5 bold Champions League predictions: PSG to beat Bayern

The Champions League returns this week with some intriguing matchups. Here are five predictions about what will happen.

Real Madrid will stumble away at Borussia Dortmund

In what promises to be one of the more interesting games of this week, Borussia Dortmund host reigning champions Real Madrid. After a tough opening day loss to Tottenham, Dortmund can’t afford another loss if they want to keep pace with the class of Group H. They’re coming off 5-0 and 3-0 wins in the Bundesliga and were probably deserving of a better result against Tottenham.

Real Madrid are struggling in La Liga, having lost at home midweek to Betis and tied the previous week. This could be a tale of redemption for the Spanish giants, but there are enough worrying signs coming out of the Real Madrid camp that make a win away at Dortmund unlikely. Signal Iduna Park is one of Europe’s most intimidating stadiums for visiting teams, offering the hosts a tremendous home field advantage. The stakes are high in this game, so expect Dortmund to get at least a point, given their talent.

PSG will continue to dominate

In another of this match week’s marquee matchups Paris Saint-Germain host Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes in Paris. PSG are fixing to build a super team on the back of their recent summer spree spending. If performances in Ligue 1 and their 5-0 drubbing of Celtic is any indication of the level of dominance expected from the Parisian outfit this season, expect more of the same as they host Bayern.

Bayern have had a slow start to the season by their standards, already having lost a Bundesliga game and being held at home by Wolfsburg this weekend. The Bavarians are in a bit of a transition phase as the retirements of Philippe Lahm and Xabi Alonso and absence of Manuel Neuer seem to be taking their toll on the team. Carlo Ancelloti is a wily old fox who believes that great teams peak in the spring, as opposed to mid-September, so I don’t believe Bayern are pushing the pedal in the same way as PSG, who have to validate their investment. Look for PSG to take advantage of their embarrassment of riches and put on a dominating performance at home

Roma in for a long night in Azerbaijan

It will be an evening full of excitement and anticipation at the Tofik Bakhramov Arena as Qarabag look to jump-start their Champions League campaign. The Azeri club has only one loss in their last nine matches at home in European competition. By all measures playing away on the shores of the Caspian Sea is a huge challenge for all visitors. Most recently the Danish champions FC Copenhagen went down 1-0 away at Qarabag’s stadium in the Champions League qualification round. The Azeri club invested significantly in recruiting players from the usual list of suspects: Brazil, Spain, Poland, enough to provide them with enough talent to cause problems, especially at home.

This is Roma’s first meeting against a club from Azerbaijan. Although the Italian club have been in fine form in Serie A lately, the extended travel and a motivated opponent enjoying all the spoils of home advantage will prove too much to overcome for the Giallorossi.

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Chelsea and Atletico will cancel each other out

The Atletico Madrid-Chelsea match will be a battle of two well-organized teams looking to capitalize on the slightest miscue from their opponents. I don’t expect Chelsea to come out and attack, but sit back and await any opening in Atletico’s on-field organization.

After tying Roma on the road, Atletico will come out looking for the win at home to gain a decisive edge in the group. With Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro and Yannick Carasco in the mix they have enough weapons to generate chances and unlock Chelsea’s defensive setup. However, given Antonio Conte’s proven tactical acumen and level of preparation ahead of games, it’s not very likely Atletico will have much success getting chances on Thibault Courtois’ goal.

In the end, we will probably see the two European powers cancel each other out and play to a tie as both teams are well aware that a point keeps them on track to go through to the next stage.

English teams to struggle on the road

Four out of the five English teams engaged in the Champions League are playing on the road this week. Although the matchups don’t necessarily look intimidating on paper, traveling to Russia and Cyprus and playing in front of hostile, charged up crowds will be a tough obstacle to overcome.

You can be sure the Russian home support will provide a huge boost on Tuesday and Wednesday as Spartak and CSKA Moscow battle Liverpool and Manchester United, respectively. Liverpool will need to tighten up at the back and should be in good shape to get at least a point. However, that’s easier said than done, as the Reds have been allowing goals freely and were lucky to get all three points against Leicester. Liverpool face the weaker of the two Moscow teams (Spartak are currently in eighth place in the Russian league, while CSKA are fourth).

Tottenham have a clear edge in talent against Apoel Nicosia, but away games in the Mediterranean island will prove to be tricky.

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