sporting director Deco would argue the club badly needs the money, as he recently stated “We did everything we wanted and could in the summer transfer market. We have many players to recover. Signing in the winter market is not in our plans.” The reality is, this isn’t a perfect Barcelona squad, but their financial challenges have their horizons limited for January, while Polish striker Robert Lewandowski appears unlikely to have his expiring contract renewed. Looking at more immediate concerns, the home against Olympiacos has Barcelona as the favorite. Pedri and Ronald Araujo scored over the weekend, Araujo at the last, to keep Barcelona on track in the La Liga campaign, but a rough defeat against Sevilla before the international break was quite concerning.
Olympiacos has two losses in their last three games and couldn’t produce much against Arsenal in the last Champions League clash. Barcelona’s biggest challenge in this game may be fixture congestion, with the El Clasico against La Liga leaders Real Madrid looming. Ayoub El Kaabi would be the magic man if Olympiacos has hope, but realistically Marcus Rashford and company will look to get an early lead and then shut the game down as they prepare for El Clasico on Sunday. Prediction: FC Barcelona 2 Olympiacos 0
Napoli at PSV
With a loss and a draw in their first two games, PSV need a home win to kickstart their Champions League push. The domestic campaign is better, as PSV are second on the Dutch table and appear competitive. Napoli may not quite be at an elite level, but against sides like PSV they expect to win. Napoli won last time out against Sporting CP, but lost on the weekend to Torino and are competing to win another Serie A title against the likes of Inter Milan.
Ismael Saibari and Guus Til power the PSV attack, while Napoli could be missing their two first-choice strikers due to injury. Rasmus Hojlund missed the Torino game with a thigh injury, and Romelu Lukaku is still out. Kevin de Bruyne and Scotland’s Billy Gilmour power the Napoli midfield. Napoli aren’t at their best right now, but I’m not sure they need to be. Prediction: Napoli 2 PSV 1
Atletico Madrid at Arsenal
It’s been a comfortable start for Arsenal in the Champions League with two wins, the side also leads the Premier League by 3 points over Manchester City after 8 games. Atletico Madrid is a tougher opponent than their first two, however. The Spanish side are 4th in La Liga after 9 games, and they rolled Frankfurt in their second Champions League game.
Arsenal doesn’t concede goals and they play a disciplined brand of football, something Atletico Madrid also built a brand with. Julian Alvarez is the starman for Atletico, who have upped their goalscoring output this season. Piero Hincapie is an injury concern in the backline for Arsenal, but honestly, neither side would complain they lack a talented starting XI. This is a heavyweight clash from the managers to the players on the pitch. It may end up level after 90. Prediction: Arsenal 2 Atletico Madrid 1
FC Copenhagen at Borussia Dortmund
Copenhagen is struggling for fitness and form and may be one of the bottom of the table sides in the UEFA Champions League this season. Dortmund will be disappointed by their Der Klassiker defeat against a Bayern Munich squad that looks untouchable right now, but this matchup appears much more favorable. Thomas Delaney is a key out for the Danish side, while Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy continues to be one of the most potent goalscorers in Europe. The yellow wall should be satisfied with this result. Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 3 FC Copenhagen 0