Champions League: Liverpool search for crucial win as Spurs look to top the group
It’s a Tuesday in the middle of November, and we all know what that means. The Champions League is back this evening and there are all sorts of group stage shenanigans on the cards, not least huge matches for Liverpool and Tottenham against Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
Manchester City are also in action tonight, so it’s a busy one for English teams. Here are all the potential permutations as European football returns to our screens.
Sevilla v Liverpool
Liverpool could secure a first appearance in the Champions League knockout stages since 2009 with a win over Sevilla, but it will be a hard ask at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. While the Reds have won four of their last five in all competitions and were in scintillating form against Southampton on Saturday, Sevilla are also on a strong run and have only lost once in the last month – that in a narrow defeat to La Liga frontrunners Barcelona.
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Having drawn 2-2 at Anfield in September, another draw would be a passable result for Liverpool, who currently lead Los Rojiblancos by a single point at the top of the group. The Reds will have to be wary of Sevilla striker Wissam Ben Yedder, who scored an early goal against them in their last match – former Manchester City misfit Jesus Navas may also get an outing against them.
Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham
After their disappointment in the North London derby, Tottenham will be looking to bounce back against a struggling Borussia Dortmund side. The Germans haven’t won in their last five Bundesliga matches, while they are currently third in Champions League Group H – level on points with APOEL Nicosia.
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Spurs will top the group with a win at the Westfalenstadion. Dortmund may be in the doldrums but they still have Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang in the team, and with 15 goals in all competitions so far this campaign the Gabonese striker is a major danger.
Manchester City v Feyenoord
Things should be much more straightforward for Manchester City against Feyenoord at the Etihad. The Dutch champions are without a point from their first four games in Europe this term and were easily dismantled by a combination of Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and, err, John Stones at De Kuip back in September.
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Pep Guardiola has indicated that he may look to blood some youngsters against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team, not least England U17s star Phil Foden and Spain U21 international Brahim Diaz. Even a draw would see City finish top were Shakhtar Donetsk to lose to Napoli, and another comfortable victory against Feyenoord could put them in cruise mode.
APOEL Nicosia v Real Madrid
It’s amazing that Zinedine Zidane seems under threat at Real Madrid considering that he’s won the Champions League twice since taking over as manager in early 2016, but that’s the reality of coaching the most fickle club on the face of the earth.
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Now 10 points behind Barcelona in La Liga after this weekend’s goalless draw against Atletico, anything other than a win against the champions of Cyprus would be treated as a complete disaster for Los Blancos. Nicosia have proved themselves to be surprisingly hardy in Europe thus far, but are likely to be overwhelmed by a wrathful and frustrated Real side.
Besiktas v Porto
Besiktas have been the Champions League’s surprise package this season, currently sitting pretty at the top of Group G with a four-point gap between them and FC Porto.
The Turkish champions are unbeaten in a group with also includes Monaco and Red Bull Leipzig and, having beaten Porto 3-1 at the Estádio do Dragão in their previous meeting, will be confident of securing knockout football this evening. On the scoresheet in their last outing against Porto was none other than Ryan Babel, who Liverpool fans may or may not remember fondly.
Spartak Moscow v Maribor
Though Liverpool and Sevilla might occupy first and second spot in Group E as things stand, Spartak Moscow are still in the running to reach the knockout stages.
The Russians will be expected to beat Slovenian side Maribor tonight, with the visitors taking only one point from their first four group stage games. A win would put Spartak on eight points, a position from which they could still topple either Sevilla or Liverpool in the final round of group fixtures.
Napoli v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli were the outsider’s tip for Champions League glory this season, but have looked laboured in Europe even as they have stormed to the top of Serie A.
Realistically, the Italians will end up with third place and Europa League football, though they will still be desperate to avenge their defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine. Meanwhile, a win for Shakhtar would keep them within touching distance of Manchester City at the top, with the Ukrainian champions hosting City in their final group game.
Monaco v Red Bull Leipzig
One for the purists, this one. Monaco are no longer the outfit they were with Kylian Mbappe leading the line and have scored only three goals in Europe this term.
Meanwhile, though Leipzig could still leapfrog Porto and reach the knockout stages, few will be expecting the energy-drink-conglomerate-come-football-club to go far.
