Unlike Arsene Wenger wants you to believe, the Champions League is back tomorrow, with some mouth watering fixtures.
After a very bizarre week of football, the Champions League is back, and most clubs are waiting to prove themselves after not ideal weekend performances (CC: Real Madrid, Liverpool). Here, I will be taking a look at tomorrow's 3 best matchups, and any key factors in play before the games.
Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid
By far the best match-up tomorrow, these two teams will battle it out at the Westfalenstadion (good luck pronouncing that), Dortmund's home.
Real Madrid will be missing important players, including #Marcelo, and Benzema, both out due to injuries. Real Madrid's bench is also affected, with Kovacic sidelined for approx. two months, and Theo Hernandez out due to a shoulder injury. On the other hand, Dortmund is also missing players in Reus, out to injury once again, and left wing and left back Schurrle and Guerreiro. Dortmund is coming into the game looking the stronger team, getting 14 goals in the last 3 games, including an #Aubameyang hat-trick. Real Madrid, on the other hand, has struggled a bit more, scraping through with a win against Alaves, and losing at home vs Real Betis, ending their 73-game streak of scoring in every game.
Prediction: 2-2
Although Borussia is playing at home and look like the stronger team, Real Madrid always pulls it off when it comes to the Champions League, regardless of the odd's.
Spartak Moskva vs Liverpool
After being knocked out of the EFL cup to Leicester, Liverpool hopes to get their first win vs Spartak Moskva tomorrow.
Ever since the arrival of Chamberlain, Liverpool has entered a bit of a slump, winning one game out of four over the last two weeks, including a draw with Burnley and a loss to Leicester (Although they redeemed themselves a few days later). Both Lallana and Clyne will be missing tomorrow's game, due to thigh and hamstring injuries.
Spartak Moskva has not been much better, as they currently sit 7th in the Russian League, drawing with last place Anji at home. Even worse, Quincy Promes will be out of the game for them.
Prediction: 1-3 Liverpool
Although they haven't been doing great, Liverpool is doing a lot better than Spartak Moskva and should have little problem beating them away from home.
Monaco vs Porto
Although it might've seemed terrible when Monaco lost 4 of their key players that won the league last season (Mbappe, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva, and Benjamin Mendy) they haven't lacked any goal-scoring prowess, with Falcao scoring 11 goals in 7 games in the league. Currently second in Ligue 1, Monaco has lost only one game since the beginning of the season, averaging more than 3 goals per game.
Porto is first place in the Primeira Liga, keeping the cleanest sheets in their league (5), and concede on average less than a goal per game (0.75). Although both teams are less known, it will still nonetheless be an entertaining game.
Prediction: 2-0
Porto is doing very well in the Primeira Liga, but they have less competition, making the stats seem better. Half of their goals conceded was in their first Champions League game vs Besiktas. With the help of Falcao and the home crowd, Monaco should win.
That rounds up tomorrow's best games, tomorrow I'll be previewing Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea, PSG vs Bayern Munich, and Sporting vs Barcelona.
