Will Barcelona become the first team in 20-plus years to repeat as champs? Douglas Costa, in fine form since joining them in the close season, is again expected to start on the left, with teenager Kingsley Coman also an option after the talented Frenchman came on as a substitute for his Bayern debut against Augsburg. “The target is to get past the group stage and to the round of 16”, said Garcia. Still this is no time for excuses and City have the squad to win this group and start bringing a winning environment and tradition around their stadium which has so far been underwhelming on major European nights.
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Sony and its PlayStation brand have been headline sponsors of the UEFA Champions League for many years now and to tie-in with the beginning of the group stages, the company has launched a new application for the PlayStation 4 that offers footy themed interaction for fans throughout the tournament. With a brand new team and Louis van Gaal returning to the continent after quite a while, inspiration is the key for the 3-time winners. Take Arsenal, which was drawn into a hard Group F alongside Bayern Munich.
Is there a piece of music as universally liked as the Champions League anthem? It remains to be seen whether Guardiola can be instrumental in leading his team to the Promised Land. We’ve seen some incredible goals from both of them over the years, and it seems like they both inspire each other to do better.
Jose Mourinho – What can we expect?
“Messi is the best player I have ever coached”.
Chelsea’s early-season struggles have commanded headlines over the weekend but Kompany would not get drawn into writing them off.
Now they want to carry that momentum into the Champions League, in which they have never previously progressed beyond the last 16. The Champions League eludes him despite his talent and all the glittering array of achievements he has amassed over six different clubs.
Injuries interrupted the next season, but a limping Leo still emerged from the bench to rescue his team as he set up Pedro for a crucial goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.
Fantasy Football: Pick your UEFA Champions League dream team – make big money transfers, game changing substitutions and, of course, choose the all-important team name.
It was one with enough freshly remembered souvenirs that the welcome given to him at the Stadio Olimpico would not be indifferent even if he had not given Romans a little wink with his comment after the beating of Juventus. And it’s not just about last season’s failure to be represented in the last eight of either continental competition for the first time in 22 years.
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Yet, Barcelona were virtually impervious when they humbled Juventus 3-1 in last season’s final held in Berlin. Whatever happened last season needs to be a lesson.
