UCL Preview: Barca aim to avoid repeating Real mistake; Liverpool face Napoli test

Champions League is finally back! Welcome to our All Football Champions League Preview!

Paris Saint Germain vs FK Crvena Zvezda

Kick off: 18:55 (CET)

Date: Wed, 03-Oct-18

Probable Lineups

PSG focus

Buffon serves the final match of a two-game suspension here, but Verratti has served his ban and is free to play on Wednesday.

Kurzawa and Alves are both sidelined for the home side, while Meunier, Diarra, Dagba, Draxler and Jese are also doubts.

Kehrer may be required at right-back if Meunier fails to prove his fitness in time, while Marquinhos could return to centre-back after playing in midfield against Liverpool.

Cavani will return to the starting XI after being benched at the weekend.

FK Crvena Zvezda focus

Stojiljkovic is ruled out for the FK Crvena Zvezda, while Savic is a doubt.

After holding Napoli to a 0-0 draw in gameweek 1, the away side have no reason to tinker with their squad, fitness of players permitting.

Babic is favourite to deputise for Savic if the centre-back fails to recover from injury in time.

Stats

Paris Saint-Germain have only lost two of their last 28 Champions League home games and are expected to bounce back from their 3-2 defeat away to Liverpool last time out in Europe.

FK Crvena Zvezda were drawn in a group of death alongside PSG, Liverpool and Napoli and were expected to lose every single game. They have already exceeded expectations after drawing 0-0 with Napoli last time out.

PSG haven't found their best form under new manager Thomas Tuchel but they are expected to come through Wednesday's match with ease. They have scored at least three goals in each of their opening five home matches in all competitions this season.

Prediction

PSG 4-0 FK Crvena Zvezda

Napoli vs Liverpool

Kick off: 21:00 (CET)

Date: Wed, 03-Oct-18

Probable Lineups

Napoli focus

Rui was sent off against Juventus at the weekend but is available to play against Liverpool in the UCL.

Ancelotti may persist with a 4-4-1-1 formation here. If that is the case, Hamsik, Ruiz and Diawara are competiting for one place alongside Allan in central midfield.

Chiriches and Younes are the only injury concerns for the hosts.

Liverpool focus

Keita dropped to the bench against Chelsea on Saturday in order to accomodate captain Henderson but he is expected to start here.

Salah has endured a tough start to the season and was even subbed off against Chelsea after a poor display. It would be a big call to drop him against Napoli.

Lallana, Chamberlain and Origi are the only injury concerns for Liverpool ahead of Wednesday's trip to Napoli.

Stats

Napoli failed to take advantage of the fact Liverpool and PSG played each other in GW1, only managing a 0-0 draw with Red Star last time out. They really need to get a positive result here.

Liverpool beat PSG 3-2 in a thrilling contest at Anfield last time out in Europe but their performances have dipped in the last week, failing to beat Chelsea on two occasions. They are currently on a gruelling run of fixtures and Jurgen Klopp will need his side to keep grinding out results.

Liverpool have lost only two of their last eight away games against Italian teams and you'd fancy the Reds to continue that run given Napoli's early struggles under Ancelotti this season.

Prediction

Napoli 1-2 Liverpool

Atletico Madrid vs Club Bruges

Kick off: 21:00 (CET)

Date: Wed, 03-Oct-18

Probable Lineups

Atletico Madrid focus

Giménez proved his fitness in time to start Saturday's Madrid derby, while Arias was named on the bench. Savic is the only reported injury concern for Atletico Madrid.

Few changes are expected from the side that started Atletico's last Champions League match. Luis and Hernandez compete for a starting berth at left-back.

Club Bruges

Baiye and Rezaei are doubts for Club Bruges ahead of Wednesday's trip to Madrid.

Stats

Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Monaco in the opening round of Champions League group matches. They have kept three clean sheets in a row since then, including a 0-0 draw with Real Madrid on Saturday.

