Group A
Results
Results
Matchday 1 analysis
In a group where there are two clear
favorites, the underdogs had a chance to battle themselves for the top spot
after the first game, and with that get an advantage over their rival. Alas, Basel and Ludogorets drew in Switzerland, with the Bulgarians letting the
lead go with ten minutes to go. A very dull match that makes you think Uefa
might not be completely wrong to try and change the rules of access, but showed
that PSG and Arsenal, that also drew 1-1 but in a great game where Cavani scored
in the beginning and Sanchéz got the draw with few minutes left to play,
shouldn’t have any troubles going through to the knockouts.
Matchday 2 preview
Arsene Wenger knows that his team’s biggest opponent are themselves in this group stage. They will face Basel in the Emirates and they will do that without Giroud that got sent off in Paris, but with an in-form Alexis that shouldn’t be a problem. But Arsenal needs to be wary of Swiss champions Basel that have a history of upsetting English teams in Europe.
Similar situation for Emery’s PSG, they play in Bulgaria in a game that should be a textbook win, but Ludogorets is a tricky team with an attack composed by two pacey Brazilians, one of them playing for the Bulgaria national team, Marcelinho – scored in his debut against Portugal – and Cafu. With quick counters, Ludogorets might fancy their chances against a PSG that seems to still be coping with the absence of Ibrahimovic.
Group B
Results
Results
Matchday 1 analysis
You probably couldn’t write it in a movie and
make it believable, but when Talisca stepped up and took that last minute
free-kick, against the team is contracted too, and that he left in a bit of a
controversial way, he couldn’t miss, could he? A great goal that turned the
Estádio da Luz off in a cold manner.
Napoli was surprised by the counter-attacking stance that Din.Kiev had from the start, but thanks to new signing Milik they were able to turn things around, get a deserved win and top the group alone. The Ukrainians were disappointing, but they are an experienced bunch and they know they have better chances against the other two teams.
Napoli was surprised by the counter-attacking stance that Din.Kiev had from the start, but thanks to new signing Milik they were able to turn things around, get a deserved win and top the group alone. The Ukrainians were disappointing, but they are an experienced bunch and they know they have better chances against the other two teams.
Matchday 2 preview
The game at the San Paolo, that will put Napoli and Benfica face-to-face, should’ve been a game between the two leaders that would try and gain an important advantage to achieve qualification in an quieter way. Talisca didn’t allow that to happen, and now the Portuguese champions now they have to get a good result in Italy to keep in a good position to fight.
Besiktas host Din.Kiev, and the Ukranians will be in their favorite position, where they can counter and upset a team that has trouble in breaking down organized defenses, but has in the trio of Quaresma, Talisca and Cenk Tosun has been on form and might be the kew for the Turkish success.
Group C
Results

Matchday 1 analysis
No big
stories in Group C as Barça and Manchester City hosted Celtic and Borussia Monchengladbach
and gave football fans two great displays and a lot of goals, results being 7-0
and 4-0 respectively. Of course history could be different if Dembelé hadn’t
miss the penalty at the Camp Nou with the game still at 1-0, or if the weather
had held on Tuesday at Manchester, but that belongs to the if history now.
Matchday 2 preview
Things can, and should, get more exciting for the second round of matches, as the big teams have to travel and there are specific questions to the matches that makes us think an upset might in the cards for group C. Manchester City travels to Celtic Park, one of the toughest grounds to play at around Europe, and a crowd especially keen on seeing their team beating English opponents. As for Barça, they travel to Germany without Lionel Messi, and that might instigate Monchengladbach to try and force their former goalkeeper Ter-Stegen to extra work.
Group D
Results
Matchday 1 analysis
After a disappointing start of season, Atl.Madrid
is finally showing their true grit, and that was shown in the win they got in
Eindhoven. It wasn’t pretty, but the quality of Saul Ñiguez was decisive,
helped by the missed penalty by Guardado just before half-time. Bayern was much
more emphatic, welcoming Rostov to the big tank of European football with a 5-0
dismantling of the Russian vice-champions.
Matchday 2 preview
Big match in Madrid, a match that will be decisive in which positions Atlético and Bayern will finish in this group, assuming they do their bidding against the minnows of the quartet. Much like that, the game that opposes Rostov and PSV will be massively important for both teams, not only to show they still want to fight with the big dogs, but also, and in a more realistic perspective, to conquer 3rd place and have a second chance in Europe.
Group E
Results
Matchday 1 analysis
A very open
group was made even more unpredictable due to the surprising results that
happened on the first matches. Both Tottenham and Leverkusen were favorites,
playing in home and being known for their quality in the attack but were both
stunned. Leverkusen was cruising against CSKA Moscow, but the Russians did two
quick counters in two minutes to level the game back and get point. It was
worst for the Spurs that fell victim to Bernardo Silva and Monaco’s good start
of season, and now have to approach the rest of the competition as bottom of
the group.
Matchday 2 preview
Tottenham’s start hasn’t been perfect, and the defeat against Monaco might cost a lot down ahead. Pochettino now goes to Moscow and he will have to face an experienced team that got a good result in Germany and will want to capitalize on that draw. Jardim’s team host Leverkusen and they know they got three points where nobody counted them to get, and can look ahead and play their style of game for the rest of the group stage.
Group F
Results

