The UEFA Champions League continues this week with Matchday 5 of the group stage.
Sportsnet’s panel of soccer writers and broadcasters preview this week’s matches and offer their predictions.
Ludogorets vs Liverpool
James Doyle: Let’s break this down. On the one hand, Liverpool is a team with some legitimate quality players; on the other hand, they’re 12th in the Premier League right now and just collapsed 3-1 to Crystal Palace, extending their winless streak to four games. On the one hand Ludogorets Razgrad might as well be from Mars for all their Champions League pedigree, and are currently not even the best team in Bulgaria; on the other, they beat Basel already in the group stage, and damn near held Liverpool to a draw at Anfield.
As tempting as it is to call an upset here, I just can’t quite bring myself to do it. Liverpool’s squad will (presumably) be getting a stern kick up the backside before, during and after the flight to Razgrad. It won’t solve their endemic problems, but I think it’ll be enough to see them through a match they could justifiably see as a momentum-shifting win that’s theirs for the taking.
Prediction: Liverpool wins 2-1.
Wednesday programming alert: Watch Zenit Saint Petersburg vs Benfica on the four main Sportsnet channels and Sportsnet World at 11:45 am ET, Ludogorets vs Liverpool on the four main Sportsnet channels at 2:30 pm ET, Basel vs Real Madrid on Sportsnet ONE at 2:30 pm ET and Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund on Sportsnet World at 2:30 pm ET. || Also, watch these games at 2:45 pm ET online at Sportsnet World NOW: Anderlecht vs Galatasaray, Bayer Leverkusen vs Monaco, Atletico Madrid vs Olympiacos and Malmo vs Juventus.. || Broadcast schedule
Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund
Thomas Michalakos: Borussia Dortmund is the definition of inconsistency this season. Arsenal is also in crisis mode—and coming off a demoralizing 2-1 home defeat over the weekend to Manchester United—but Dortmund is in a far worse state of affairs. They hit another low on Saturday, blowing a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 away to recently promoted Paderborn, placing them in the relegation zone on 11 points. To make matters worse, Marco Reus was stretchered off the pitch after a vicious challenge that resulted in a fresh injury to his right ankle—sidelining him until the New Year.
Thankfully, it’s not the same ankle that forced him to miss out on Germany’s winning World Cup run. Without his best player, Jurgen Klopp will need a miracle to stop the bleeding, and has compounded the suffering by his thinly veiled comment favouring a Premier League switch in the not to distant future. It’s difficult to comprehend how this team can be unbeatable and atop Group D with a perfect record, while at the same time being so poor domestically. Go figure. Arsenal must sweep their remaining matches and hope Dortmund loses both of theirs in order to avoid the competition’s heavy-hitters in the next round.
Prediction: Arsenal wins 2-1.
Zenit Saint Petersburg vs Benfica
Alex Seixeiro: Benfica’s win over Monaco on Matchday 4 reignited their quest to reach the round of 16, but now they’re tasked with something that’s been such a struggle over the years: Winning a Champions League match away from home. Benfica travel to Russia for the early kick-off on Wednesday where the Russian league-leaders are in the same position, with four points from four games.
Lima was rested over the weekend in Benfica’s Portuguese Cup win over Moreirense and he’ll lead the attack, presumably with goal-scoring machine Anderson Taslica playing just off him. Derley injured himself in Saturday’s victory and is unlikely to feature as manager Jorge Jesus continues to deal with little to no options up front.
Andre-Villas Boas’ men hold a comfortable eight point lead atop the Russian table and now will attempt to beat Benfica for the second time during this group phase. Centre-back Ezequiel Garay will face his former club for the second time while Portuguese midfielder Danny is expected to join Hulk and Rondon in a dangerous trio up front. I expect Zenit will be a bit too much for Benfica to handle.
Prediction: Zenit Saint Petersburg wins 2-0.
Atletico Madrid vs Olympiakos
Dan Riccio: Since losing to Olympiakos in September, Atletico Madrid have lost just twice in all competitions. The Greek side has not fared as well since that win in September over Atletico, losing both games away from the Karaiskakis in the Champions League. Atletico are no longer messing around—this group is theirs for the taking and Olympiakos don’t have what it takes to win at the Vicente Calderon.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid wins 3-0.
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