Champions League, 17 September, 2014

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GROUP STAGE   

AJAX AMSTERDAM v PSG 

This evening at 21: 45, Ajax will receive the visit of PSG in a game that counts for the first round of Group F in the Champions League.

Ajax remains a team with a lot of players whose average age is very low. The Dutch band start this game as underdogs, but they always were able to make big games against top teams. Ajax had up and down performances in Eredivisie and currently stands on the 5th position in the ranking. They rely on a very strong attacking line, which scored an average of two goals per game. However, Ajax has to solve their problems in defence , because PSG is a team that can speculate any mistake made by the opposing team.

Viktor Fischer had not recovered after he suffered a knee injury in February, but Frank de Boer has at his  disposal the rest of his squad. The trainer thinks his team can produce another surprise in the Champions League this season after his team played very well at home against strong teams last season : "We are in a tough group – it seems we have drawn two of the strongest teams, but we showed last season we can get points against these sides. You need to enjoy these matches and try to surprise the big teams."

Parisians have not impressed in the first matches of the season. PSG has secured only two WINS in the first five rounds of the Ligue 1, and ranks only on the fifth place. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is crucial piece in the Laurent Blanc's team, the Swedish striker scored half the team's goals. French band is trying to repeat their good performance which they had in the previous edition of the competition, when they reached the quarter-finals. PSG was beaten only twice in the last nine movements performed in the Champions League.

David Luiz and Aurier traveled with the team to Amsterdam, but they are still doubtful for this evening's match. . Rabiot and Thiago Silva have not been included in the roster due to injuries. 

Possible lineups
Ajax(4-3-3) : Cillessen - Boilesen, Moisander, Veltman, Van Rhijn - Zimling, Viergever, Klaassen - Schöne, Sigthórsson, El Ghazi.
• Out: Viktor Fischer (hamstring), Riechedly Bazoer (groin)

Paris(4-3-3) : Sirigu - Van der Wiel, Camara/Luiz, Marquinhos, Maxwell - Thiago Motta, Verratti, Pastore -  Lucas, Cavani, Ibrahimović.
• Out: Thiago Silva (thigh)
• Doubtful: David Luiz (knee), Serge Aurier (concussion)

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score - 1.90  | ✖
• PSG to win & over 2.5 goals - 2.65  | ✖
• both teams to score - 1.80   | ✓

BARCELONA v APOEL NICOSIA 

Luis Enrique will take the challenge of leading FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League in his stride as he seeks to spoil APOEL FC's "dream" of a Camp Nou upset.
Claudio Bravo has kept clean sheets in his first three Barcelona appearances...

Possible lineups

Barcelona(4-3-3) : Bravo - Alves, Piqué, Mathieu, Alba - Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta - Messi, Neymar, Pedro.
• Out: Jordi Masip (broken finger)
• Doubtful: Thomas Vermaelen (thigh), Daniel Alves (knee)

APOEL(4-2-3-1) : Urko - Mário Sérgio, Carlão, Guilherme, Alexandrou - Morais, Vinicius - Charalambides, De Vincenti, Manduca - Sheridan. 
• Doubtful: Tasos Papazoglou (thigh), John Arne Riise (fitness)

• Barcelona to score a penalty - 3.50  | ✖

BAYERN MUNCHEN v MAN CITY 

I anticipate a spectacular game on Allianz-Arena between two of the best offensive teams in Europe. The last three meetings ended with goals on both sides and because today is not a decisive match I expect an offensive approach from both managers. It is the beginning of the season and the two teams are still searching their rhythm , so mistakes may appear anytime, and taking into account the quality of the players on the pitch is unlikely to not see goals. Bayern is redoubtable at home and we can expect from them to score more than a goal. They are dominating any opponent through the passing game and with the return of Ribery they will be much stronger. If the attack goes well, defence is the problem in this season debut. Injuries have messed up the system thought by Guardiola and Bayern received at least one goal in four of the five official games. Man City can score tonight ! 

Possible lineups
Bayern (4-2-3-1) : Neuer - Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Bernat - Xabi Alonso, Alaba - Müller, Götze, Robben - Lewandowski.
• Out: Bastian Schweinsteiger (knee), Rafinha (ankle), Mitchell Weiser (ankle), Thiago Alcántara (knee), Holger Badstuber (left thigh), Franck Ribéry (unknown)
• Doubtful: Arjen Robben

City (4-2-3-1) : Hart - Clichy, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov - Touré, Fernandinho - Nasri, Silva, Milner - Džeko.
• Out: Pablo Zabaleta (suspended), Stevan Jovetić (hamstring)

• both teams to score - 1.66  | ✖
• Draw - 4.20  | ✖

AS ROMA v CSKA MOSCOVA 

I anticipate a dramatic game between two offensive teams and we are likely to see perhaps an over 2.5. Rome was one of the most spectacular European teams last season and has kept their main players in attack. They are playing fast on the flanks, where players such as Gervinho, Iturbe and Totti ravage any defense. With so much quality in attack, it is hard to believe that they will not score at least two goals, especially because the Russians do not Excel in defence. They also charged 21 goals in the last seven UCL matches, I don't think a lot has changed in their defensive placement. CSKA can score too, Romans quarterbacks Cole and Maicon are supporting the attack and they are leaving huge spaces, the experience of the Russians in this competition it will be seen in full... 

Possible lineups

Roma (4-3-3) : De Sanctis - Maicon, Manolas, Astori, Cole - Pjanić, Keita, Nainggolan - Iturbe, Totti, Gervinho.
• Out: Daniele De Rossi (suspended), Kevin Strootman (knee)• Doubtful: Leandro Castán (thigh)

CSKA (4-4-2) : Akinfeev - Mário Fernandes, V Berezutski, Ignashevich, Nababkin - Tošić, Natcho, Eremenko, Milanov - Panchenko, Musa. 
• Out: Alan Dzagoev (suspended), Pontus Wernbloom (suspended), Rasmus Elm (stomach), Georgi Schennikov (ankle)

• both teams to score - 2.10   | ✓
• over 2.5 goals - 2.00   | ✓
• AS Roma to win by one goal - 3.50  | ✖

CHELSEA v SCHALKE 04 

Chelsea seems to be one of the most powerful European teams right now and the ambition of Mourinho is conquering the trophy ! The Germans had still not found their rhythm, the players and the fans are increasingly discontented and Jens Keller has the days counted at the "the Blues". There are a lot of players unavailable, including Captain Benedikt Howedes, the chances to make a beautiful figure at Stanford Bridge are minimal. I anticipate a Chelsea WIN... I remind you that Chelsea beat Schalke 3-0 twice last season ! 

Possible lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) : Courtois - Ivanović, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta - Fàbregas, Matić - Schürrle, Oscar, Hazard - Costa.

Schalke (4-2-3-1) : Fährmann - Höger, Ayhan, Friedrich, Aogo - Boateng, Neustädter - Sam, Meyer, Draxler - Huntelaar.
• Out: Fabian Giefer (groin), Benedikt Höwedes (hip), Felipe Santana (hamstring), Sead Kolašinac (knee), Atsuto Uchida (knee), Joel Matip (groin), Leon Goretzka (hamstring), Jefferson Farfán (knee)

• correct score 2-1, 3-1 or 4-1 - 4.00  | ✖
• Diego Costa to score first - 4.50  | ✖
• both teams to score - 2.00   | ✓

MARIBOR v SPORTING LISBON 

Possible lineups

Maribor(4-4-2) : Handanovič - Stojanovič, Rajčevič, Arghus, Viler - Mertelj, Ibraimi, Filipovič, Vršič - Tavares, Mendy.
• Out: Marko Šuler (hamstring)

Sporting (4-3-3) : Patrício - Ricardo Esgaio/Cédric, Maurício, Sarr, Jefferson - Carvalho, Adrien, Martins - Nani, Carillo, Slimani.
• Doubtful: Cédric (ribs)

• Maribor to score - 1.50   | ✓
• Nani to score - 4.25   | ✓

ATHLETIC BILBAO v SHAKHTAR DONETSK 

Two offensive teams, which are led by two outstanding technicians who have a similar philosophy of play. The parties at the Athletic ground are generally spectacular and with many goals, evidence are the statistics that show us that were included over 2.5 goals in 15 of the last 19 games at Estadio de San Mamés. 28 matches have gone since the last match where Basques have not scored. Shakhtar scored 18 times this season and has an average of over 2 goals per game. There have been at least three goals in seven of the last 11 matches in Champions League.

Possible lineups
Athletic (4-2-3-1) : Iraizoz - De Marcos, San José, Laporte, Balenziaga - Iturraspe, Mikel Rico - Susaeta, Beñat, Muniain - Aduriz.
• Out: None

Shakhtar: Kanibolotskiy, Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Azevedo, Stepanenko, Fernando, Douglas Costa, Teixeira, Taison, Adriano.
• Out: None

• both teams to score - 1.80  | ✖
• Aduriz to score - 2.30  | ✖

FC PORTO v BATE BORISOV 

Possible lineups
Porto (4-3-3) : Fabiano - Danilo, Maicon, Martins Indi, Alex Sandro - Casemiro, Evandro, Herrera - Tello, Brahimi, Jackson.
• Out: Gonçalo Paciência (knee), Óliver Torres (shoulder)

BATE (4-3-3) : Chernik - Khagush, Polyakov, Filipenko, Mladenović - A Volodko, Likhtarovich, Olekhnovich - Yakovlev, Rodionov, Gordeychuk.
• Doubtful: Nemanja Tubić (unspecified)

• correct score 1-0,2-0 or 3-0 - 2.30  | ✖
• Jackson Martinez to score first - 4.00  | ✖