FC Barcelona Vs PSV Eindhoven
UEFA Champions League: Group Stage, Matchday 1
Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Tuesday, September 18th, 2018 1:00PM EST TNT

Matchday 1 of the 2018-19 UCL Group Stage is starting off in style with a doubleheader of fixtures! First up, it’s Barcelona against PSV from the “Group of Death”! Coming into the match, La Blaugrana are riding the wave of a five game winning streak to start this campaign (Spanish Super Cup win, four La Liga wins). Meanwhile, despite the Dutch Champions succumbing to defeat against rivals Feyenoord in the Johan Cruijff Shield to begin the season, PSV are currently streaking themselves. Lampen has won seven games on the trot as they enter the Camp Nou, including two UCL Play-off Round wins versus BATE Borisov. Thus, both teams are in good form, and will be amped to start the UCL proper on the right foot. For Barca, only a win will be a sufficient result, as they possess a far superior side to that of the Dutch. However, for PSV, simply earning a draw at the world renowned Camp Nou will feel like a win and jump start their Group Stage campaign.

Players To Watch

Lionel Messi (FCB, FW / AM): Whilst still dazzling with his dribbling and passing display this past Saturday versus Real Sociedad, Messi failed to scored. Thus, expect to see him much more active in and around the 18 yard box in route to reaching the scorers sheet by games’ end.

Luuk de Jong (PSV, ST): The Holland striker and club captain has been a linchpin in PSV’s success over the past several years. Domestically de Jong has produced 69 goals in league play for Lampen in 130 matches played. That’s better than a goal every other game, which is good. However, if PSV want to earn a draw, then de Jong must score at least once, probably twice. Can he do it?

LSB Prediction

The 99,000 capacity Camp Nou will be filled and rocking come match time, as it always is for a UCL fixture, making it one of the most difficult places to play in for visiting opposition. Take this 12th man and couple it with a star studded Barca squad, and PSV has itself a virtually impossible task of earning at least a point. The Dutch will give it there all. Heck, they may even score via de Jong. But in the end, the Messi and company will flex their muscles and dispatch PSV in rather comfortable fashion. 3-1 FC Barcelona

Liverpool FC Vs Paris Saint-Germain FC
UEFA Champions League: Group Stage, Matchday 1
Anfield, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Tuesday, September 18th, 2018 3:00PM EST TNT

The second match of today’s doubleheader pits surging Liverpool against French dynamos PSG. Year after year, we raise the question in mid-September, will PSG finally break through and at least reach the UCL Semifinals? And, every year our answer is, no. Despite changing managers multiple times and continuing to spend record breaking sums of cash on players such as Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe, the results continue to underwhelm. And, actually last year Les Parisiens regressed as they bowed out of the UCL in the Round of 16, not even making back to the Quarterfinals. So, with this being Neymar Jr and Mbappe’s second year in Paris, and with the additions of goalkeeping great Gigi Buffon and new manager Thomas Tuchel, will PSG finally break through and at least reach the UCL Semis? Whelp, we have several months to go before we get the answer to that question, however, we’ll find out today what kind of grit and determination this squad has as they enter a hostile environment in Anfield. Anfield is a place where Jurgen Klopp has brought back the mystique and fortress feeling element to the grounds. It’s a place where his Reds beat a record setting EPL side in Manchester City not once but twice last year, with the latter en route to a UCL Final appearance. Thus, PSG will be up against it in terms of the surroundings on and off the pitch. Can the respond like title contenders? Or, will Les Parisiens fold like always?

Players To Watch

Mo Salah (LFC, FW): Last season’s EPL Player of the Year, Salah brings a heavy dose of pace, creativity, and finishing ability to a Reds side that attacks from all angles. Look for the Egyptian to continually give PSG’s backline fits on way to netting a brace.

Neymar Jr (PSG, FW): The last time we saw Neymar Jr in the UCL, he was trying to be flashy inside of decisive and clinical against the eventual UCL Champions Real Madrid. This time around, has he learned to stop showboating, and instead staying focused on the task at hand, which means producing the right pass instead of being greedy and taking an erratic shot, staying level headed rather than complaining about a phantom foul, settling the ball with care and not with flair, and so on. If he’s evolved, matured if you will, then truly the sky’s the limit with this PSG squad.

LSB Prediction

This match will produce a heavy dose of electricity both on the pitch and in the stands starting with the walk out onto the pitch. The Kopp will be singingly in unison “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, a moment that gives on lookers chills. As for the action between the white lines, I can’t see anything other than a Liverpool victory. Neymar Jr will act like a child once more, as Salah runs rampant on the field and Klopp runs joyously down the sidelines! 4-1 Liverpool FC