Club Bruges earned a credible 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in GW1. They were tipped to finish bottom with 0 points as soon as they were drawn in a group alongside Dortmund, Atletico and Monaco.

The Belgian side have failed to win any of their last 11 matches in the Champions League proper and that will not change here.

Prediction

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Club Bruges

Dortmund vs Monaco

Kick off: 21:00 (CET)

Date: Wed, 03-Oct-18

Probable Lineups

Dortmund focus

Sancho's only start this season has come in the UCL. He has been immense off the bench and will surely be considered from the off here.

Alcácer has also made meaningful impacts from the bench and will push for his full Dortmund debut.

Hakimi has scored or assisted in his first two appearances for Dortmund and could continue at right-back with Piszczek a doubt.

Monaco focus

Chadli, Henrichs and Golovin were all substitutes in Monaco's 2-0 defeat to Saint-Etienne at the weekend and will hope to start here.

Monaco will need to assess the condition of six players before Wednesday night.

Stats

Dortmund have made an unbeaten start to the season (W5, D2).

Monaco have only won one of their opening 10 matches in all competitions (L6, D3).

Dortmund average over four goals per game at home this season and will expect to win on Wednesday night.

Prediction

Dortmund 3-1 Monaco

Tottenham vs Barcelona

Kick off: 21:00 (CET)

Date: Wed, 03-Oct-18

Probable Lineups

Tottenham focus

Alli has been ruled out of the welcome of Barcelona, and is joined on the sidelines by Dembele, Eriksen, Vertonghen and Aurier.

Lloris is available and could replace Gazzaniga between the sticks, while Davies, Lamela and Wanyama may all start.

Barcelona focus

Messi played a key role off the bench for Barcelona against Athletic Club on Saturday and should return to the starting XI.

Lenglet is expected to deputise for the suspended Umtiti alongside Pique at the heart of the defence.

After starting the stalemate with Athletic in midfield, Roberto will miss out here, with Semedo set to continue at right-back.

Reports from Spain also suggest that Valverde will revert to a 4-4-2 setup, with Dembele dropped, which could see Vidal start in midfield and Rakitic moved to the right.

Stats

Tottenham were pegged back by Inter to lose 2-1 late on in their group stage opener. However, since that loss, Tottenham have won their last three and will hope to continue that good form with the welcome of Barcelona.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have endured a downturn in form having failed to win their last three, drawing two. A 2-1 loss at Leganes shows that the Blaugrana are beatable, but they can dominate any opponent on their day and a repeat of their 4-0 win over PSV would certainly go down well with their fans.

The hosts are in form, but could be without two key men, and while Barcelona look out of sorts, an entertaining draw could be on the cards at Wembley on Wednesday night.

Prediction

Tottenham 2-2 Barcelona

PSV Eindhoven vs Inter

Kick off: 21:00 (CET)

Date: Wed, 03-Oct-18

Probable Lineups

PSV focus

Thomas, Rigo and Romero are still injury concerns for PSV ahead of Wednesday's clash against Inter.

No changes are expected from the side that lost 4-0 away to Barcelona last time out in Europe. Bergwijn and Lozano can play on either flank.

Inter focus

Dalbert, Gagliardini and Mario have all been left out of Inter's UCL squad and are ineligible. Vrsaljko is the only injury concern for the away side.

Skriniar played right-back against Tottenham but should return to the heart of Inter's defence in Eindhoven.

Martínez scored his first Inter goal at the weekend but is not expected to start here.

Stats

PSV were humbled 4-0 by Barcelona in GW1 but they generally played better than that. The Dutch side have won three on the spin since then and haven't conceded in that time.

Inter came from behind to beat Tottenham last time out in the UCL and have won their three matches since then. After a difficult start to the season, Inter are gradually gathering some momentum.

Inter have progressed from their group in their last eight UCL campaigns and will expect to take a positive result back to Italy on Wednesday night. They are unbeaten in nine meetings with Dutch sides (W6, D3).

Prediction

PSV 1-2 Inter