MATCHDAY: AC Milan visits PSG in Champions League. Man City and Barcelona both in action
A look at what’s happening in the Champions League on Wednesday:
GROUP E
First-place Atletico Madrid visits last-place Celtic with forward Antoine Griezmann having scored seven goals in his last six games with the Spanish club. He had a hat trick in Atletico's 3-0 win at Celta Vigo in the Spanish league this weekend. Coach Diego Simeone is likely to count on defender Stefan Savic, who had been nursing an injury. Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio visits Feyenoord looking to remain unbeaten after goalkeeper Ivan Provedel’s equalizer rescued a point against Atletico and then Pedro Rodriguez scored a later winner at Celtic.
GROUP F
A group containing Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund is proving as competitive as predicted. Newcastle is off to the hottest start in its first Champions League appearance in 20 years, drawing in Milan and beating PSG 4-1. The Saudi-funded team hosts Dortmund, which is under pressure with just one point from its first two group games and is missing ill fullback Julian Ryerson. PSG hosts Milan in the other match and it will see brothers Lucas (PSG) and Theo (Milan) Hernandez playing against each other and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma facing his former team.
GROUP G
Manchester City is making the most of being handed an easy group in its title defense. The champions have already beaten Red Star Belgrade and Leipzig and now have back-to-back games against Young Boys, after which — provided they gain maximum points, as expected — qualification should be wrapped up with two games to spare. The first of those is in Switzerland and is likely to see the returns of the likes of Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Dias, all of whom were rested last weekend, Erling Haaland has 35 goals in 32 Champions League games but hasn't scored in his last five in the competition. Leipzig, which is second on three points, hosts Red Star in the other game. Leipzig beat Darmstadt 3-1 on Saturday for its first win in all competitions for almost a month.
GROUP H
After not getting past the group stage the last two seasons, Barcelona hosts Shakhtar Donetsk looking to win its third in a row and move into good position to advance to the knockout rounds again. Young playmaker Gavi is out because of a suspension, while striker Robert Lewandowski, defender Jules Koundé and midfielder Raphinha are all out injured. Midfielder Pedri was listed as doubtful. Shakhtar won only two of its last 15 Champions League group-stage matches. Second-place Porto visits last-place Antwerp in the other group match.
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