The return of the Tony Britten’s now familiar and much-loved Champions League Anthem as the soundtrack to our Tuesday and Wednesday nights heralds the return of football’s biggest club competition.
Following the draw for the group stages at the end of last month, 32 teams will once again be competing over the course of the season for a place in the UEFA Champions League final in June, which will be played this season at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Although the group stage phase – which runs until December – is a relatively straightforward exercise for the teams most likely to compete in the latter stages of the tournament, there is still plenty to talk about, especially concerning the two teams representing English football on Tuesday night.
Liverpool, who return to the competition after a five-year absence, will certainly be relishing every tie in a group containing pre-tournament favourites and current champions Real Madrid, while Arsenal can be forgiven for experiencing a case of German déja-vu against dauntingly familiar opposition.
In anticipation of this week’s opening set of fixtures, here are five things to look out for in the Champions’ League on Tuesday…
[ffc-gallery]Click on the Champions League trophy to reveal
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Liverpool keen for a solid start…
Earlier in the week Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard spoke of how jealous he was watching other English teams compete in the Champions League while his own side was suffering a five-year exile after failing to qualify since 2009.
Last season’s memorable Premier League campaign means that the Reds are back, and in lowly Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets Razgrad – who qualified after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Steaua Bucharest in which Ludogorets defender Cosmin Monti was the stand-in goalkeeping hero – they face a team who shouldn’t pose too many problems.
Ludogorets came into footballing existence as recently as 2001, and Liverpool will be hoping for a convincing victory in what will surely be their easiest game in the group. Playing in front of an expectant, electric Anfield crowd, Brendan Rodgers’ men have the firepower to swell their goal difference early on, which may be crucial when the final group standings are determined in December.
…With one eye on events in the Bernabeu
Despite securing the mythical decima against city rivals Atletico in a thrilling final in May, ten-time champions and current holders Real Madrid have not had the greatest start to the season.
Having already lost two league games, including last week’s home defeat to none other than Atletico, there is talk of a mini-crisis at the Bernabeu, with Cristiano Ronaldo making public his discontent at the sale of Angel di Maria and Xabi Alonso, two pivotal members of the Champions League-winning side last season.
Though such doom-mongering is exaggerated, now is not a bad time for Swiss side Basel to face Real. The champions of Switzerland are known to produce an upset – Manchester United fans need no reminding of this – and following the disappointing derby defeat on Saturday they may feel that Real are there for the taking, especially if a subdued Ronaldo fails to shake off his sense of dissatisfaction on the pitch.
Though mere qualification is the aim of Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, a shock result here could see them aiming their sights towards a first-placed finish.
Arsenal look to avoid defensive woes at Dortmund
The Signal Iduna Park will feel like a home away from home for many Arsenal fans; for the third time in four years, the Gunners face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Although Jurgen Klopp’s team crucially pipped the North London side to first place in the group last season, the Gunners did register a brilliant 1-0 away victory when the two sides met in North Rhine-Westphalia, and Arsene Wenger will be hoping for another win against a side which has lost a number of its star players in recent years, not least Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze.
Nevertheless, Arsenal will be without a number of key players of their own on Tuesday night due to injury; with Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Debuchy both out, and Calum Chambers unlikely to feature, Wenger may have to turn to Mathieu Flamini and Spanish teenager Hector Bellerin to form a makeshift defence.
The loss of Lewandowski may have been a blow for Dortmund, but the team in yellow and black still pose considerable threat through Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Shinji Kagawa. If Arsenal’s motley crew of stopgap defenders can hold them off, a repeat of last year’s triumph is certainly possible.
Wilshere to prove his worth in Europe
After being the subject of much criticism for what was perceived to be a failure to influence games and live up to his considerable promise, Jack Wilshere thrusted the proverbial middle finger right in the face of his doubters on Saturday with an excellent performance against league champions Manchester City, scoring one and assisting another.
Now that he has proved that the ability is undeniably there, he needs to show that he can make a similar impact on a consistent basis. Dortmund’s strength arguably lies in their midfield; if the England international can emerge as the standout player in a middle-of-the-park battle against the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Nuri Sahin and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the criticism may fade away once and for all.
Balotelli’s chance to get going
As mentioned in the opening point, Liverpool’s tie against Ludogorets Razgrad should provide the Reds with an opportunity to record a goal-laden victory, giving them some respite after a poor display in Saturday’s home defeat to Aston Villa in the league.
Now is also the ideal time for Mario Balotelli to score his first goal for the club; after a promising debut against Tottenham Hotspur, the Italian was frustrated against a resolute Villa defence, eventually being substituted with his side still trailing.
Daniel Sturridge’s continued absence through injury will see Balotelli start as Liverpool’s main striker; a goal or two against the Bulgarian minnows should go a long way to calming the nerves of the temperamental forward.