New Delhi: The UEFA Champions League returns with an exciting Matchday 2 as Europe’s elite clubs face off once again. Tuesday’s fixtures promise high-stakes action but it will be Arsenal vs PSG who will steal the headlines as the most important game of the round. Both teams are in search of their first-ever Champions League title and this encounter could set the tone for their campaigns. As the anticipation builds fans will be keen to see which side holds the upper hand. So, before the action kicks off here’s a preview of the Tuesday matches.
Who is winning today? 🤔#UCL pic.twitter.com/iUOCfPBSam
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 1, 2024
RB Salzburg vs Brest ( 10:15 pm IST)
RB Salzburg will face Brest in what promises to be an intriguing clash. Salzburg, who endured a 3-0 defeat against Sparta Prague despite dominating possession will be eager to bounce back at home. However, their recent form in the competition is concerning with five losses in their last six games including a poor run at the Red Bull Arena.
Under Pep Lijnders, Salzburg have struggled to regain their past dominance, sitting fourth in the Austrian Bundesliga. Meanwhile, Brest are flying high after a historic European debut defeating Sturm Graz 2-0. With Abdallah Sima and Hugo Magnetti making crucial contributions Eric Roy’s side will now aim for back-to-back victories in Europe despite their domestic struggles. Having conceded 14 goals in Ligue 1 so far Brest will need to shore up their defense if they are to continue their continental fairytale.
Prediction: RB Leipzig 2-0 Brest
VfB Stuttgart vs Sparta Praha ( 10:15 pm IST)
VfB Stuttgart will be eager to secure their first points in this season’s UEFA Champions League as they host Sparta Praha. Stuttgart impressed in their opening match against Real Madrid despite a 3-1 loss and have since found their rhythm domestically. Sebastian Hoeneß’s side thrashed Borussia Dortmund 5-1 and earned a late draw against Wolfsburg, with Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović forming a potent attacking duo. However, injuries to key players like Dan-Axel Zagadou and Josha Vagnoman present defensive concerns.
Sparta Praha, meanwhile, cannot be taken lightly. After a strong start to their domestic season, they shocked Red Bull Salzburg with a 3-0 victory in their Champions League opener. Coach Lars Friis’s squad features dangerous forwards like Lukas Haraslin and Victor Olatunji who have already combined for multiple goals this season. With both teams eager to make their mark, the match promises to be a thrilling contest.
Prediction: VfB Stuttgart 2-1 Sparta Praha
Dortmund vs Celtic ( 12:30 am IST)
Borussia Dortmund will welcome Celtic at Signal Iduna Park in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. Both teams had a winning start to their campaign to last week. Dortmund won 3-0 at Club Brugge in their opening fixture. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens bagged a brace in the second half while Serhou Guirassy scored in the dying minutes. In their previous Bundesliga outing, Guirassy’s brace helped them to secure a 4-2 home win over Bochum on Friday.
Meanwhile, Celtic have a 100% record across all competitions this season. They got their campaign underway with a 5-1 home triumph over Slovan Bratislava last month. In the first half, Liam Scales opened the scoreline in the first half while Kyogo Bratislava, Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda, and Adam Idah were on the scoresheet in the second half. With Celtic being in such good form BVB coach Nuri Sahin will not be taking the task lightly.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Celtic
PSV vs Sporting ( 12:30 am IST)
PSV will welcome Sporting to PSV Stadion in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League clash at the Philips Stadion. Both sides have started their domestic campaigns flawlessly but their fortunes diverged on matchday one in Europe. PSV suffered a 3-1 defeat to Juventus continuing their trend of opening-day struggles in the competition. Despite this, Peter Bosz’s side remains a force at home boasting an unbeaten continental run at the Philips Stadion over the past two seasons.
Sporting, on the other hand, comes into the fixture riding a wave of confidence having won eight consecutive matches including a 2-0 triumph over Lille. Ruben Amorim’s men have been clinical as they scored 27 goals while conceding only twice this season. With Viktor Gyokeres leading the line and a rock-solid defense Sporting will be aiming to extend their perfect run. PSV, however, will look to their home advantage, having previously beaten Sporting on this ground in European competition.
Prediction: PSV 2-2 Sporting Lisbon
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City ( 12:30 am IST)
Slovan Bratislava are set to host Manchester City in their first-ever Champions League home game aiming to make a statement after a 5-1 thrashing by Celtic in their opener. Riding high on three consecutive league victories the Slovakian side will be eager to turn things around in front of their home crowd.
