United, Juve looking for Euro boosts

Both Manchester United and Juventus will be looking to get some succour from Europe after disappointing results in their domestic leagues on the weekend while Welsh star Gareth Bale could make only his second start of the season for Real Madrid after a succession of niggling injuries.

Group A

Bayer Leverkusen (GER) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR): Leverkusen limbered up for this match in controversial fashion, beating Hoffenheim 2-1 courtesy of a 'phantom' goal - Stefan Kiessling heading the winner via a hole in the side netting. While the Bundesliga powers that be mull over what to do about the result Leverkusen is lying third, one point behind Bayern Munich, its best ever domestic start. Rolled over by Manchester United in its Group A opener, the German squad got its European bid up and running in the second attempt, against Real Sociedad. Shakhtar, second only on goal difference to United, is keen to dispel memories of last season's trip to Germany when the wheels came off its campaign with a 3-0 loss at Borussia Dortmund. The Ukrainian champion, appearing at the group stage for the fourth successive season, has begun brightly with a win over Real Sociedad and a draw against United.

Manchester United (ENG) vs Real Sociedad (ESP): United may be enduring a horrid start to the Premier League, the weekend draw with Southampton leaving the titleholder in unusual territory - eighth place and its worst start in 24 years. Europe has proved more forgiving, with David Moyes' side topping Group A on goal difference after the Leverkusen win and Shakhtar stalemate. Pointless Real needs to leave Old Trafford with something if it is to inject some life into its first CL campaign in a decade. Whatever happens, the outcome is unlikely to be as harsh as its only previous visit to England, when it crashed 6-0 at Liverpool in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup. It received a welcome boost for this first meeting between the two teams with a 2-1 win over Valencia in La Liga on the weekend.

Group B

Real Madrid (ESP) vs Juventus (ITA): Real Madrid is sailing regally to the knockout stages, the Spaniards' topping Group B after crushing defeats of FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Real could field Gareth Bale, who returned to action after minor injuries as a late substitute in Saturday's 2-0 win over Malaga, which left Carlo Ancelotti's men in third. Juve's visit precedes the first El Clasico of the season with a trip to Barcelona looming at the weekend. Xabi Alonso, sidelined since fracturing a foot in August, is full recovered but unlikely to be thrust straight back into the fray. With two draws Juve is waiting for its first win, and hardly had the best preparations for the trip to the Bernabeu in a 4-2 loss, its first of the season, to Fiorentina. Coach Antonio Conte spoke about "a massive test', saying: "Madrid is arguably one of the most ambitious teams. We're facing a club that really want this title, because of their history and their hunt for a 10th European Cup."

Galatasaray (TUR) vs FC Copenhagen (DEN): Both teams, with one point apiece, are out to bag their first wins in Istanbul. Galatasaray picked itself up from an opening drubbing by Real to share the spoils with Juventus. Having made it into the knockout stages last season it needs to get moving if it is to have any hope of repeating that feat this time against Danish champion Copenhagen.

Group C

Anderlecht (BEL) vs Paris Saint Germain (FRA): Paris Saint Germain should be anticipating a third successive win in three Champions League games as it faces an Anderlecht side devoid of confidence and pointless. Ligue 1 leader after trouncing Bastia on the weekend, PSG will be without defender Christophe Jallet, Javier Pastore and Thiago Silva, all injured, but such are the riches at coach Laurent Blanc's disposal that their absences shouldn't matter. Anderlecht coach John van den Brom sent out the youngest team in the club's history for the 2-0 league win over Mons last Friday and could well do the same on Wednesday where skipper Guillaume Gillet is likely to start on the bench.

Benfica (POR) vs Olympiakos (GRE): Both these sides will see the outcome of their two matches as pivotal as to who finishes second and a place in the knockout phase. Both have one win to their credit in the opening two games, over hapless Anderlecht. Benfica will fancy its chances for this game as it has won its past seven European home matches while Olympiakos has yet to beat Portuguese opposition away and has not managed a goal in five trips to Portugal. Olympiakos has been in imperious form in its own league, winning seven and drawing one of the matches, the latest a 4-1 away win against Platanias on Saturday.

Group D

CSKA Moscow (RUS) vs Manchester City (ENG): Both will fancy their chances of taking the runner-up spot with Pilsen pretty much out of the running, and while City has a woeful away record, losing five of its six Champions League away games in the past two campaigns, it has a chance of recording its second successive away win this season. CSKA has a poor home record, taking just three points from a possible nine in its most recent appearance in the CL in 2011-12. City warmed up with a morale-boosting first away win in the Premier League on Saturday, 3-1 at West Ham with Sergio Aguero key to the victory. City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes he now has the squad strength to make an impact domestically and on the continent. CSKA is winless and goalless in its past five domestic matches and without injured playmaker Alan Dzagoev.

Bayern Munich (GER) vs Viktoria Pilsen (CZE): Holder Bayern should have little trouble in making it nine points from three games against pointless Pilsen, although coach Pep Guardiola wants to see a marked improvement in the offensive execution of its first-half displays, which have been generally lethargic all season. The host, though, will be missing Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri and Brazilian defender Dante, who are injured, while Guardiola will hope that resting French star Franck Ribery on the weekend has allowed him to recover fully from a sore ankle. Pilsen may be struggling to make an impression on the Champions League but it said on Monday it had won an important battle to retain the services of coach Pavel Vrba, who has guided it to two titles since arriving in 2008. That news should provide a boost for the club, however it is trailing leader Sparta Prague by six points and has recorded just one victory in its past four games.

(China Daily 10/23/2013 page23)