All the keys to today’s Champions League matches

MANCHESTER CITY-SPARTA PRAGUE

Manchester City already know what it feels like to fail in this Champions League (against Inter 0-0 on the first day) and that’s why they don’t trust anything about the poisonous method against Sparta Prague, with exactly same points in by Pep Guardiola.

And more because of the loss of Walker, Rodri and De Bruyne, fundamental and irreplaceable players, as well as the youth squad Bobb. Two of them are long-term and the Catalan coach, who has struggled more than expected to get wins this season, will have to get used to the idea. Without going any further, in the last two against Fulham and Wolves they have won the minimum, so the pending issue is to have a calm rivalry. For this, Haaland’s goals will be important.

LEIPZIG-LIVERPOOL

Even the most optimistic of Liverpool fans couldn’t have hoped that Arne Slot’s time at the helm of the team would start as it did. In tonight’s visits (9:00 pm) a Leipzig with doubts and unpredictability that has not yet scored points in the Champions League. In terms of available personnel for both, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa continue to be absent, although the latter could come on at the last minute. In Leipzig, Amadou Haidara, Xaver Schlager, David Raum, Nicolas Seiwald and Assan Ouedraogo are absent, while Openda recovers.

BREST-LEVERKUSEN

Brest and Bayer Leverkusen will measure their good streaks today in the Champions League after ending their respective matches with victories in the first two rounds. The French team, which did not go through the best moment in Ligue 1 (it is 11th in the table), surprised at the beginning of the highest continental competition by adding six points in the two games in which it scored six goals for just one fit. Brest will be without Sima and Le Cardinal, both out with various muscle injuries. Xabi Alonso’s men, for their part, are also going through a sweet moment in Europe and will be looking for the ‘9 in 9’ in the Gallic lands. It should be noted that the Germans, fourth in the Bundesliga, have yet to score a goal in this Champions League and have scored five. Boniface, who has a problem with his hand, is the only doubt for the German team.

YOUNG BOYS-INTER

Inzaghi’s Inter are getting off to a good start in the Champions League. The Italian team, which has not yet known defeat, will face the bottom of the classification; the Young Boys, the only team not to score a goal in the competition. The Scudetto champion has big losses like Acerbi, Calhanoglu, Asllani, Zielinski and Buchanan, while the Young Boys cannot count on Zoukrou, Janko, Pfeiffer and Conte.

ATALANTA-CELTIC

Atalanta is one of the strongest teams in the Champions League, as they have yet to concede a goal. Gasperini’s men have four points from two games. Ahead of them awaits Celtic, who suffered a heavy defeat against Borussia (7-1). The Scottish team has three units. The Europa League champions have some significant absences for the match, such as Kossounou, Brescianini, Toloi and Scamacca, while Celtic will be without Taylor and Carter-Vickers.

BENFICA-FEYENOORD

Benfica, who beat Atlético de Madrid in Da Luz the previous day (4-0), will look for a complete victory today against Feyenoord and again at home. The Portuguese could not count on Gouveia and Prestianni and the Dutch, who beat Girona (2-3), sent off Giménez and Nieuwkoop.

SALZBURG-DINAMO ZAGREB

Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb play their final game this Wednesday to advance to the next round. The Austrian team has no points and has yet to score. However, they face the team with the most goals in the competition (11), Dinamo Zagreb. The Croatian club added a point, despite having one of its best players, Baturina.