However, they face a formidable opponent in Manchester City, who will be hungry for their first win after a frustrating draw against Inter on matchday one. Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking to extend their impressive European form knowing an unbeaten result would tie them with Manchester United for the longest unbeaten run in Europe. City’s attacking firepower and tactical brilliance make them strong favorites but Slovan will hope the energy of this historic night on home soil can inspire a surprise result. Both teams are driven by different motivations making for an intriguing clash in Bratislava.
Prediction: Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Manchester City
Barcelona vs Young Boys ( 12:30 am IST)
Barcelona will look to recover from their recent struggles when they host Young Boys in the Champions League. After a blistering start to the La Liga season with seven straight wins the Catalan giants have now suffered back-to-back defeats including a 2-1 loss to Monaco in their Champions League opener. Hansi Flick’s side hampered by injuries faces mounting pressure to secure their first European win of the season, especially with their sights set on reclaiming continental glory after years of falling short.
Young Boys, meanwhile, face a daunting task after a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa in their first match. The Swiss champions have also struggled domestically sitting 11th in the Swiss Super League after a 1-0 loss to Grasshoppers. Despite their challenges, Patrick Rahmen’s men will hope to exploit Barcelona’s injury crisis and create an upset. However, Young Boys have never progressed past the group stage, making this an uphill battle at Camp Nou.
Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Young Boys
Leverkusen vs Milan ( 12:30 am IST)
Bayer Leverkusen will be aiming to continue their strong start to the Champions League when they host AC Milan tonight. After a commanding 4-0 victory over Feyenoord in their opening fixture Xabi Alonso’s men will look to build on that success. However, Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich saw them adopt a more defensive approach which was a shift from their usual attacking style. Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah highlighted the need for patience against a well-organized Italian defense, while Alonso emphasized the importance of adapting to different game situations.
AC Milan, on the other hand, are bouncing back after a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in their first European outing. They have since recorded crucial wins over Inter and Lecce with Christian Pulisic in fine form scoring in five consecutive games. Despite injuries to key players like Bennacer and Florenzi, Milan remain dangerous. Tonight’s match promises a tactical battle as both sides seek to assert their dominance in Europe.
Prediction: Bayern Leverkusen 2-2 AC Milan
Inter vs Crvena Zvezda ( 12:30 am IST)
Inter Milan will seek their first Champions League win of the season when they face Crvena Zvezda at San Siro tonight. After holding Manchester City to a goalless draw in their opener, Inter’s defensive strength has been a cornerstone with 13 clean sheets in their last 22 top-level matches. Simone Inzaghi’s men are unbeaten in their last nine home Champions League games and will look to build on their recent 3-2 win over Udinese where Lautaro Martinez and Davide Frattesi showcased the skills they hold.
Crvena Zvezda, meanwhile, face a difficult challenge having never won an away game in the Champions League. Despite a 2-1 loss to Benfica in their first match the Serbian champions are in excellent domestic form winning eight of their first nine league games. However, their struggles against Serie A teams persist with no wins in their last eight encounters with Italian clubs. Replicating their local dominance on European soil remains a tough task for Zvezda.
Prediction: Inter Milan 3-0 Crvena Zvezda
Arsenal vs PSG ( 12:30 am IST)
Arsenal and PSG are chasing their first Champions League title and both will meet in a highly anticipated clash at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are coming off a resilient 0-0 draw against Atalanta thanks to David Raya’s heroic double save from a penalty. However, the Gunners missed key playmaker Martin Odegaard in that game. Despite defensive lapses, Artea’s side’s recent 4-2 Premier League win over Leicester City showed their scoring prowess, and they remain unbeaten this season.
PSG, meanwhile, scraped a 1-0 win over Girona with a late goal courtesy of a goalkeeper error. Under Luis Enrique PSG have enjoyed a strong start to their domestic campaign as they won five of their first six Ligue 1 matches. Bradley Barcola’s electric form has boosted their attack. However, PSG’s recent struggles against English teams including a 4-1 loss to Newcastle last season make this clash a critical test for both sides.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-0 PSGarsenal f.c. vs psg standings,
UEFA Champions League Matchday 2 brings exciting clashes headlined by Arsenal vs PSG. Check out previews and predictions ahead of today’s action. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
