The UEFA Champions League will see some incredible spectacles with the best European sides clashing heads on Wednesday night in the opening round of the new campaign, and now we can take a look at the first round of fixtures which will hopefully live up to the hype surrounding the competition.
In this preview, we will take a look at a competitive group E, where firstly Liverpool, with a long and important history within the European football, will take on Sevilla, who has had much success in the European’s lesser competition. In our other matchup Maribor, who are relatively new to the Champions League, host Spartak Moscow, who have a little more pedigree in Europe than their opponents but will have to win if they wish to fulfill their ambitions of progressing to the next round.
Liverpool (Eng) vs. Sevilla (Spa)
Three-Way: 1: Liverpool -125; X: +325 Draw; Sevilla +405
Spread -0.5: Liverpool -133; Sevilla +129
Total +3: Over +102; Under -106
Liverpool
The Reds have had a solid unbeaten start to their Premier League season, with a notable 4:0 thrashing over Arsenal, although they did suffer a humiliating defeat to Manchester City in their last game with a 5:0scorelinee. Saying that, things were made particularly difficult after winger Saido Mané was sent off. On the other side, in order to get to this stage of the Champions League competition, Liverpool had to defeat Hoffenheim in the play-off round, and they fulfilled their objective by defeating them in both, very entertaining home and away, matches, and 6-3 overall on aggregate.
Despite this only being the second time of being involved in the Champions League proper in seven seasons, Liverpool is still very much one of the biggest sides in European football. They have won the top European competition five times in their long history, last winning in 2004-05 and finishing as runners-up in the 2006-07 season.
Since their European glory days, Liverpool has gone on somewhat of a drought, but have undergone a resurgence in recent years with manager Jurgen Klopp who took the managing reigns in 2015. Klopp has integrated a very attacking style of play to this Liverpool side, with frightening pace and power upfront with the likes of Saido Mané, Mohamed Salah & Phillipe Coutinho.
During the offseason, Liverpool signed four first team players, notably wingers Mohamed Salah from Roma for 37.8 million pounds and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal for 35 million pounds.
Manager Jurgen Klopp will be without attacking midfielder Adam Lallana (hamstring), Nathaniel Clyine (thigh) and Adam Bogdan (cruciate ligament rupture) through injury.
Sevilla
Sevilla has also had a decent start to their season, drawing to Espanyol and winning against Getafe and Eibar in La Liga. To reach this stage of the Champions League competition they edged past a persistent Istanbul Basaksehir side 4-3 on aggregate, with two goals from French attacker Wissam Ben Yedder making the difference.
The Sevillistas are a side with a great deal of European success in recent years. Firstly, they won the Europa League three times in a row, from the 2013-14 season to the 2015-16 season, when they coincidentally beat Liverpool in the final. Furthermore, Sevilla has now reached the Champions League three times in a row, qualifying from a competitive Spanish domestic league with a talented squad that includes the likes of Steven N’Zonzi, who will look to stop Liverpool attacks in their tracks from midfield, and new forward signing Luis Muriel, whose pace may cause issues for their opponent’s defense.
Sevilla has made ten signings over the summer, notably centre-forward Luis Muriel from Sampdoria for roughly 20 million euros, and centre-back Simon Kjaer from Fenerbahce. Eight players left for pastures new, including winger Vitolo joining Atletico Madrid for 35 million euros, winger Yevhen Konoplyanka to Schalke and centre-back Adil Rami to Marseille
Manager Eduardo Berizzo will be without centre-back Daniel Carrico (hamstring) and Franco Vazquez (knee) through injury, but will otherwise have a full selection.
Liverpool (Eng) vs. Sevilla (Spa) – Match Prediction:
This will be a tough fixture for either side. Liverpool’s attack is formidable so I would expect them to score at least a couple of goals. However, Sevilla looks strong after doing a great job in the offseason market, and will offer competition throughout the game.
With a home advantage and their attack, I would guess that Liverpool would win, but it is not guaranteed. What you can guarantee with Liverpool games is that there will always be goals. Therefore, I am taking the over as my safe bet, while going with the Liverpool win as my additional pick.
MY PICK: Over 3 goals (+102)
Additional Pick: Liverpool to win (-125)
Maribor (Slo) vs. Spartak Moscow (Rus)
Three-Way: 1: Maribor +375; X: +275 Draw; 2: Spartak Moscow -105
Spread +0.5: Maribor +106; Spartak Moscow -111
Total +2.5: Over +133; Under -133
Maribor
The 14 times Slovenian first league winners have been in excellent domestic form, unbeaten in their domestic league this season and top of the league. In addition, they have just qualified for the Champions League for only the third time in their history, although had to do it the hard way, starting in the second qualifying round progressing all the way to the play-off round where they met Hapoel Be’er Sheva. It was by no means a comfortable tie for the Slovenian side, losing the away fixture 2:1 but managed to hold on to a 1:0 lead over their opponents following a 15th minute winner.
NK Maribor signed four players during the off-season, including forward Jasmin Mesanovic who left on a free transfer from Zrinjski Mostar, while nine left.
Manager Darko Milanic will be without forwards Luka Zahovic and Dare Vrsic through foot and leg injuries respectively.
Spartak Moscow
Spartak Moscow has been in terrible form since the season began, with just nine points from their first eight games, placing themselves in ninth position, far off their first place finish last season. Through winning the Russian Premier League last season, Spartak qualified directly for the Champions League group stage.
The current Russian champions has not been unknown to European’s top competition, once reaching the semi-final in the 1990-91 season when they were knocked out by Marseille. Spartak Moscow last qualified for the Champions League in the 2012-13 season, but finished bottom of the table, so they will be keen to make a better showing of themselves.
Over the summer Spartak Moscow has signed five players, including winger Pedro Rocha from Gremio for 12 million euros. Going the other way were three players, all to Rostov on free transfers or on loan.
Manager Massimo Carrera will be without Roman Zobnin (ruptured crucitate ligament), Artem Timofeev (ruptured crucitate ligament) and Zé Luis (abdominal muscles injury.
Maribor (Slo) vs. Spartak Moscow (Rus) – Match Prediction:
Usually I would go for a simple Spartak Moscow win, but considering the forms of the two sides and the home advantage, Maribor could easily pick up a point. I could see the home side trying to frustrate their opponents with a heavy defense, so I don’t think there will be too much between the sides and it will likely end in a draw.
MY PICK: Draw (+275)
Additional Pick: Under 2.5 goals (-133)
