UEFA Champions League and Europa League – early front-runners – Round 01 & 02

Team	P	Pts
FC Barcelona	2	6
FC Milano	2	6
PSV Eindhoven	2	0
Tottenham Hotspur FC	2	0

In this group, the biggest highlight was the Tottenham – Barcelona game at Wembley which finished 2-4 and was decided by Leo Messi’s brilliance. The talismanic Argentine forward scored twice in a thrilling win which left Spurs with two defeats. Mauricio Pochetinno’s side lost the first match late on against Inter, so they will be looking to get two wins against PSV and to hope for the better performance against both Barcelona and Internazionale in the reverse fixtures.

Team	P	Pts
SSC Napoli	2	4
Liverpool FC	2	3
Paris Saint-Germain	2	3
FK Crvena zvezda	2	1

In what appeared to be one of the most exciting groups, Napoli, PSG and Liverpool are in a real battle for only two places. Liverpool impressed and won against PSG at the start of the campaign, with Napoli drawing against Crvena Zvezda. Then PSG thrashed the Serbians in Paris thanks to Neymar’s excellent performance. Napoli won at the end against Liverpool to make sure that the three teams have all to play for till the final game of this group.

Team	P	Pts
FC Porto	2	4
FC Schalke 04	2	4
Galatasaray AŞ	2	3
FC Lokomotiv Moskva	2	0

Porto, Schalke 04 and Galatasaray are locked in a battle to progress from this group, and after two losses Lokomotiv Moscow are a long way off. Porto and Schalke played a draw and are with 4 points and after Galatasaray thrashing 3-0 Lokomotiv Moscow, Turkey’s representative is having their chances in progressing with next game against Schalke 04 which are hardly impressive in the Bundesliga.

Team	P	Pts
AFC Ajax	2	4
FC Bayern München	2	4
SL Benfica	2	3
AEK Athens FC	2	0

Ajax surprises everyone this campaign by topping the group after the win against AEK and drawing away at Bayern. Benfica lost at home to the German team then won against AEK Athens. Ajax clashes with Benfica will determine who will join Bayern in the next round that anything apart from 2 wins out of their matches against AEK Athens would be considered a huge shock.

Team	P	Pts
Olympique Lyonnais	2	4
Manchester City FC	2	3
FC Shakhtar Donetsk	2	2
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim	2	1

Considerable favourites in this group Manchester City lost their opener against Lyon and were on the brink against Hoffenheim either, but managed to get a much-needed win via David Silva winning goal in Germany. Shakhtar was left with only 2 points after drawing both their games against Hoffenheim and Lyon. German debutants now will face the French side twice, and this could turn out to be hard to predict group.

Team	P	Pts
PFC CSKA Moskva	2	4
AS Roma	2	3
Real Madrid CF	2	3
FC Viktoria Plzen	2	1

Real Madrid began life after Zidane and Ronaldo with a sound win against Roma but then failed miserably in Moscow by losing 0-1 to CSKA. Loppetegui will be having hard times if his side fails to qualify from what looks like an easy group – well at least on paper. Roma is slowly finding their form again and now must focus on their two decisive games against CSKA Moscow.

Team	P	Pts
Juventus	2	6
Manchester United FC	2	4
Valencia CF	2	1
BSC Young Boys	2	0

Cristiano’s return to Man United was the highlight of the draw, and it appeared that this could not happen. The Portuguese superstar was sent off during Juventus’ win away in Valencia, and his ban only meant that he could not feature against Young Boys. Later UEFA decided not to increase the ban and Ronaldo will return to Old Trafford. Valencia will be hoping to get two wins against outsiders from Switzerland and then to pray for the best against United at home and away at Juve.

Team	P	Pts
Bayer 04 Leverkusen	2	6
FC Zurich	2	6
AEK Larnaca FC	2	0
PFC Ludogorets 1945	2	0

Zurich and Bayer Leverkusen are on hot track in progressing from their group after dealing with Bulgarian side Ludugorets and Cyprus’ Larnaca. Leverkusen showed great composure and scored the total of 7 goals in their two games. Zurich, on the other hand, was pragmatic and won twice by a single goal margin – both wins coming in the closing stages of their matches. If someone from Larnaca and Ludogorets would like to progress, they will have to get at least one win from their clash and then to hope for better performances.

Team	P	Pts
FC Salzburg	2	6
Celtic FC	2	3
RB Leipzig	2	3
Rosenborg BK	2	0

In the battle of the Red Bull teams, Salzburg won against Leipzig and defeated Celtic as well. The Austrian side is having vast experience in the tournament and sits on leading position to qualify from this group. Celtic are gearing for final fixtures against the leaders after having mixed results in their two games – winning at home against Rosenborg and losing against Leipzig away. Rosenborg will need to improve after losing both their fixtures.

