The UEFA Champions League returns this evening with some blockbusters to look forward.
The games will be live on SuperSport channels on DSTV. Here is a preview of today’s action.
Club Brugge vs Borussia Dortmund
Competition/Round: 2018-19 UEFA Champions League Group A
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 9 pm.
Venue: Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, Belgium.
Club Brugge face Germany powerhouse Borussia Dortmund in a Group A encounter.
Zimbabwean midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is not part of the Brugges squad that will do duty tonight. The 24-year-old is yet to get fit from a knee injury.
Dortmund, on the other hand, is coming off a big win against Frankfurt and the morale is pretty high, heading into the Champions League opener away in Belgium.
AS Monaco vs Borussia Dortmund
Competition/Round: 2018-19 UEFA Champions League Group A
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 9 pm.
Venue: Stade Louis II, Monaco, France
AS Monaco will host Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid side in the first ever meeting between the two sides.
Madrid go into this fixture with four players currently struggling with injuries. French left-back Lucas Hernández has a gastric problem and is a doubt while Vitolo (knee), Santiago Arias (fractured rib) and Nikola Kalinic (ankle injury) are not available for clash.
Monaco have a few more selection headaches. Danijel Subašić and Alexsandr Golovin are struggling to regain match fitness. Other injury concerns include Rony Lopes (hamstring), Pietro Pellegri (wound) and Andrea Raggi who is suffering with an illness.
Barcelona vs PSV Eindhoven
Competition/Round: 2018-19 UEFA Champions League Group B
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 6.55pm
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona start their campaign at home with a clash against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. The Catalans, who were knocked out by Roma in the quarter finals last season in sensational fashion will be hoping to perform well in this edition.
They have full strength squad with all of their star players available. However, new signing Malcom is not part of the team for this evening’s game.
Inter Milan vs Tottenham
Competition/Round: 2018-19 UEFA Champions League Group B
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 6.55pm
Venue: San Siro, Milan, Italy
Inter Milan return to Champions League action following a six-year absence when they host Tottenham in another Group B encounter. The grant return promises to produce a special atmosphere at the San Siro.
This will be the fifth meeting between the two sides, with both teams winning two matches so far.
Forward Mauro Icardi should return to Luciano Spalletti’s starting XI after the Argentine was a substitute in that match, but Danilo d’Ambrosio faces a late fitness test.
Spurs will be without defenders Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier while Dele Alli (hamstring) remains unavailable after missing the Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool, as does captain Hugo Lloris (thigh).
Liverpool vs PSG
Competition/Round: 2018-19 UEFA Champions League Group C
Date/Time: Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 9 pm.
Venue: Anfield Stadium, Liverpoool, England.
Jurgen Klopp is hopeful striker Roberto Firmino will be fit ahead of the match against Paris St-Germain at Anfield.
The Brazilian suffered an eye injury in the win over Tottenham on Saturday but a hospital examination showed there was no lasting damage and Daniel Sturridge could start if Firmino is ruled out.
Fellow forwards Divock Origi and Dominic Solanke are also doubts. The pair picked up injuries in an Under-23s match.
PSG’s Neymar is expected to feature tonight, having been rested for Friday’s French Ligue 1 match against Saint-Etienne. Kylian Mbappe also missed out but due to a suspension and should return.
The two sides have faced each other twice before – over two legs in the semi-final of the 1996-97 Cup Winners’ Cup. PSG went through 3-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg 3-0 at home.
Other Fixtures:
Red Star Belgrade vs Napoli – 8 pm.
Galatasaray vs Lokomotiv Moscow – 8 pm
Schalke 04 vs Port – 8 pm
