Chelsea open title protection in Champions League, Barca face Bayern

Barcelona’s means to compete in Europe with out Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann might be put to the take a look at when it hosts the staff that dealt the Spanish aspect its most humiliating defeat in latest reminiscence.
The 8-2 shellacking Bayern Munich handed Barcelona within the 2020 Champions League quarterfinals marked the start of the tip of the Messi period. The monetary troubles that stored Barcelona from re-signing Messi additionally pressured it to mortgage Griezmann again to Atletico Madrid.

Matchnight!! 🥰
Who will open with a win? 🤷‍♂️#UCL pic.twitter.com/xuUs2m67CM
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 14, 2021
Ronald Koeman has to discover a option to account for the 58 objectives the 2 forwards scored final season. That process falls to Memphis Depay, who has made a promising begin at Camp Nou with two objectives in three Spanish league matches. Koeman must also have Spain standout Pedri Gonzalez again in his lineup after the younger midfielder rested for 2 weeks after taking part in each the European Championship and the Tokyo Olympics. Robert Lewandowski travels after recovering from a groin drawback sustained in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Leipzig. Serge Gnabry has traveled with the squad however is an harm doubt after hurting his again in the identical recreation. Benfica is again within the group stage after a yr away and visits Dynamo Kyiv.

🔬 Bayern Munich, up shut#BarçaBayern @ChampionsLeague https://t.co/jSgEk3JKr0
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 14, 2021

💫 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗘-𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗗𝗔𝗬 💫#PACKMAS in Barcelona! 🔥#FCBFCB #FCBayern #MiaSanMia #UCL pic.twitter.com/8xhAhe4ixe
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) September 14, 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first Champions League recreation for Manchester United since dropping the 2009 ultimate to Barcelona might be on the one plastic pitch within the competitors. Swiss champion Young Boys makes use of a synthetic floor at Wankdorf Stadium that then-United boss Jose Mourinho complained about to UEFA forward of the groups’ opening group recreation three years in the past. United gained that night 3-0, with Paul Pogba scoring twice, forward of ending runner-up in a bunch gained by Ronaldo and Juventus.

#UCL mode = 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱! 👊#MUFC pic.twitter.com/pBNU7FC2o9
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 13, 2021
Ronaldo was on the dropping aspect the final time he performed at Wankdorf Stadium in December 2018, although Juventus had already superior. Unai Emery’s Villarreal hosts Atalanta in its return to the Champions League after 10 years. The Spanish membership made it again by defeating Manchester United within the Europa League ultimate final season. Atalanta is making its third consecutive look.
It’s been six years since Wolfsburg final performed within the Champions League group stage. The key to its success has been a stable protection. In the Bundesliga final season, Wolfsburg’s 37 objectives conceded was fewer than each different staff besides Leipzig, and it has began this season with 4 wins and just one objective conceded.

It performs defending French champion Lille, which has gained solely as soon as in 5 video games thus far in its new home marketing campaign and conceded 11 objectives. Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec might be with out former Bayern Munich participant Renato Sanches, who’s out injured alongside Jonathan Bamba and Timothy Weah. Sevilla hosts Salzburg to start what might be its fifth Champions League marketing campaign within the final seven seasons.

Chelsea opens its European title protection towards Zenit St. Petersburg, nonetheless unbeaten in the beginning of the English Premier League and with returning striker Romelu Lukaku already scoring three objectives. Juventus is struggling with out Ronaldo because it prepares for a go to to Malmo.

🔵 European champions Chelsea step up preparations 💪 #UCL pic.twitter.com/hoOhv4Yql3
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 13, 2021
The Bianconeri have misplaced two straight in Serie A since Ronaldo went again to Manchester United and total have earned just one level. Moise Kean, who was introduced again to Turin to exchange Ronaldo, made a serious gaffe in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Napoli.

L’allenamento, il viaggio e le parole del Mister e di @bonucci_leo19 alla vigilia dell’esordio in #UCL 🌜#MFFJuve #JuveUCL
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) September 13, 2021
Fresh off a two-goal efficiency for Italy, Kean redirected a Napoli nook again towards his personal objective with a header, resulting in Kalidou Koulibaly’s tap-in for the winner. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has had two braces for Portugal and United, respectively, since he departed Turin.