Gulf News

A look at the other three Champions League groups in action tonight

- GROUP E AEK Athens Benfica Bayern Ajax

Nabil Fekir 2010 2006 2005 2004

GROUP E

Home record in Champions League ■

Bayern Munich host Dutch side Ajax after losing their Bundesliga lead to Borussia Dortmund. Bayern were held at home by modest Augsburg before losing on Friday at Hertha Berlin, and the players are determined to make amends.

“A week ago you had the impression we were unbeatable. Now a bit of reality has set in,” Bayern forward Thomas Mueller said.

Kovac gave the players a day off on Sunday ahead of the visit of Ajax, who beat AEK Athens 3-0 in their opening group game, and are led in attack by veteran poacher Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Greek champions AEK are at home to Portuguese side Benfica, who lost 2-0 to Bayern in their opener.

GROUP F

Manchester City, the first team to reach 100 points in winning the Premier League in May, have struggled in the Champions League. The loss at home to Lyon two weeks ago was their fourth straight in the Champions League. With Guardiola back on the sidelines after serving a one-match Uefa ban, City play at German club Hoffenheim, who drew their opener at Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. Guardiola will again turn to prolific Argentina striker Sergio Aguero. No City player has played a role in more Champions League goals than Aguero — 26 goals and six assists — and the striker scored in a Premier League win over Brighton on Saturday despite a foot injury.

Lyon’s mini-winning streak of three games ended on Saturday when they drew 1-1 at home to Nantes. But with Nabil Fekir in form, Lyon will be confident of beating Shakhtar and keeping the top spot.

City’s Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne returned to training yesterday in a bid to step up his recovery process from a knee injury.

GROUP G

CSKA Moscow’s defenders may be sleeping a little easier ahead of Real Madrid’s visit to Russia. They no longer have to worry about Cristiano Ronaldo, who now plays for Juventus, and Madrid are out of form after just two wins in five matches.

The defending champions are also troubled by injuries. Forward Gareth Bale was substitute­d at half-time of Saturday’s derby draw with Atletico Madrid because of a muscle injury, while left back Marcelo missed the match with a muscle problem in his right leg. Goalscorin­g midfielder Francisco Alarcon underwent surgery for an appendicit­is last week.

 ?? Sources: Uefa, Gracenote Picture: Getty Images Graphic News/©Gulf News ??
Sources: Uefa, Gracenote Picture: Getty Images Graphic News/©Gulf News

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates