Champions League Predictions

PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk: two attack-minded sides set the Philips Stadion alight Seven of PSV Eindhoven’s last 10 matches have seen both teams score. That stat pretty much tells you what to expect at the Philips Stadion on Thursday night. Matchday one of the league phase brings this one on Thursday 10 September at…

Bayern Munich vs Bodo/Glimt: six straight wins for the Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt have won their last six competitive matches. Across that run, the Norwegian club have scored 17 goals and shipped 7. Those numbers tell you they are in decent nick, but they do not begin to cover the jump in class that is coming.…

Slavia Prague vs Lens: an imperious leader meets a wobbling Lens Slavia Prague sit top of the Czech league with 17 points from seven matches and they are still unbeaten. RC Lens have three from three in Ligue 1. The gap on the table is stark as the league phase gets under way. The two…

Como vs RB Leipzig: seven points from three away trips for the Larians Como have played their first three Serie A matches away from home and came back with seven points. Seven goals scored, three conceded, no defeats. That quirk of the schedule matters for one simple reason: the Lombardy club still haven’t played in…

PSG vs Slovan Bratislava: French champions head into Europe still looking for a win Three league matches, no wins: PSG go into their first European night with just two points on the board. That number tells you all you need to know about the mood around the Paris club before a ball is kicked. Kick-off…

Stuttgart vs Viking: a Bundesliga heavyweight against a European debutant Five goals shipped on the opening day of the Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart got their season up and running in the worst possible way in Munich. Their European opener now arrives in a context nobody at the club would have wanted. Kick-off is set for Wednesday,…

Barcelona vs Feyenoord: 51 years on, the two sides meet again Barcelona have scored 17 goals in four La Liga games and conceded just two. No side in Spain’s top flight has done better. Feyenoord arrive with 11 points from five Eredivisie matches, after three wins and two draws. Kick-off is set for Wednesday, September…

Sporting CP vs Galatasaray: two domestic champions who have never met in Europe Fourteen goals in five league games for Sporting, and a top scorer already on five for Galatasaray: both clubs arrive with their attacking numbers in good shape. The first round of the league phase promises something a lot more lively than a…

Napoli vs Arsenal: the English champions open their European campaign at the Maradona Arsenal have conceded just one goal in their first three Premier League games. Napoli have let in five across their three Serie A outings. That defensive contrast is the first thing to note heading into this league-phase opener. Kick-off is set for…