Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
We’re now in the second half of the Champions League group stages with a handful teams in a position to secure their place in the Round of 16 should results go their way over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday night.
The biggest headline from the previous matchday was undoubtedly Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Manchester City at The Nou Camp. Pep Guardiola’s return to Catalonia was not a good one as former teammate Luis Enrique’s side eventually ran riot after Claudio Bravo’s sending off for handling outside the area.
City will now look to atone for that defeat by getting revenge when the two teams meet at The Etihad in midweek, the big question will be whether or not Sergio Aguero will start this time around after being left on the bench a couple of weeks ago. After Aguero scored a brace against West Brom on Saturday you get the feeling that he will be too hot to drop this time around.
This will be once again without question the biggest game of the matchday but let’s not forget that Tottenham return to Wembley and they will hope to have a better outing then their homecoming on Matchday 1 when they lost to Monaco.
Matchday 3 saw them earn a point against Bayer Leverkusen in what was a game of two halves with Tottenham on top for the first half and then Bayern on top for the second. Neither side managed to get that all important goal and Spurs will have Hugo Lloris and goalline technology to thanks as a combination of the two managed to keep Javier Hernandez at bay.
Leicester travel to Copenhagen with a maximum point haul of nine and they know that a win in Denmark will secure their passage to the Round of 16. When these two sides met a fortnight ago it was Riyad Mahrez’s header which was the difference and they will hope for more of the same on Wednesday night.
Holders Real Madrid travel to Poland to take on Legia Warsaw, these two sides have already met at The Bernabeu with Real running out 5-1 winners but this game in Warsaw will be played behind closed doors due to previous fan disturbances in the qualifying stages.
In Group D Bayern Munich face PSV Eindhoven while Atletico Madrid will continue their bid to go one better than 2014 and 2016 as they play host to Champions League newboys FC Rostov. These two met a fortnight ago with Atletico running out slender 1-0 winners
Top Youngsters in action this week
RENATO SANCHES
Bayern Munich
Initially started out on the left wing but has developed into a box to box midfielder and has the composure to dictate the tempo of games. Manchester United were beaten to his signature by Bayern Munich and he looks worth every penny of his £60m move to the German giants after being part of the Portuguese Euro 2016 winning squad back in July.
DELE ALLI
Tottenham
It’s Alli’s second season at White Hart Lane and if he can build on the first one then it will be a very impressive campaign for the youngster. Their was obvious disappointment at international level with England during the Summer but Alli will be hoping that his foray in the Champions League is more rewarding
MOISE BIOTY KEAN
Juventus
A striker who can play on the left or centrally. Kean has attracted the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea to recent tournaments as well as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The 16-year-old has been starring for Italy U17s also and is in negotiations to sign a contract with Juventus who are desperate to protect their asset.
RUBEN NEVES
Porto
Neves is only 19 but he has a very bright future ahead of him. The composed midfielder in the Xabi Alonso mould has already enjoyed a record-breaking career as Porto’s youngest league scorer, Portugal’s youngest Champions League player and youngest Champions League captain. United, Arsenal, Liverpool and City are regulars at his games.
OUSMANE DEMBELE
Borussia Dortmund
This Exciting 19-year-old forward joined from French side Rennes in the Summer. The French youth international is quick, likes to dribble and can play across the front line. He has currently scored just the solitary goal for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga but the best is certainly yet to come from this striker.
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