Champions League predictions & preview: Matchday 3

After a lengthy international break, which did genuinely seem to go on forever, the Champions League is back in town.

Matchday three is upon us, and all eight groups are shaping up nicely as we get to the halfway stage of the first phase.

There are some big games to look forward to, as well as ones you may look to avoid, but every single game is crucial in determining who makes it through to the knockout stages.

Here's 90min's predictions and previews ahead of a busy couple of days...


Tuesday

Group A

Pep Guardiola needs a response in the Champions League | Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Club Brugge vs Man City

When is kick off? Tuesday 19 October 17:45 (BST)
Where is it being played? Jan Breydel Stadium

Manchester City will be looking to bounce back from their Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on matchday two when they travel to Belgium to take on Club Brugge.

They are the favourites for three points despite trailing their opponents by a point, and rightly so.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: Club Brugge 0-3 Man City


PSG vs RB Leipzig

When is it being played? Tuesday 19 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Parc des Princes

PSG's quest for a maiden Champions League trophy continues on Tuesday night with a home game against Group A basement boys RB Leipzig.

Leipzig are huge underdogs after a shaky start to life under new boss Jesse Marsch, particularly as the Parisians have already downed tournament favourites Manchester City at the Parc des Princes.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: PSG 3-1 RB Leipzig


Group B

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool smashed Porto on matchday two | Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool

What time is kick off? Tuesday 19 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Wanda Metropolitano

Atletico Madrid and Liverpool go head to head in one of the standout fixtures of matchday three.

Both sides have got off to a decent start in the competition; Jurgen Klopp's Reds particularly impressing after scoring eight times in two games - beating Milan 3-2 and Porto 5-1, the latter away from home.

Expect a good game here between two very capable sides.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-3 Liverpool


Porto vs Milan

What time is kick off? Tuesday 19 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Estadio do Dragao

It's a must-win game for both Porto and Milan in Group B's game other game.

Both are without wins after playing Atletico and Liverpool, though it's the hosts who are slightly better off - they have at least taken a point after playing Diego Simeone's La Liga champions.

That said, Porto were battered at home by Liverpool, and Milan will fancy their chances of a cheeky away win.

Prediction: Porto 1-2 Milan


Group C

Pedro Goncalves won't be at Sporting for too long | Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Besiktas vs Sporting CP

What time is kick off? Tuesday 19 October, 17:45 (BST)
Where is it being played? Vodafone Arena

Again, it's a battle of two winless sides when Besiktas and Sporting CP clash at the Vodafone Arena.

Realistically both are playing for a future Europa League berth, but their first duel may end up in a share of the spoils before they lock horns again on matchday four.

Prediction: Besiktas 1-1 Sporting CP


Ajax vs Borussia Dortmund

What time is kick off? Tuesday 19 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Amsterdam ArenA

There's one thing that Ajax and Borussia Dortmund have in common, and that's the fact that both teams love scoring goals.

On one side you've got *checks notes* Ajax's Sebastien Haller, who has already bagged five in two games, while on the other you've got Erling Haaland, who might actually be half human and half cyborg.

Expect more for them here.

Prediction: Ajax 2-2 Borussia Dortmund


Group D

Karim Benzema has a shot at winning the 2021 Ballon d'Or | Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Real Madrid

What time is kick off? Tuesday 19 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kiev

Real Madrid play their first fixture following the international break when they travel to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Carlo Ancelotti's men were given a major shock when they fell to a 2-1 defeat to minnows Sheriff Tiraspol, so they will be revved up and keen to ensure the same doesn't happen agains the Ukrainian giants.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Real Madrid


Inter vs Sheriff Tiraspol

What time is kick off? Tuesday 19 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? San Siro

Inter are yet to register a win in this season's Champions League after failing to overcome both Real and Shakhtar in their first two games.

That makes victory against a Sheriff side who have miraculously taken six points out of six an absolute must. Surely they will get it? Don't bet on it.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: Inter 1-1 Sheriff Tiraspol


How to watch every Champions League game on TV

UK audiences will be able to watch live coverage on BT Sport, with a full highlights show broadcast on both Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

US viewers can watch games on fuboTV and Paramount+, while DAZN will be broadcasting every Champions League game live in Canada.

