European’s top competition, the UEFA Champions League, is back for its crucial third round of matches in the coming week. This is commonly a round of fixtures where each group begins to take shape, while some teams will already be down and out and others on the edge of qualification. With so much at stake, we can expect an entertaining week of top-quality matches as each team is vying for the win.
In this double match-up, we take a look at group D with two highly-competitive matches taking place. Firstly, Barcelona, who only just beat Sporting Lisbon in their last fixture, will play Olympiakos Piraeus, who lost as expected to Juventus last time out in Europe. The other match will see Juventus, who produced a routine win over Olympiakos recently, will host Sporting Lisbon, a team who were unlucky to score the only goal of the game in their own net against Barcelona.
Barcelona (Spa) vs. Olympiakos Piraeus (Gre)
Three-Way: 1: Barcelona -625; X: +1570 Draw; Olympiakos Piraeus +3704
Spread -2.5: Barcelona -139; Olympiakos Piraeus +129
Total +4: Over -101; Under -108
Barcelona
A lackluster performance from the five-times Champions League winners saw them limp towards a 1:0 win over Sporting in Lisbon. Barcelona found it tough to break down Sporting’s defense despite having two of world football’s best strikers is Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, who were both wasteful in front of goal. In fact, the only goal of the game came from Sporting as the ball was bundled over the line with Uruguayan Suarez applying the pressure.
Despite the poor performance, Barcelona is still in top position with a 100% record maintained. They will expect to reach the last sixteen as they have done so in every season since 2001-02, and with the number of world-class talent on their side, including arguably the best player in the world in Lionel Messi, they should qualify with ease. Furthermore, Barcelona has been in great form domestically, winning every match until their last which they drew 1:1 away to Atletico Madrid, and leading in La Liga table.
Manager Ernesto Valverde will be without central midfielder Rafinha (meniscus), winger Ousmane Dembele (thigh) and winger Arda Turan (metatarsal).
Olympiakos Piraeus
Olympiakos has a difficult task ahead of them if they wish to qualify for the next round of the Champions League, having lost in their last match away to Juventus with a 2:0 score-line. The Greek champions were dominated throughout the ninety minutes, although they managed to cling on until the 69th minute when Juventus scored their first goal. There was no coming back for Olympiakos as they were simply a victim to their superior Italian opponents.
Two losses, one of those being to the easier team in the group at home Sporting, gives Olympiakos little chance for progression, or even a third-place finish for Europa League qualification. With their next match being against the toughest team in the group, there is even less chance of progression for the Greek side. In all competitions, Olympiakos has had a terrible season, recently going on a run of three losses on the trot until winning their last match 4-3 after a late penalty ensured the three points. Furthermore, they also sit in fifth place with just eleven points after seven games, which is a poor record for the current Greek champions.
Manager Takis Lemonis will have a full squad for Wednesday’s match, although winger El Fardou Ben is doubtful.
Barcelona (Spa) vs. Olympiakos Piraeus (Gre) – Match Prediction:
It would take a massive shock performance and result for Barcelona not to come away from this game with all three points. The Spanish side has the much better team with some of Europe’s best talent, and although Olympiakos is by no means a weak side, if they’ve found their first two games difficult, they haven’t seen anything yet.
MY PICK: Barcelona -2.5 AH (-139)
Juventus (Ita) vs. Sporting Lisbon (Por)
Three-Way: 1: Juventus -217; X: +445 Draw; 2: Sporting +927
Spread -1.5: Juventus +117; Sporting -120
Total +3: Over +125; Under -133
Juventus
The Italian champions pulled out a commanding performance over Olympiakos in their last fixture, winning with ease and scoring two goals to show for their dominance. Despite taking the initiative in the match, it took until the 69th minute for Juventus to grab their first goal through Gonzalo Higuain, who was left on the bench until the 60th minute. Higuain’s impact was made more obvious as he was involved in his team’s second goal scored by Marko Mandzukic from close-range to confirm the 2:0 win.
After a humbling 3:0 loss to Barcelona in their first Champions League fixture, Juventus will have been relieved to get their first three points on the board. However, the win against Olympiakos preluded some poor league form, drawing away to Atlanta and losing at home to Lazio, of whom they missed a late penalty against. That being said, the two-times Champions League winners should have enough to beat a Sporting side to help them qualify as they have done in the last three seasons, reaching the final twice in that time.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri will be without winger Marko Pjaca (cruciate ligament) and central midfielder Miralem Pjanic (muscular problems) through injury, while winger Mame Thiam is suspended.
Sporting
Sporting can be proud of their last performance despite losing 1:0 to Barcelona in their latest Champions League encounter, as they largely subdued their opponents. In fact, they even forged the odd chance over the duration of the game, managing three shots on target but not being able to get the ball past the opposition’s keeper. Unfortunately, it was an own goal that eventually undid the Sporting defense, as Sebastian Coates accidentally bundled the ball over the line in the 49th minute which ended up being the winner on the day.
The Portuguese side should not feel too dejected, as a loss to Barcelona was on the cards before the game started, although under the circumstances of the result it would have been difficult to comprehend. Looking at the group, third place is the best that this side can hope for, and were helped in that objective with their first win over Olympiakos. That being said, a result in their next game could set their eyes to a bigger achievement, although the odds are against them as they haven’t qualified for the round of sixteen since the 2008-09 season, and even in that round, they lost 12-1 on aggregate to Bayern Munich.
Manager Jorge Jesus will be without left-back Fabio Coentrao (muscle), forward Seydou Doumbia (muscle) and forward Alan Ruiz (abductor tear).
Juventus (Ita) vs. Sporting Lisbon (Por) – Match Prediction:
On paper, Juventus should easily have enough to get through this match with a win, but they may still be suffering from their last defeat to Lazio. Sporting Lisbon, on the other hand, has proved that they can keep some of Europe’s best attackers at bay in their last game and will give their Italian opponents a difficult time. Saying that, I still believe that Juventus will have enough to score at least two goals and will probably not concede due to their strong defense.
Therefore, I would recommend Juventus to win on AH.
MY PICK: Juventus -1.5 AH (+117)