Matchday 1 analysis
It was set to be one of the biggest upsets of the opening matchday, with
Sporting winning the match and even enjoy some dominance at the Santiago
Bernabéu. However they conceded a dangerous free kick, Cristiano Ronaldo
transformed it a masterpiece that set all the other white shirts alight.
Morata’s header sealed the deal and Portuguese hearts were shattered.
Same result, but far more emphatic, for Borussia Dortmund, that travelled to Poland and let the floodgates of Légia wide open with a 0-6 and some great moments of football.
Same result, but far more emphatic, for Borussia Dortmund, that travelled to Poland and let the floodgates of Légia wide open with a 0-6 and some great moments of football.
Matchday 2 preview
Dortmund and Real Madrid usually face off in the Champions League, but it’s normally a match that is full of intensity played in a knockout. For this one, both teams come from wins, but the way they got them gives Dortmund a bit more of momentum, and with the second meeting happening on the last matchday, both giants know that a win is practically the seal on qualification.
Sporting knows that such a chance to grab points against the top two teams won’t come easily, but they need to shrug the result off and focus on the important game against Legia, a match they should win or even 3rd spot will be threatened
Group G
Results

Matchday 1 analysis
It couldn’t have been a better night for
Ranieri and debutants Leicester City in the Champions League. They started the
game making the most of a mistake from the Brugge keeper and things only got
better from that point on. Mahrez connected two set pieces (free kick and
penalty) for two more goals to give Leicester the top of the group as Porto was
stunned by the hard-working Kobenhaven team that resisted even when reduced to
ten man, to get a deserved point.
Matchday 2 preview
Porto is certainly eager to make up for the very disappointing result they had in the first matchday, and they travel to Leicester to face Rainieri’s team that got reinforced by a dragon slayer of sorts in the form of Slimani. The Premier League winners know that a win will catapult them to a strong position for qualification, while they brush away the Portuguese menace. Kobenhaven also starts their home games after a good result and facing Brugge, surely the Danish team will feel they can capitalize and try to sneak through to the knockouts.
Group H
Results

Matchday 1 analysis
Juventus and Sevilla met in Turin and the best
of both teams came out, with both defenses being superior to the attacks and
ending up annulling the threats to get a bore draw. Both teams wanted to make
sure they wouldn’t concede and risk a defeat in the opening match. Lyon did
what was expected and dispatched Din.Zagreb with an easy 3-0.
Matchday 2 preview
Juve travels to Zagreb knowing that this is one of the matches they must win or qualification could be troubled, such is the quality of the other two opponents. Sevilla and Lyon will battle in Spain, with the Lacazette threat hanging over their defense, but if Sampaoli can find a way to keep the striker quiet, Sevilla should have their job made easier.
Matchday 2 preview
Juve travels to Zagreb knowing that this is one of the matches they must win or qualification could be troubled, such is the quality of the other two opponents. Sevilla and Lyon will battle in Spain, with the Lacazette threat hanging over their defense, but if Sampaoli can find a way to keep the striker quiet, Sevilla should have their job made easier.