Top attraction on Wednesday is the game at Stamford Bridge, where English champions, Chelsea face Serie A side, AS Roma without their Nigerian wingback, Victor Moses, who misses out through injury. There is a Nigerian who is sure of playing tonight though, Henry Onyekuru, as Anderlecht host French giants, Paris Saint-Germain.
Group A
Benfica vs Manchester United
Manchester United travel to Portugal, where they take on Benfica, with just one thing in mind- getting a result that will almost guarantee the Red Devils qualification to the knockout phase.
For their hosts, Benfica, they welcome two former players, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof, as they go in search of their first points of the campaign, having lost their first two games. United are in better form at the moment, with four wins and a draw in their last five matches, while Benfica have won two and lost two in their last five. It is the tenth meeting between the two, with United having the upper hand with 6 wins to Benfica’s 1.
Elsewhere in the group, CSKA Moskva host Swiss side, Basel, with either side looking to take advantage of the game in Portugal to close the gap between them and leaders, United.
Both are on three points, but CSKA will be hoping to bounce back from the 4-1 demolition handed to them by United on match day two, their biggest European home loss, while Basel will be aiming to consolidate on their heaviest win in Europe, the 5-0 thrashing of Benfica achieved in the same match day two.
Unlike the game in Portugal, this one in Russia is the first between these two, and it is a very important one.
Group B
Bayern vs Celtic
German champions, Bayern Munich host Scottish champions, Celtic, looking to forget the horror show in Paris the last time, which led to the sacking of former manager, Carlo Ancelotti, who has since been replaced by treble winner, Jupp Heynckes.
For Celtic, they visit the Allianz Arena with renewed hope, following match day two win against Belgian champions, Anderlecht.
But in Bayern, they face a very difficult task indeed, as the Bavarians look rejuvenated under Heynckes, going by how they handled Freiburg at the weekend and will be looking to build on that 5-0 win.
In the other group game, Anderlecht, where Onyekuru plays, will be looking to get their first points of the CL season when they host group leaders, Paris Saint-Germain, who have a perfect record in the group.
PSG have dispatched the other two teams in the group with ease, and will see the double header against the Belgians as an opportunity to cement their place in the knockout stage. It is the fifth meeting between the two, with three of the previous four ending in draws.
GROUP C
Chelsea vs Roma
Chelsea will look to maintain a perfect start to their European campaign when Roma come visiting today, having defeated Qarabag and Atletico Madrid home and away respectively to sit top of the group with six points. Roma on the other hand sit comfortably in second position with four points and will be looking to close the gap on Chelsea.
Chelsea have met Roma on two occasions previously in the UCL winning 1-0 at home before going away to lose 3-1 in the 2008/2009 season. Chelsea have won twenty-one of their last twenty-five UCL home group games, drawing just three times and losing once. Meanwhile, Roma have won each of their last nine competitive away matches in all competitions.
Roma have never won an away game against English opposition in eight games in the UCL, drawing two and recording six losses. They have also never kept a clean sheet in those eight games.
Chelsea have picked up maximum points from their opening two games of a UCL campaign for the first time since 2010/11. They have always finished top of their group after winning their opening two games. Having sat out the loss to Crystal Palace, Chelsea summer signing, Antonio Rudiger would be in contention to face his old team from Italy.
Qarabag vs Atletico Madrid
Following the heart break of matchday two in which Chelsea scored with the last kick of the game to pick all three points at the Wanda Metropolitano, Atletico would be looking to pick up their first win of this season’s UCL campaign against Azerbajan champions, Qarabag.
Atleti would hope to make good use of the double header against the rather underwhelming side to stake a claim for one of the two qualifications spots in group C; especially as Chelsea and Roma go head-to-head in the next two fixtures.
Group D
Barcelona vs Olympiacos
Barcelona are looking to maintain their perfect start in this group when they host Olympiacos, who are still pointless, having lost their two matches so far.
This game is a form of reunion for Olympiacos and Barca manager, Ernesto Valverde, who have had two spells in charge of the Greek side. Valverde won three league titles with Olympiacos during those spells, but must now oversee their downfall at the Camp Nou.
It’s the first meeting between the two, but for the visitors, they must improve their record against Spanish oppositions if they want to preserve their place in Europe.
In the other group game, Italian champions, Juventus host Portuguese side, Sporting Lisbon, at the lovely Juventus Stadium in Turin. Both teams are on three points, having lost one of their two matches apiece, and go into this one hoping for a win. However, Sporting do have a terrible record against Italian sides, as they have won none in 13 games, losing 10.
Like the match at Camp Nou, this game is the first between the two, and gives both sides the platform to keep pace with group leaders, Barcelona, who appear to be running away with one of the two round of 16 tickets from this group.
