Champions League Matchday 3 Snapshot

By: Bob | October 22nd, 2007

We’re on to round 3 of the Champions League group stages with mid-week matches scheduled to help us all get through the work week in fine fashion. The halfway point of the group stage is often a tipping point where teams set the cruise control toward the next round or they dig themselves a hole from which they can’t escape. Here’s a quick and dirty look at the week’s action.

Group A

The top two teams in the group square off with Marseille hosting Porto. Marseille’s form in the Champions League is impressive considering they have played so poorly in France this season. With one point from two games, Liverpool is in the unusual position of needing to get a result on the road against a Besitkas side that is difficult at home.

Group B

Chelsea appeared to be mailing it in in the Champions League until they came back to knock off Valencia on the road. They host a Schalke side that might need to hire players off the street. They are missing six players due to injury. The group’s other match features Valencia traveling to Norway to face Rosenborg. Valencia have been winning ugly in Spain and they are the side with the most to lose in Norway.

Group C

A group that is still very wide open. Real Madrid host Olympiacos in a matchup of the group’s top two teams. Real come in to the contest following their first loss in Spain and facing some injury issues. Meanwhile, Lazio head on the road to take on a Bremen side that have struggled in their first two group matches.

Group D

It is moment of truth time for Shakhtar. The team from Ukraine is on top of the group table but face their biggest challenge to date when they play AC Milan at the San Siro. Milan will be without keeper Dida who hopefully will be forced to spend 90 minutes watching his theatrics against Celtic. Speaking of Celtic, they’ll need to rebound from an Old Firm beatdown this weekend or run the risk of losing ground away at Benfica.

Group E

Who would have thunk it? The glamour match of the round might just be in Glasgow where Rangers and Barcelona square off in a top of the group clash. Rangers come in flying high from their Old Firm triumph. Barcelona limp into the contest after a loss in La Liga and with a bevy of injuries. Meanwhile, Stuttgart and Lyon meet in what could be a must-win contest for both sides.

Group F

Manchester United have been clinical in their first two Champions League games – a pair of 1-0 wins. They head to Kiev to take on a Dynamo club that has been playing like they are knee-deep in snow. The big match of the group is in Rome where off-form Roma will have a lot of pressure to pick up points against Sporting.

Group G

A hard group to figure out. Inter Milan is seemingly the favorite but they have struggled the past couple of years in Champions League play. They are in Moscow for a tricky contest against CSKA. PSV host Fenerbahce in a match up that could go a long way towards determining who will get the second spot in the group.

Group H

Arsenal appear to be in good shape. They are on top of the group and host a Slavia side that was overwhelmed in their first away match against Sevilla. Speaking of the Spanish side, they’ll look to get well when they host a Steaua Bucharest club that is going through managers like nobody’s business.

Here’s the fixtures for Champions League matchday 3. Which games excite you the most? Which big teams do you think are in trouble?

Tuesday
Stuttgart v Lyon
Rangers v Barcelona
Dynamo Kiev v Man. United
Roma v Sporting
CSKA Moscow v Inter Milan
PSV v Fenerbahçe
Sevilla v Steaua Bucharest
Arsenal v Slavia

Wednesday
Beşiktaş v Liverpool
Marseille v Porto
Rosenborg v Valencia
Chelsea v Schalke
Bremen v Lazio
Real Madrid v Olympiacos
Benfica v Celtic
AC Milan v Shakhtar