The 2015-16 UEFA Champions League resumes this week with Matchday 4 of the group stage.
Sportsnet’s soccer panel of broadcasters, writers and pundits offer their picks and predictions below…
BAYERN MUNICH vs. ARSENAL
Gerry Dobson, Sportsnet: Based on recent form and results this sets up to be a tasty affair. While Bayern might be the best club in the world, Arsenal are arguably the hottest team right now. Their weekend 3-0 win over Swansea was their fifth straight Premier League victory leaving them tied for first place with Manchester City. Eleven games in, the consensus is the Gunners are now a legitimate title threat. Right in the middle of that five game stretch, Arsenal also handed Bayern their first defeat of the Champions League campaign. It was a much-needed win for Arsenal who started the group stage with two straight losses. Now they can challenge for the group lead with a follow-up win at Allianz Arena. The journey to Germany won’t scare them either—they have a win and two draws in their last three games there.
Arsenal could be catching Bayern at the perfect time, as a dip in form seems to have afflicted the Bundesliga champions. Since that loss to Arsenal two weeks ago, they won twice in Germany before a 0-0 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday. That ended their perfect start to the campaign of 10 straight wins. Teams seem to be putting almost everyone behind the ball when they play Bayern and the frustration showed against Frankfurt. They’re fed up with not finishing their chances and vow that won’t happen against Arsenal. Arturo Vidal says “we’ll show Arsenal the real Bayern.” I guess the Bayern that lost two weeks ago in London was an imposter. We’ll see.
Prediction: A 2-2 draw.
CHELSEA vs. DYNAMO KYIV
Donnovan Bennett, Sportsnet magazine: This game has little to do with Dynamo Kyiv and everything to do with the season that is spiralling out of control for Chelsea. In the Premier league, Chelsea have won three times and collected just 11 points from 11 matches. Their struggles have them sitting 14 points behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City. They enter European play on the heels of a 3-1 home loss to Liverpool, and they are sitting 15th in the table.
Chief among their struggles have been uncharacteristic play at the back as they have the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League, with 22 goals against. Playing at Stamford Bridge midweek is of little comfort as already they have conceded 10 goals at home, one more they conceded at home all of last year.
The rumours around Jose Mourinho’s job being in jeopardy continue to swirl and the feeling might be mutual as there is talk he wants out in order to go to PSG or Inter Milan. Carlo Ancelotti is said to be on standby.
The last time these two teams met it was a 0-0 draw but Chelsea sit third in the roup and need full points to advance. Too much pressure and too many defensive issues equal a Kyiv win.
Prediction: Dynamo Kyiv wins 1-0.
LYON vs. ZENIT SAINT-PETERSBURG
Thomas Michalakos, Sportsnet.ca: Judging purely on past results in this competition, I must not be the only one who is shocked by Zenit’s perfect record. Nothing staggering or worthy of mention has changed in the Russian club’s camp over the last few years but somehow Andre Villas-Boas has his team’s engine revving at optimal capacity. However, the perfect record (three wins) didn’t come together without some adversity. Zenit blew a two-goal lead in the opener away to Valencia before Alex Witsel notched the match-winner. Fast forward two weeks and it was Oleg Shatov playing the role of hero after Gent equalized in Russia. Three weeks later at Lyon, an early goal by the visitors was silenced by way of an Alexandre Lacazette strike before Hulk and Danny combined to put the match out of reach.
If you haven’t figured out the narrative, Zenit aren’t a stepping stone or Champions League doormat anymore. They’ve already eclipsed their total points haul in the group stage from the past three seasons (seven points in 2012, six points in 2013 and seven points in 2014).
For Lyon, Wednesday’s match at the Petrovsky is must-win (one point from three matches), while a spot in the next round is Zenit’s incentive for victory, with maximum points confirming their place.
Prediction: Zenit Saint-Petersburg wins 1-0.
MORE ON THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Sportsnet soccer panel: Picks and predictions || Bernabeu test a chance for PSG to ‘make it’ || Time has come for Manchester United to drop Wayne Rooney || 5 stories to watch this week || They’re out to get Jose Mourinho
MANCHESTER UNITED vs. CSKA MOSCOW
James Sharman, Sportsnet : I watched Manchester United take on Crystal Palace on the weekend and it dawned on me that Palace looked way more like United than United is supposed to look like. Palace attacked, used its width well, and was just downright entertaining in a nil-nil draw. United meanwhile looked slow and stodgy, and devoid of any creativity save for the occasional flash of brilliance from Anthony Martial. The 0-0 draw was United’s third straight and Louis Van Gaal is now demanding an end to the slump.
Perhaps that means benching Wayne Rooney? The Englishman is getting playing time purely on his reputation these days—any other player suffering from such a malaise would not be starting. No wonder Paul Scholes said this week he wouldn’t enjoy playing in this current team. As for CSKA, another win on the weekend, so that’s 36 points from their opening 14 games, a record! Last time out these two finished at 1-1, and I don’t expect to see a result at Old Trafford either, but surely we’ll see a goal?
Prediction: A 1-1 draw.
REAL MADRID vs. PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Noah Love, Sportsnet.ca : After a disappointing first leg in Paris, the return match at the Santiago Bernabeu should be at least a bit more compelling. Real was comically beset by injuries in October, but a number of Galacticos are on the verge of return. While it’s unlikely all of Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema will show up on Tuesday, even one or two of them would inject a lot more intrigue into the match.
All eyes will be on a former Real star Angel Di Maria, who will make his first trip back to Madrid since his disastrous transfer to Manchester United in the summer of 2014. Di Maria has in recent weeks started to rediscover the form that helped Real win La Decima last year, another boon to a PSG team that currently tops the Ligue 1 table by 10 points after just 12 games. Still, the match is at the Bernabeu, where Real rarely loses. And while PSG is probably the fourth-best team in the world, Real is still considered a cut above.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 2-1.
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH vs. JUVENTUS
Dan Riccio, Sportsnet 590 The FAN: ‘Gladbach started their season with five consecutive losses in the Bundesliga, but they have since won six on the spin. The German side has outscored opponents 23-6 during the run; all of this coincided with Andre Schubert taking over as manager. Their form in the Champions League though has not yet changed, only recently earning their first point, a goalless draw at Juventus a couple of weeks ago.
Juventus’ form domestically has left much to be desired, but they are coming off a massive derby win over Torino on Saturday. Paul Pogba’s return to form has seen the Bianconeri’s play improve, and results are starting to follow. A win at ‘Gladbach combined with a Sevilla loss to Manchester City would see Juventus clinch a spot in the knockout round with two matches to spare. They won’t let that opportunity pass them by.
Prediction: Juventus wins 2-0.
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