UCL Preview: Messi's Barca host unbeaten Inter; Reds & Blues try to bounce back

  /  Freddy13

Champions League is back! Welcome to our All Football Champions League Preview! For the group stage!

Barcelona vs Inter (Group F)

Kick off time (Your time)

UTC 2019/10/02 19:00

Probable Lineups

Barcelona Team News

Lionel Messi missed both Champions League group matches against Inter last season and is a huge doubt due to injury once again. It is also difficult to see Ousmane Dembele recovering from injury in time to feature here.

Jordi Alba has also been ruled out for Barcelona and his partnership with Messi is a huge miss for Barcelona. Rising star Ansu Fati is also unavailable for Barcelona.

Clement Lenglet was sent off at the weekend but he is free to play here. He will start alongside Gerard Pique, as Samuel Umtiti is absent for the home side.

Inter Team News

Alexis Sanchez was sent off at the weekend but is free to play against former club Barcelona if selected, though will likely only miss the bench.

Antonio Conte rested Diego Godin and Romelu Lukaku at the weekend and both will return to the starting XI here.

Focus

Barcelona have won back-to-back matches for the first time all season. The Spanish side have been forced to navigate through the early months of the season without Lionel Messi on a regular basis and his absence on Wednesday would be a huge blow for Ernesto Valverde's side.

Inter have only failed to win one of their first seven matches in all competitions and that was a 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague in the Champions League last week. Antonio Conte has made a brilliant start to life at Inter but his record in Europe is not great. Conte has only overseen nine wins in 24 matches in the Champions League.

Prediction

Barcelona 1-0 Inter

Liverpool vs Salzburg (Group E)

Kick off time (Your time)

UTC 2019/10/02 19:00

Probable Lineups

Liverpool Team News

Jurgen Klopp has revealed Joel Matip suffered an injury in Saturday's 1-0 win away to Sheffield United. This could provide an opportunity for Joe Gomez to get back in the team.

Alisson is closing in on a first-team return after missing Liverpool's last nine matches in all competitions, but may not feature until after the international break.

Divock Origi returned from injury in Liverpool's 1-0 win away to Sheffield United at the weekend, but Nathaniel Clyne and Xherdan Shaqiri are still missing for the European champions.

Salzburg Team News

Hwang Hee-Chan earned a perfect WhoScored 10 rating in the Champions League last week and will lead the line with reported Manchester United target Erling Haaland here.

Antoine Bernede is out after picking up an injury at the weekend and will have to be replaced in midfield here, with Enock Mwepu a candidate to deputise.

Focus

Liverpool are on the back foot in Group E after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Napoli in their first match.

Salzburg are full of confidence heading into Wednesday's match after winning 6-2 in their first-ever Champions League group game last week.

Prediction

Liverpool 2-1 Salzburg

Lille vs Chelsea (Group H)

Kick off time (Your time)

UTC 2019/10/02 19:00

Probable Lineups

Lille Team News

Timothy Weah is the only injury concern for Lille ahead of Wednesday's reception of Chelsea.

Gabriel and Tiago Djaló battle to partner former West Ham defender Jose Fonte at centre-back.

Chelsea Team News

N'Golo Kanté missed out against Brighton at the weekend because of injury but Frank Lampard expects to have the Chelsea midfielder available on Wednesday. With Mateo Kovacic also expected to return, Mason Mount should push forward into the attacking trio.

Christian Pulisic has fallen completely out of favour in the last month, which leaves Pedro and Willian battling for a starting spot against Lille.

Focus

Lille have only won one of their last four matches but are unbeaten in their last three (W1, D2).

Frank Lampard has won back-to-back matches as Chelsea manager for the first time. They also kept their first clean sheet of the season at the weekend.

Both teams lost their Champions League group opener, with Lille losing 3-0 away to Ajax and Chelsea falling to a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Valencia.

Prediction

Lille 1-1 Chelsea

Slavia Praha vs Dortmund (Group F)

Kick off time (Your time)

UTC 2019/10/02 16:55

Probable Lineups

Slavia Praha Team News

Slavia Prague may named an unchanged side from the side that held Inter to a 1-1 draw last week. They have a clean bill of health ahead of Wednesday's home match against Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund Team News

Julian Weigl will hope to start in central midfield after struggling for prolonged regular starts in the last 12 months.

Lukasz Piszczek is available again meaning Dortmund have more options at right-back and left-back.

Paco Alcacer has been ruled out of the midweek clash, so Mario Gotze will lead the line.

Focus

Borussia Dortmund have drawn their last three matches, including a 0-0 stalemate with Barcelona in their Champions League opener.

Dortmund are favourites but they are struggling to see games over the line at the moment, while Slavia Prague will be confident after holding Inter. Expect a close match.

Prediction

Slavia Praha 1-2 Dortmund

Related: Chelsea Liverpool Borussia Dortmund Internazionale Barcelona
Hot comments
Download All Football for more comments