The Champions League is getting ready for another blockbuster gameweek of football.
We’re down to the final matchday in Europe’s premier competition, and we have two blockbuster matches. First Spurs travel to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona, knowing that they need to match or better Inter’s result to qualify. And then Liverpool host Napoli at Anfield whilst PSG take on Red Star in Belgrade in a group where both qualification spots are up for grabs. Besides that there are a handful of spots up for grabs, including a battle between Bayern Munich and Ajax to see who tops Group E.
We’ve had a look at the fixtures and had two of the Squawka team come up with predictions:
Galatasaray vs. Porto
Muhammad Butt: Porto are home and dry in terms of qualification for the next round so while they could go to Istanbul and win if they wanted to, their focus may slip a bit and let Galatasaray (who somehow threw away their second place spot on matchday 5) pick up a big win. 2-1 Galatasaray.
Evan Smith: Galatasaray have been decent at home in Europe this season; drawing and winning once so far. With Porto having already secured top spot, Galatasaray may well maintain this unbeaten record and secure their place in the Europa League. 1-0 Galatasaray.
Schalke vs. Lokomotiv Moscow
MB: Schalke have won just once their last five games since beating Galatasaray to secure qualification. Lokomotiv are a weak side and haven’t won a game outside the Russian capital since October. Hard to separate them. 1-1 draw.
ES: Lokomotiv Moscow picked up their first points after a surprise win against Galatasaray last matchday. But they’ve lost their last four away CL games stretching back to previous competition and an already-qualified Schalke should do the job. 2-0 Schalke.
Barcelona vs. Spurs
MB: Ernesto Valverde has said he will rest some players, including Luis Suárez. Of course no Suárez means Leo Messi is likely to play, and that’s bad news for Spurs because the best player on the planet enjoys dismantling English sides. Spurs are on a roll and Harry Kane is well rested, but Barcelona haven’t lost at home in Europe for 28 games, a run stretching back to 2013, so it’s hard to see Spurs bucking that trend – especially if Messi plays. 2-1 Barcelona.
ES: Can Spurs do the seemingly impossible? The odds are certainly stacked up against them; Barca are unbeaten in their last 28 home games in the Champions League and Spurs are winless away so far in the competition. It’s probably too big of a mountain to climb at this stage and Spurs will fall just short. 2-2 draw.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Lionel Messi has scored 22 goals in 29 Champions League appearances against English clubs.
Inter vs. PSV
MB: PSV have performed better than their results have shown, but Inter’s hopes of qualification rely on them getting a win in the San Siro. They’ve beaten Spurs and held Barcelona at home, so getting a win against the Dutch side is doable. 1-0 Inter.
ES: Inter need to win to have the best chance of advancing into the group stages and should be confident of beating PSV at home. They’ve conceded 12 in 5 and faced more shots than any other side so as long as Icardi has his shooting boots on, as he’s had in both home games already, Inter should win. 2-0 Inter.
Club Brugge vs. Atlético Madrid
MB: Atleti need a win to secure top-spot, and it’s fairly easy to see them getting it given the quality available to them. 0-1 Atleti.
ES: Brugge can’t make the knockout rounds and have done enough to drop into the Europa League so essentially they’re playing for pride. Atletico are playing for top spot and will want to take advantage of this match. They’ll finish top for the fifth time in six seasons and win. 1-2 Atleti.
Monaco vs. Borussia Dortmund
MB: Monaco have now won two games under Thierry Henry but they still probably won’t have enough in their locker to contend with the hurricane that is Borussia Dortmund. Even if they rest some big names, most of their players are so good off the bench that there’s little hope for Monaco. 1-4 Dortmund.
ES: It’s been a Champions League campaign to forget for Monaco. They’ve lost four out of their five Champions League games, and have the joint worst goal difference in the competition. Like Atletico, Dortmund will be aiming to finish top and the least they can do is beat an underwhelming Monaco side. 0-2 Dortmund.
Liverpool vs. Napoli
MB: The Reds are imperious at Anfield and Napoli are not the best away from home, add those two elements together and even though a draw will see Carlo Ancelotti’s men through, it’s hard to see them stopping the Red Tide. 3-1 Liverpool.
ES: Liverpool are unbeaten in 18 European matches at Anfield and can take some comfort in this record. But I fancy Napoli to get a point, which is all they need to qualify. They’re the only unbeaten side in Group C and have been the most impressive in the other big games they’ve played in this group. 1-1 draw.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven games for club and country.
