In case you could not discern them from my preview articles (which you can find at World Soccer Reader [A/B, C/D] or San Diego Examiner [A, B, C, D]), here are some knee-jerk predictions for today’s UEFA Champions League matches. These are not like the knee-jerk fantasy analyses from my colleague Jordan Wise, who thankfully can take a little riving. This is just how I feel four hours before the first kickoff:
For Bayern and head coach Louis van Gaal, it's must win today at Allainz.
Group A
Bayern Munich 0, Bordeaux 0 – Bayern has had trouble scoring goals and will be without the player who has been best in attack, Thomas Müller. Bordeaux already plays a “deliberate” style, and while a win would all-but seal their passage into the knock-out stage, a draw puts them in position to do the same on Match Day 5 against Maccabi Haifa. You should know, though, I predicted a 0-0 draw in Bordeaux. That was ruined early by a Michael Ciani own goal. Damn you, Ciani. My picks are much more important that your “fixture.”
Maccabi Haifa 0, Juventus 2 – Maccabi Haifa has not points and no goals through three match, and I don’t see that changing here. Unfortunately for the Israelis, their matches have become just as important as the matches between the groups big clubs, as any team that drops points to Haifa could find themselves in Europa.
Table, if these predictions hold: Bordeaux 8, Juventus 8, Bayern Munich 5, Macccabi 0
CSKA will need something special from Serbian winger Milos Krasic
Group B
Manchester United 0, CSKA Moscow 0 – United is injury weakened and strategically unwilling. The players they put out there, though, will still defend. Don’t expect the likes of Jonny Evans, Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Darren Fletcher to give CSKA anything. Given what we’ve seen from CSKA in recent matches against United and FC Moscow, I can’t see them getting a goal unless Milos Krasic or Alan Dzagoev does something miraculous. I don’t predict miracles.
Besiktas 3, Wolfsburg 1 – I’m a believer in Besiktas’s recent turn-around, and with apoor defensive team playing their first match in this environment, I like them to win handily and emotionally. The crowd at Inonu Stadium will be pushing the Black Knights for their first Champions League win, and with Wolfsburg going through some minor leadership issues, I’m not sure they have the infrastructure to withstand that onslaught.
Table, if these predictions hold: Manchester United 10, Wolfsburg 4, Besiktas 4, CSKA 4
Group C
Milan 1, Real Madrid 3 – I think the blow-up between Manuel Pellegrini and Guti has given the Chilean a chance to take control of the club. Along with Raúl, Guti represents the last of the old guard at Real Madrid, an old guard that (as seen in Marca) is starting to make the new coach’s life difficult. Guti’s act in their loss at Alcorcon gives Pellegrini license to crush some eggshells, and just as Villareal was fine after Riquelme left, Madrid will be fine. In today’s match Pellegrini will put out his best team, worrying less about entitlement and more about efficacy.
Marseille 1, FC Zürich 0 – This match could go either way. I was surprised that Marsille beat Zürich in Switzerland, but I’ll bow to that result as well as l’OM’s superior talent. No result in this one would surprise me, even if Zürich scored early and caused a complete collapse under Didier Deschamps.
Table, if these predictions hold: Real Madrid 9, Milan 6, Marseille 6, Zürich 3
Group D
Atlético Madrid 0, Chelsea 2 – Chelsea could pile it on, but I just don’t think they’ll care. I think they’ll get a goal mid-way through the first half, after a settling in period, score early in the second, and then the match will be mind-numbingly dead. Atlético has gone from curiosity, to oddity, to outright (relative) tragedy. Good teams should not play this poorly. It’s no longer funny.
APOEL 0, Porto 2 – For as much willingness and heart as APOEL have shown, they have still be ineffectual, and Porto has walked this road too many times before to overlook this match. I have an inclination to say Porto would be happy with a draw that would basically put them into the knock-out stage, but they rested some players this weekend against Beleneses, so I think they’re striving to win this group.
Table, if these predictions hold: Chelsea 12, Porto 9, APOEL 1, Atlético 1