{"id":956,"date":"2016-09-27T00:00:40","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T04:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=956"},"modified":"2016-09-27T08:50:36","modified_gmt":"2016-09-27T12:50:36","slug":"spanish-champions-league-preview-matchday-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2016\/09\/27\/spanish-champions-league-preview-matchday-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish Champions League Preview: Matchday Two"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week sees the return of the Champions League, as Europe\u2019s elite face off in matchday two with some mouth-watering fixtures. The clubs from La Liga will be looking to emulate last year’s success, which saw an all-Iberian final. Here is a\u00a0Spanish Champions League preview.<\/em><\/p>\n

Tuesday 27 September<\/h2>\n

Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid:<\/h3>\n

Holders Real Madrid<\/strong> visit the Signal Iduna Park<\/strong>\u00a0looking to take charge of their qualification group against Thomas Tuchel\u2019s Borussia Dortmund<\/strong>. Both won their first group match and are tied are the top on three points each. On the domestic front the two sides are going through different patches of form. Los Blancos<\/em><\/strong> have drawn their past two matches in La Liga\u2014against Villarreal<\/strong> and Las Palmas\u2014<\/strong>whilst Dortmund have scored 14 goals in their past three Bundesliga games.<\/p>\n

The last time the pair met was in 2014 at the quarter-final stage, with Real Madrid running out 3-2 winners on aggregate despite losing the second leg in Germany.<\/p>\n

Real travel with 22 players available; Casemiro<\/strong> and Brazilian defender Marcelo<\/strong> out injured, whilst Zinedine Zidane\u2019s<\/strong> men welcome back Portuguese duo Fabio Coentrao<\/strong> and Pepe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Dortmund have won the four previous games against Real Madrid played in Germany. Tuchel described Madrid as \u201cmaybe the biggest name in world football\u201d, knowing that any result in favour of his side will give them a big step forward to finishing top of Group F.<\/p>\n

Sevilla v Lyon:<\/h3>\n

Sevilla<\/strong> have a habit of taking the unconventional route to the Champions League group stages; winning the Europa League<\/strong>. The Andalusians have won European football\u2019s second competition for the past three seasons, giving them credibility and prestige. But Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli<\/strong> will be hoping his side can do more than finish third in the group, especially after a respectable draw away in Turin facing Italy’s\u00a0Juventus<\/strong> on Matchday One.<\/p>\n

Lyon<\/strong> arrive at the Estadio Ram\u00f3n S\u00e1nchez Pizju\u00e1n<\/strong> after a good 3-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb<\/strong> in their first match but face this stiffer challenge without marksman\u00a0Alexandre Lacazette<\/strong>\u00a0due to injury. However, they are safe in the knowledge that Sevilla have lost four of their five fixtures against French clubs. Timoth\u00e9e Kolodziejczak<\/strong> returns in defence for the home side following a one match ban served against Juventus.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 28 September<\/h2>\n

Atl\u00e9tico Madrid v Bayern Munich<\/h3>\n

In a repeat of last season\u2019s semi-final clash, Diego Simeone<\/strong>\u2019s Atleti<\/strong> take on Carlo Ancelotti<\/strong>\u2019s Bayern<\/strong>. Although Ancelotti is new to the Munich parish, he will be keen to reverse a trend that has seen Bayern defeated by Spanish sides at the semi-final stage for the past three seasons. The German giants will want to restore some pride, midfielder Arturo Vidal<\/strong> spelling out his aim<\/a> for this fixture: \u201cWe have to eradicate the pain of that defeat,” he said.\u00a0“We badly wanted to reach the final, but Atl\u00e9tico were more efficient in front of goal. We have plenty to rectify.”<\/p>\n

On the other side of the divide, Simeone will be keen to get one back on opposite number Ancelotti. The last time the pair met in European football\u2019s premier competition was the final in 2014 that saw eternal rivals Real Madrid beat Simeone\u2019s Atleti in extra time.<\/p>\n

For all Bayern\u2019s dominance under Pep Guardiola<\/strong>, the Bavarians have only won only two of their past ten champions league away matches. Former Barcelona hero, Thiago<\/strong>, praised Atleti for their defensive qualities, stating<\/a>: \u201cThey [Atl\u00e9tico] defend better than us, better than Barcelona, better than any other team in the world\u201d. His opinions are back up by the facts; Atleti have only conceded two goals in all competitions so far this season. This set to be one of the ties of the round.<\/p>\n

Borussia M\u00f6nchengladbach v FC Barcelona:<\/h3>\n

The Catalans arrive in Westphalia without talisman Lionel Messi<\/strong> after the Argentine suffered a repeat of a groin injury that has ruled him out until after the next international break. In more positive news, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen<\/strong> makes an emotional return to his former club and home city. Speaking to Die Fohlen\u2019s<\/em><\/strong> website, ter Stegen said “My return to Gladbach has definitely come sooner than expected, and I absolutely cannot wait for it. I had a great time there, and spent my entire career there apart from the last two years. Borussia is my first love and that will always be the case.”<\/p>\n

Bar\u00e7a are looking to consolidate at the top of Group C with another win following their 7-0 dismantling of Glasgow Celtic in the previous match. Paco Alc\u00e1cer<\/strong> could be set to play in the absence of Messi, Rafinha<\/strong> preferred during the previous weekend\u2019s win away at Sporting Gij\u00f3n’<\/strong><\/p>\n

Squad rotation has played a key part of Luis Enrique\u2019<\/strong>s plans so far this season although Bar\u00e7a will be likely to start with their best available line-up for this match.<\/p>\n

All four matches featuring Spanish clubs are likely to be very competitive and hard fought especially as three feature heavyweight Spain v Germany tussles. Fans will have a clearer picture of the respective strengths of big guns, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Atl\u00e9tico Madrid and Bayern Munich following this exciting round of games.<\/p>\n

main photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n