Even a much-changed Arsenal line-up proved a cut above Bodo Glimt in last week’s 3-0 Europa League victory at Emirates Stadium. However, the Norwegian side did improve after half-time in London and may pose more of an attacking threat in the return fixture on home turf.
Liverpool had little trouble accounting for Rangers at Anfield despite not hitting top gear and can confirm their superiority in Glasgow. However, the Reds have generally looked shaky at the back this term and the hosts will hope to at least grab a first Champions League goal.
Tottenham looked the better team during a goalless stalemate with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany and are fancied to prevail on home turf. Both sides have four points from three games in Group D, two behind leaders Sporting Lisbon and one ahead of Marseille.
The pressure is on Barcelona to overturn last week’s 1-0 loss at Inter Milan as these teams fight it out behind Bayern Munich in Group C. The Catalan giants trail the Nerazzurri by three points at the halfway stage and must now take a positive approach to this Camp Nou clash.
Chelsea thumped AC Milan 3-0 at Stamford Bridge but are expected to face a stiffer test in the return fixture at the San Siro. The Blues have not been as convincing on the road this season and the Rossoneri will be buoyed by Saturday’s Serie A win over Juventus here.
Man City put Copenhagen to the sword when prevailing 5-0 last week and it is hard to envisage a much different outcome in Denmark. Pep Guardiola may make changes with one eye on Sunday’s clash with Liverpool but the Blues have the strength in depth to cope.
Celtic more than matched RB Leipzig for an hour in Germany and could be a value bet to prevail in their reverse fixture. With Real Madrid runaway leaders in Group F, the Hoops still have everything to play for, despite only picking up one point from three games.
Nottingham Forest have suffered five straight Premier League defeats but can stop the rot by drawing with Aston Villa at the City Ground. Villa have only picked up one point from four top-flight road trips this term and Steven Gerrard may settle for doubling that tally here.
Fourth-placed Brighton and Tottenham, who are third, tend to be involved in close Premier League encounters, but stalemates are rare. There hasn’t been a draw in their last eight top-flight meetings, but six of those fixtures were settled by just a one-goal margin.
AC Milan and Juventus have both yet to really find any great rhythm so far this season and Saturday’s Serie A clash could be a cagey affair. These teams drew both meetings in Italy’s top flight last term and it would be no surprise to see them share the spoils again.
European champions England and World Cup holders USA will go head-to-head in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley. The Lionesses have yet to lose under Sarina Wiegman, winning 20 of their 22 matches, while USA are on a 21-match unbeaten run and have won 13 straight.
England have already been relegated from Nations League Group A3 but should never lack motivation against old rivals Germany. Die Mannschaft can’t qualify for the finals and have some key players out of form at club level, so we’re sticking with the Three Lions at home.
Hungary started out as rank outsiders to win Nations League Group A3 but now only have to avoid defeat at home to Italy to top the table. The Magyars were beaten by the Azzurri in Cesena but three victories and a draw elsewhere have put them in pole position for a place in the finals.
Ukraine have already broken Scotland’s hearts once this year but we’re hoping lightning doesn’t strike twice when they clash in Poland. The Blue and Yellow won June’s World Cup play-off and can still pip Steve Clarke’s side to top spot in Nations League Group B1 with a victory here.