Since Real Madrid claimed its record 12th European Championship this past June, futbol fans around the globe have been counting down the months, weeks, days, and hours until matchday 1 of the 2017-18 Champions League Group Stage. Today, I can officially say that the wait is over! Eight fixtures are slated for today, and eight more on Wednesday. All matches will be showcased on the FOX family of networks in the States, with 2 games to be televised on FS1 and two on FS2. Thus, I’ll provide you with four UCL Shorts that are sure to excite as the new season is set to commence!
Manchester United FC vs FC Basel 1893
UEFA Champions League: Group Stage, Matchday 1
Old Trafford, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Tuesday, September 12th, 2017 2:45PM EST FS1
After a one year reprieve, the Red Devils are back in their rightful place. Champions League competition. Despite finishing outside of the Premier League Top 4 last season, Man United still qualified for Europe’s coveted tournament through winning last year’s Europa League. Led by Paul Pogba, United was able to beat Ajax in the Final 2-0, and earn MUFC it’s first Europa League crown and an automatic berth to this terms UCL Group Stage. Fast forward to the present, the Red Devils appear to have built upon that success, as the club is currently joint top of the young EPL season. Key additions in striker Romelu Lukaku and defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic have proved dividends so far domestically, but will that translate in Europe? We’ll see.
As for Basel, the Swiss Champions are making their eighth consecutive UCL appearance after completing a domestic double last season. Over the previous seven campaigns, Basel has reached the Round of 16 on two occasions, whilst finishing third in the group four times and limping to last place once. Thus, a third or fourth placed finish is likely this go around, especiallyconsidering that Manchester United and Benfica are in the group. CSKA Moskva is the third opponent. A club that is probably even with RotBlau. But, if FCB is able to earn a draw at the famed Theatre of Dreams on opening night, that could spring some moment into Matchday 2.
LSB Prediction: It’s the Theatre of Dreams! Manchester’s magical setting, and one that provides star-studded performances. I expected nothing else as the new UCL campaign get started. Lukaku will brace and Nemanja will disrupt RotBlau’s offensive flow. With that said, Keep an eye on Basel’s Taulant Xhaka. Taulant is the brother of Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka. Taulant is a talented midfielder himself, and he’d love nothing more than to wound one of Granit’s domestic rivals. 3-0 Manchester United FC
FC Barcelona vs Juventus FC
UEFA Champions League: Group Stage, Matchday 1
Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Tuesday, September 12th 2:45PM EST FS2
Matchday 1’s main event! FCB vs Juve is must-see tv. These two clubs have produced knockout punches to one another in recent history. In 2015 the Blaugrana beat Juve 3-1 in the Champions League Final, en route to claiming a Treble of trophies. Then, in 2017 it was Juve’s turn. The Zebras dispatched the Azulgrana in the Quarterfinals with a thorough 3-0 aggregate score on way to the Champions League Final appearance. Therefore, this fixture won’t be short of subplots. As for subplots, Juventus and Barcelona have each lost a key cog to said squad. For Juve, Leonardo Bonnucci has departed Turin for rivals Milan. Meanwhile, Neymar Jr left for the City of Lights. It’ll be interesting to see how each club is able to cope with said loss against top level competition. Thus, pay close attention to replacements Ousmane Dembele of Barcelona and Benedikt Howedes and/or Mattia De Sciglio of Juventus. In the end though, we all want to see Messi vs Buffon! One of the last few chances to see the two living legends square off before Buffon’s now fast approaching retirement. Can Messi finally get a ball past the Italian #1?
LSB Prediction: Through three LaLiga matches, Barcelona has looked surprisingly strong. The Catalans have taken all 9 points and set a top the table, four points clear of rivals Real and Atletico Madrid. Messi has been magisterial, and the defense has collected three clean sheets. Couple that with this showdown taking place at the Camp Nou, I expect to see the LOL get he better of Buffon and his new look backline. 2-1 FC Barcelona
Real Madrid CF vs APOEL FC
UEFA Champions League: Group Stage, Matchday 1
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
Wednesday, September 13th, 2017 2:45PM EST FS2
Tomorrow we have two more delights to indulge in. First up, it’s the Back-To-Back Defending European Champions Real Madrid vs Cyprus’ own APOEL! Ronaldo is back for this match, as his 5 game suspension doesn’t include UEFA fixtures. That means one thing. Goals galore for the Galaticos. Madrid has sputtered in LaLiga recently. Largely due to Ronaldo’s absence, goals haven’t been as plentiful, thus Wednesday will be a nice change for the impatient Madradista crowd. APOEL meanwhile is simply delighted to participate in such a competition after failing to qualify in each of the past two seasons. In addition, a third place finish and qualification to the Europa League Round of 32 is minute, as the other two clubs in Group H are Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur. Good luck APOEL!
LSB Prediction: The Bernabéu will be rocking as the Blancos will throttle the Legend whilst never needing to reach top gear. Ronaldo will strike for three, Asensio will bag a brace, and Benzema will even sneak one past the ‘keeper. 6-0 Real Madrid CF
Tottenham Hotspur FC vs BVB 09 Borussia Dortmund
UEFA Champions League: Group Stage, Matchday 1
Wembley Stadium, London, England, United Kingdom
Wednesday, September 13th 2017 2:45PM EST FS1
The last match on the docket pits England vs Germany! Tottenham vs Dortmund! The Hotspurs has been Premier League Runners-Up in each of the past two seasons. Lead by a talented, but still young British core of Harry Kane, Dele Ali, Eric Dier, amongst others, the Hotspur will simply get better and better over the next decade. Couple that youth with experienced Internationals such as Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderwiereld, and Christian Eriksen, and you get a European club contender…for the present as well as future. As for Dortmund, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang is the unquestioned go to guy. With elite pace and smooth finishing, Aubameyang is always a threat for opposing defenses. But the man, or better that I say boy, that you should hone in on for the Black and Yellows is the United States own Christian Pulisic! The teenage sensation has taken the Bundesliga and Champions League by storm. Last season, Pulisic became the youngest ever player to score in Europe’s top competition at the tender age of 17. Now as he approaches his 19th birthday on September 18th, the American is turning into the fulcrum of Borussia’s attack. Needless to say, this match will be great watch of up-and-coming talent, as well as a showpiece for tried and true veterans yearning to take their clubs to the next level.
LSB Prediction: Tottenham’s temporary home, Wembley Stadium, has been a house of horrors at times. 8 losses out of 12 matches to be exact. Coincidence? Probably. However, with perhaps the Bundesliga’s most electric attack coming to Wembley, I suspect that Tottenham’s Wembley woes continue. The Hotspur to get doubled up at home courtesy of Pulisic and Aubameyang. 4-2 BVB 09 Borussia Dortmund