Team	P	Pts
FC Kobenhavn	2	4
FC Zenit	2	4
SK Slavia Praha	2	3
FC Girondins de Bordeaux	2	0

French side Bordeaux is with 0 points after their two opening fixtures and must drastically improve over the next few matches if they want to progress from this group. Zenit is leading along with FC Copenhagen after both teams drawing in the first round. Slavia Prague is in an excellent position to qualify after having 3 points from their opening fixtures.

Team	P	Pts
GNK Dinamo Zagreb	2	6
FC Spartak Trnava	2	3
Fenerbahce SK	2	3
RSC Anderlecht	2	0

Anderlecht fears the worst after losing both opening games and failing to score a single goal – losing both matches against Spartak Trnava and Dinamo Zagreb. Turkish giants Fenerbahce lost heavily in the opening fixture in Zagreb but managed to get a win against Spartak Trnava in the second one. Anderlecht now is facing Fenerbahce, and many answers could be given in the doubleheader between the Belgians and the Turkish club.

Team	P	Pts
Arsenal FC	2	6
Sporting Clube de Portugal	2	6
FC Vorskla Poltava	2	0
FK Qarabag	2	0

In this group favourites are marching to qualification easily by winning both their games and now the tie between Arsenal and Sporting CP will decide who will potentially go out as winners and who will be as runner-up. Arsenal began their life under new manager Unai Emery brightly, and despite fielding under-strength teams, they won comfortably 4-2 and 3-0. Sporting CP also had no trouble against the likes of Vorskla and Qarabag FK, and despite a turbulent summer, they will have no problems progressing from their group.

Team	P	Pts
AC Milan	2	6
Real Betis Balompié	2	4
Olympiacos FC	2	1
F91 Dudelange	2	0

Biggest shock contestant Dudelange could not live up the expectations and failed to register a single point from their two opening fixtures. They lost narrowly from Milan and Real Betis and are yet to play a double-tie with Greek giants Olympiakos. Milan overturned a deficit from the Greeks and won 3-1 at the San Siro. Betis and Olympiacos are going to be battling it out for the second spot, knowing that most probably AC Milan will occupy the top place at the end of the group campaign.

Team	P	Pts
Rangers FC	2	4
SK Rapid Vienna	2	3
Villarreal CF	2	2
FC Spartak Moskva	2	1

In an evenly matched group without real favourite for the top spot – this group appears to be unpredictable. Steven Gerrard is in his debut season and Rangers returned to Europe after a few year’s exiles, but this didn’t stop them to be on a top place – 4 points – draw against Villareal and a home win against Rapid Wien. Spartak Moscow is bottom, but they have experienced squad on disposal, so surely the fight will go down the wire in this group.

Team	P	Pts
Eintracht Frankfurt	2	6
SS Lazio	2	3
Apollon Limassol FC	2	1
Olympique de Marseille	2	1

Eintracht Frankfurt won the German Cup, lost their manager to Bayern, and now are living the dream in Europe – beating Marseille away and Lazio convincingly at home. Marseille will be hoping for improvement knowing that they managed to reach the final on last year’s edition of the tournament. Eintracht is possibly qualified, but the encounter between Lazio and OM appears to be mouthwatering.

Team	P	Pts
Besiktas JK	2	3
KRC Genk	2	3
Malmo FF	2	3
Sarpsborg 08 FF	2	3

If there is a real thrilling group in the tournament – it has to be this one. Four teams, all with 3 points and all to play for in the next four rounds. Surprising or not, Sarpsborg is leading the way on goal difference with the biggest shock coming from Besiktas who are finding it tight from the beginning of the year.

Team	P	Pts
FC Krasnodar	2	6
R. Standard de Liege	2	3
Sevilla FC	2	3
Akhisar Belediyespor	2	0

Record breakers Sevilla won the tournament five times and certainly will be hoping to reach the later stages of the competition. The Spanish side was stunned in their away fixture in Russia by FC Krasnodar. Standard Liege are also a team to look after, but the outsiders Akhisar are unlikely to cause significant problems to anyone, and they are in trouble in the Turkish Super League too.

Team	P	Pts
FC Astana	2	4
FC Rennes	2	3
FC Dynamo Kyiv	2	2
FK Jablonec	2	1

In this group, Dynamo Kiyv started slowly with two draws and certainly will be hoping to gain points in their next matches. Their both games ended 2-2, so certainly both teams to score is a good option in their games. Astana won at home against Rennes and now will be hoping against the bottom of the table team Jablonec to get the valuable points which will see them trough. On the other hand, the Czech team made a comeback against Kiyv so that the momentum will be there too.

Team	P	Pts
FC Chelsea	2	6
PAOK FC	2	3
FC BATE Borisov	2	3
Vidi FC	2	0

In the final group, the other English representative Chelsea started with 100% record. The Blues from London are respecting the tournament, and Sarri fielded strong selection in both wins against PAOK and MOL Vidi. BATE Borisov is the other team in the group, and they will undoubtedly be relishing the challenge in facing one of the favourites in the tournament Chelsea in their next two games.