It has been a bad week for Man City and Club Brugge could well feel the backlash in Wednesday’s Champions League clash. The Blues will be determined to bounce back from bowing out of the EFL Cup and suffering a shock Premier League loss to Crystal Palace.
Ajax did us a favour when demolishing Dortmund 4-0 in Amsterdam, with our followers treated to a trio of successful selections. However, the Black and Yellows have been far more formidable on home turf this term and it would be no surprise to see a turn-around.
Leicester’s stuttering start to the season continues but they are producing plenty of entertainment. The Foxes have been far from solid in defence and had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Burnley, just as they did in their Europa League Group C opener against Napoli.
West Ham are already on course to enjoy another successful season under David Moyes and should see off Rapid Vienna in the Europa League. The Austrian outfit travel to London on the back of four straight defeats and have gone three matches without scoring a goal.
Under-fire Tottenham will be looking to take their Premier League frustrations out on Slovenian minnows Mura in the Europa Conference League. Nuno Espirito Santo desperately needs a boost and it will be a major surprise if Spurs do not cruise to victory in London.
Celtic failed to make it through last season’s Europa League group stage and could be struggling again this term in a tough pool. Having already lost away to Real Betis, the Hoops face a bang-in-form Bayer Leverkusen side eyeing a fourth straight win in all competitions.
Rangers were undone by Slavia Prague in last season’s Europa League, but may find injury-hit neighbours Sparta more accommodating. Steven Gerrard’s side need to be positive after losing to Lyon on Matchday 1 and have proven they can travel well in this competition.
Sturm Graz have been playing really well of late and may just feel they could catch PSV at the right time in Thursday’s Europa League clash. The visitors have lost two of their last three Eredivisie matches in Holland and have been very vulnerable at the back.
Barcelona received a timely boost by beating Levante in La Liga and can build on that when visiting Benfica in the Champions League. The Portuguese outfit are unbeaten this term, with 10 wins and two draws, but it is easy to pick holes in their European efforts.
Ajax made a statement when thrashing Sporting Lisbon on Matchday 1 and are expected to make short work of Besiktas in Amsterdam. The visitors have already lost at home to Dortmund in Group C and look one of the weakest teams in this season’s Champions League.
Rangers are finding form at just the right time as they welcome the seven-time French champions to Glasgow for what looks set to be an entertaining night at Ibrox. This is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs since the group stage of the 2007/8 Champions League, when Lyon took home all three points via a 3-0 scoreline.
Ange Postecoglou takes his Celtic side to Spain for what is the first meeting between these two clubs. The Hoops have a score to settle in Seville, travelling to the Andalusian capital for the first time since losing to Porto in the 2003 UEFA Cup final.
Tottenham are the 5/1 favourites to win the Europa Conference League as they prepare to begin their campaign in north-west France. They face a tricky opener, though, with Rennes third in the outright betting at 14/1 and both teams are struggling for goals.
Liverpool and AC Milan have met in two previous Champions League finals, winning one apiece, and do battle in a tough Group B this season. With Atletico Madrid and Porto also present in this pool, picking up maximum points on home turf could prove crucial for the Reds.