Viewers from around Europe can find full TV listings here.


Wednesday

Group E

Ronald Koeman needs a Champions League win, badly | David Ramos/GettyImages

Barcelona vs Dynamo Kyiv

What time is kick off? Wednesday 20 October, 17:45 (BST)
Where is it being played? Camp Nou

Barcelona's Champions League campaign has been disastrous so far, with Ronald Koeman's side slipping to back-to-back 3-0 defeats against Bayern Munich and Benfica respectively.

Lose again to Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday and they face a seriously tricky task to avoid crashing out at the group stages. Fortunately, they have a couple of players available again, and should win.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: Barcelona 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv


Benfica vs Bayern Munich

What time is kick off? Wednesday 20 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Estadio da Luz

Bayern Munich will hope to keep their dominant start to their Champions League journey going when they travel to Portugal to meet Benfica.

Julian Nagelsmann's side have bagged eight goals and are yet to concede in their two European games, and are strong favourites to pick up another win.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: Benfica 1-3 Bayern Munich


Group F

Man Utd's tactical naivety has seen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer questioned | Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Man Utd vs Atalanta

What time is kick off? Wednesday 20 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Old Trafford

Man Utd welcome Atalanta to Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to ease the growing pressure on his position as manager.

United were indebted to a stoppage time winner from Cristiano Ronaldo against Villarreal in their previous Champions League outing, having previously gone down to a shock defeat in Switzerland against Young Boys.

This should be a thriller, and Atalanta will more than play their part in what should be a very open game.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: Man Utd 3-2 Atalanta


Young Boys vs Villarreal

What time is kick off? Wednesday 20 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Stade de Suisse

Unai Emery's Villarreal travel to Switzerland to take on Young Boys knowing they must pick up three points on the road.

Winless after drawing with Atalanta and losing to Manchester United late on, the pressure is on against the Swiss champions - who have already beaten the Red Devils on their own patch. A tight cagey affair is in prospect, and the out-of-form visitors may not get what they want...

Prediction: Young Boys 0-0 Villarreal


Group G

Matthias Jaissle is Red Bull's latest bright young coach | Christian Kaspar-Bartke/GettyImages

Salzburg vs Wolfsburg

What time is kick off? Wednesday 20 October, 17:45 (BST)
Where is it being played? Red Bull Arena, Salzburg

The most wide open group in this season's competition is probably Group G, with all four teams likely thinking they can qualify for the knockout stages.

Salzburg have impressed the most so far, picking up four points from six, but opponents Wolfsburg are unbeaten after draws against Sevilla and Lille. Will that change here? Potentially, yes.

Prediction: Salzburg 2-0 Wolfsburg


Lille vs Sevilla

What time is kick off? Wednesday 20 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Stade Pierre-Mauroy

Lille surprisingly won Ligue 1 last season ahead of PSG, but then inexplicably lost their manager Christophe Galtier to OGC Nice.

Things aren't going so well under new boss Jocelyn Gourvennec, and their poor domestic form has carried over into Europe. Sevilla will rightly fancy their chances of victory on the road.

Prediction: Lille 1-2 Sevilla


Group H

Romelu Lukaku has cut a frustrated figure in recent games for Chelsea | Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages

Chelsea vs Malmo

What time is kick off? Wednesday 20 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Stamford Bridge

The champions of Europe are in action on Wednesday night when Chelsea welcome Malmo to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are in fine form domestically, but slipped up against Juventus on matchday two of the competition. That's a wrong that Thomas Tuchel's side will want to convincingly right here.

Read 90min's full match preview here.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Malmo


Zenit vs Juventus

What time is kick off? Wednesday 20 October, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Gazprom Arena

A trip to the Gazprom Arena is never one that opposing teams relish, but that's the fate of Juventus on Wednesday night when they collide with Zenit.

Two wins out of two is a very healthy spot for Max Allegri's Bianconeri, and things are looking a lot brighter domestically after a string of Serie A wins. It won't be straightforward against a Zenit side who have three points of their own, but the odd goal may go the way of the Italians.

Prediction: Zenit 0-1 Juventus



Source : 90min