Crvena Zvezda vs. PSG
MB: PSG’s hopes of qualification rely heavily on the fact that they slapped Crvena Zvezda silly in Paris. Obviously they are a different prospect altogether in Belgrade but it’s hard to see them being able to handle the likes of Mbappé and Neymar going all-out to ensure they still have relevant games to play after Christmas. 1-4 PSG.
ES: PSG have the perfect game to secure their qualification and won’t mess this up away to Red Star as Liverpool did. Only Manchester City have scored more than PSG’s 13 in the competition and PSG could end up as the group stage top scorers after this. 1-3 PSG.
Real Madrid vs. CSKA
MB: Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign has been a sole light in the darkness in this bleak season, and playing at home to CSKA should see them round off the group in style. 2-0 Madrid.
ES: CSKA could be the first team in 10 years to beat Madrid both home and away in the Group Stages of the Champions League. But Real Madrid have picked up form since then and also haven’t lost a group stage match at the Bernabeu in 27 games. 3-1 Madrid.
Viktoria Plzen vs. Roma
MB: Roma’s form has fallen off a cliff and their recent away history in Europe is something of a bloodbath. Given they have qualified and cannot win the group, it’s likely they will send some reserves out and probably shambles their way to a point. 1-1 draw.
ES: No Champions League side has conceded more goals than Plzen this season, partly thanks to a 5-0 drubbing by Roma, their biggest ever European defeat. With Roma already qualified the final result may not be as rampant but a comfortable victory nonetheless. 0-3 Roma.
Ajax vs. Bayern Munich
MB: Having picked up a point in Germany, Ajax will want to make an impression on Europe by stealing top spot in the group from Bayern by winning at home. For their part, the Bavarians will be keen to avoid any embarrassments. Ajax’s quality youngsters and great drive could give them an edge here. 2-1 Ajax.
ES: There’s a chance Ajax could still finish top of this group – they must beat Bayern at home. Robert Lewandowski has three in three against Ajax and is an obvious danger in this competition Both sides are unbeaten in the group and I fancy Ajax o get a draw at home. 1-1 draw.
Benfica vs. AEK
MB: Benfica are usually great at home but they’ve not won there yet this season. However AEK are a poor side and the Eagles can celebrate their Europa League spot here by giving their fans a big win to see out 2018. 3-0 Benfica.
ES: AEK are the only side in this season’s competition yet to win a point and no side has scored fewer goals than their 2. Benfica are confirmed to drop down into the Champions League but should beat this underwhelming side before they go. 2-0 Benfica.
Manchester City vs. Hoffenheim
MB: A draw will see City emerge as group winners, but Hoffenheim are no slouches. If Pep Guardiola’s men want to win the group then they will have to fight to the very last to get it. No Hoffenheim game in this season’s group stages has been decided by more than one goal and every game was still in play until at least the 80th minute. Don’t tune out early! 2-2 draw.
ES: Hoffenheim are yet to win a Champions League game this campaign and travel away to a side who have looked typically impressive since their first game defeat to Lyon. Manchester City still have first position to play for and won’t let up. 2-1 City.
Shakhtar vs. Lyon
MB: Lyon need to win if they want to top the group, though a 0-0 or 1-1 would also see them qualify. However Shakhtar are imperious at home and know that only a win will get them into the round of 16. Lyon will need to be at their very best if they want to take anything from the Ukranian side, but with Memphis around that is certainly possible. 2-3 Lyon.
ES: Lyon have drawn their last four games in the Champions League 2-2, 3-3, 2-2 and 2-2. They are definitely good entertainment value and have a side deserving to be in the knockout rounds. A draw will be enough but I think they will win this one away from home. 1-2 Lyon.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Memphis has created 20 chances in the Champions League this season. Only Toni Kroos has created more.
Young Boys vs. Juventus
MB: Juventus have been the best side in Group H and a win vs. the terrible Young Boys will let them confirm their status as group winners. Even United won handily in Sweden, so you can expect Juve will too. 0-3 Juventus.
ES: Young Boys are the only other team to have only scored twice so far and Juventus should feel incredibly confident of picking up a win and finishing top. 0-3 Juventus.
Valencia vs. Manchester United
MB: With Liverpool at the weekend, if José Mourinho is able to rest anyone then you can imagine he will do exactly that. Meanwhile Marcelino knows that he needs a win to convince the Valencia board to stick with him despite the club’s woes. It’s likely that he will get what he’s after as United’s attempts to coast will backfire. 2-1 Valencia.
ES: Manchester United are already into the knockout stages so are likely to rest some names away to Valencia ahead of Liverpool at the weekend. Valencia held United to a draw at Old Trafford earlier in the season and wouldn’t go against them getting another point at home. 1-1 draw.
The post Champions League predictions for all 16 matches this gameweek appeared first on Squawka News.
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