Top 5 predictions for Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League

Manchester City take on PSG on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League
Manchester City take on PSG on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League

Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League group stage saw some shocking results. Perennial heavyweights Manchester United and Barcelona both suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of Young Boys and Bayern Munich respectively.

Elsewhere, French powerhouse PSG could only manage a 1-1 draw against Club Brugge, despite the huge difference in quality between the two teams. There were wins for the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Juventus. All these teams will go into Matchday 2 looking to take a commanding lead in their respective groups.

Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League will serve up some exciting matchups. PSG take on Manchester City in what is sure to be a great game for the neutral. Elsewhere, reigning champions Chelsea will travel to Turin to take on Juventus. Meanwhile, Manchester United will look to put their demons to rest as they take on Villarreal in a rematch of the 2020-21 Europa League final.

With all that in mind, let's take a look at the Top 5 predictions of Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League.


#5 Barcelona and Manchester United bounce back

Cristiano Ronaldo was on target on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League
Cristiano Ronaldo was on target on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League

Barcelona and Manchester United were embarrassed on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League. The Catalan side were humbled in a 3-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich, while the Red Devils suffered a shock 2-1 loss at the hands of Swiss club Young Boys.

Both sides will want to come back strong and win their Matchday 2 fixtures. Barcelona will travel to Portugal to take on Benfica, while Manchester United host Villarreal at Old Trafford.

The Blaugrana are going into the game off the back of a 3-0 win against Levante in La Liga. The game also marked the return of Ansu Fati to the side, who ended up scoring as well. The young Spaniard is expected to be involved in some capacity against Benfica as Barcelona look to build some form of resurgence.

Manchester United, on the other hand, will head into the game following a 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa in the Premier League. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's have lost three of their last five games across all competitions and will need to put in a big performance in order to beat Villarreal.

Both Barcelona and Manchester United will be looking to kickstart their UEFA Champions League campaigns with a win. They should be able to do so on Matchday 2.


#4 Chelsea take control of Group H

Thomas Tuchel will want to win against Juventus on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League.
Thomas Tuchel will want to win against Juventus on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea take on Italian giants Juventus on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League. Thomas Tuchel's side will go into the game hoping to bounce back from their 1-0 loss against Manchester City at the weekend.

The Blues will know that if they manage to beat Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, they will take a commanding lead in Group H. Chelsea beat Zenit St. Petersburg 1-0 in their opening group stage game, courtesy of a goal from Romelu Lukaku. Thomas Tuchel will hope that the Belgian will deliver again and help them win the game against the Bianconeri.

Chelsea will take on a Juventus side who are unbeaten in their last four games across all competitions. However, Massimiliano Allegri will be without a few key players for the game. Both Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata were injured at the weekend and are unavailable for the game. Additionally, Brazilian midfielder Arthur is still not yet fit enough to play.

Chelsea are likely to take advantage of a weakened Juventus side and go clear at the top of Group H with a win.

#3 Liverpool continue hot-streak

Liverpool are unbeaten this season
Liverpool are unbeaten this season

Liverpool travel to Portugal to take on Porto on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League. Jurgen Klopp's side are yet to lose a game this season and will look to continue their unbeaten streak with a win against the Portuguese heavyweights.

Liverpool will be going into the game off the back of a 3-3 draw against Brentford at the weekend. One can expect Jurgen Klopp's side to take their frustrations out against Porto and absolutely demolish the Portuguese side.

A win for Liverpool would take them to six points in this season's UEFA Champions League. With AC Milan taking on Atletico Madrid in the group's other fixture, Jurgen Klopp's side have a great opportunity to break away from the chasing pack.


#2 Bayern Munich assert their dominance

Bayern Munich have been unstoppable
Bayern Munich have been unstoppable

Bayern Munich demolished Barcelona 3-0 on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League. Julian Nagelsmann's side completely dominated the Blaugrana at the Camp Nou and looked unstoppable in their win.

Since that victory, Bayern Munich have gone on to score 10 goals in their last two games. They will now host Dynamo Kyiv on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League. Things could get ugly for the Ukrainian side, as Bayern are currently on an eight-game winning streak during which they have managed to score 40 goals.

It is hard to see Julian Nagelsmann's side do anything apart from absolutely annihilate Dynamo Kyiv and take a commanding lead in Group E.


#1 Manchester City get the better of PSG

Manchester City will look to beat a weakened PSG side on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City will look to beat a weakened PSG side on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League.

Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League offers up the 'Oil Classico' as some fans call it. PSG host Premier League champions Manchester City at the Parc des Princes in a mouthwatering clash of heavyweights.

Both sides will go into the game in strong runs of form. However, PSG may be without a few key players for the clash. Angel Di Maria is suspended, while Marco Verratti is unavailable due to injury. Mauricio Pochettino will also be sweating on the fitness of Lionel Messi, who has missed the side's last two games due to a bone bruise.

Manchester City, on the other hand, have a nearly full-strength side, as only Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ilkay Gundogan are doubts for the game. Pep Guardiola should be confident of going to Paris and coming away with all three points. That is likely to be the case on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League.

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