All the keys to today’s Champions League matches

ASTON VILLA-BAYERN MUNICH

Aston Villa, who started the Champions League by beating Young Boys 0-3, were declared European champions for the first and only time in 1981-82 after beating Bayern 1-0 thanks to a goal from Peter Withe in stadium in Kuip, in Rotterdam, on May 25, 1982. Today, for the second time in their history and at Villa Park, both teams meet again. And they do it with two coaches who know each other, and Unai Emery and Vincent Kompany met last year in the Premier League. A battle marked by casualties. In English, that of Mings, Cash and Kamara, while in Bayern it seems that Kane will recover.

LIVERPOOL-BOLOGNA

Arne Slot, Jürgen Klopp’s successor as Liverpool coach, faces his first Champions League match at Anfield today as Reds boss and, after starting with an excellent 1-3 win at the San Siro against Milan, hopes who provide another step towards the round of 16. Liverpool’s rivals are Bologna, who on matchday 1 drew (0-0) against Shakhtar Donetsk and are now managed by Vincenzo Italiano after the departure of Thiago Motta at Juventus. Slot said that, although he did not train yesterday, Diogo Jota is fit to play. The one absent through injury is Federico Chiesa and Slot regrets that he “missed a Champions League match at Anfield and against an Italian team.” If Liverpool is the leader of the Premier, Bologna is 13th in Serie A.

LEIPZIG-JUVENTUS

Juventus Turin want to give their detractors a run for their money and return to the Champions League through the front door. After their first victory against PSV, a slightly bigger rival like Red Bull Leipzig will come and test Thiago Motta’s system, which seems not yet fully implemented. Vlahovic, who just completed a double in Serie A, will be a big threat for the Germans, while Weah will be unavailable.

Up front, a Leipzig that needs more from its star Xavi Simons if it is to dream big in a season where they need to overcome Olmo’s farewell.

SHAKHTAR-ATALANTA

Atalanta are in the Champions League ready to show that winning the Europa League last season was no fluke. This is why they are looking for their first win after a very creditable debut with a draw against Arsenal, even knowing that they have less experience in the competition than their rivals, Shakhtar Donetsk, who also drew against another Italian, Bologna. Gasperini’s team needs some joy, which did not start in Serie A as expected, partly due to injuries to important players such as Scamacca, Toloi or Ruggeri.

DINAMO ZAGREB-MONACO

Monaco, co-leader of Ligue 1 with PSG, travels to Croatia with the mission to confirm the victory against Barcelona where they started the Champions League (2-1). Waiting for him are Dinamo Zagreb, who are bottom of the league, hurt by a humiliating 9-2 defeat against Bayern Munich that sacked coach Sergej Jakirovic, replaced by Nenad Bjeliça, who begins his second spell at the helm Dinamo on Saturday with 5 -1 in the derby against Lokomotiv Zagreb. “This match has nothing to do with Barcelona,” warned Adi Hütter, Monaco coach. “Dinamo just changed their coach and some players. We will suffer a lot.

STRUM GRAZ-WITCHES

Sturm Graz and Club Brugge are chasing their first win in the new Champions League after starting the league losing to Brest (2-1) and Borussia Dortmund (0-3) respectively. The match will be played at the Wörthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt as the Merkur Arena in Graz does not meet the conditions to host a European elite match.

Both teams, champions of Austria and Belgium, were not at their best. Sturm Graz regained the lead on Saturday ending a 3 game winless run with their 1-2 win over BW Linz. Bruges are fourth after drawing in extra time on Friday with their visit to Charleroi (1-1). Ferran Jutglà (ex Barça) is a substitute.