EPL Teams Ready to Advance in UCL
Four English Premier League teams enter their fourth Champions League contest as heavy favorites. Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool could all take a huge step towards the knock out round with victories this week.
Chelsea heads to France to take on Rennes who currently sit last in the Group E table with just one point. Chelsea and Sevilla are both sitting on seven points and could clinch their spots in the knockout stages with two games left to play. Chelsea has won five straight in all competitions, including a 3-0 victory over Rennes in the home leg. Timo Werner is always the player to watch, but Tammy Abraham is in great form and that much offense will overwhelm Rennes once again.
Man United will look for a little revenge after losing to Basaksehir F.K. earlier this month. After beating fellow group members Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, it was a huge surprise that United fell to the Turkish side. However, at Old Trafford, the result should be different. That would put Man U at nine points in group play. No matter what happens this week, United still has to face PSG and Leipzig to finish up group play. United fans would certainly feel much more comfortable heading into the last two games with nine points instead of potentially log jammed at six.
On Wednesday the action moves to Group C. Say what you want about Manchester City’s surprisingly average start in the Premier League, but they have dominated their Champions League group so far, outscoring their three competitors by a combined score of 9 to 1. Coming off a tough 2-0 loss to Tottenham over the weekend, City will look to clinch a spot in the group stage and spend a little time regrouping in league play. Ferran Torres has been the star of the team in UCL action, netting a goal in each of their three games. Do not be surprised if he does it again against Olympiacos on Wednesday.
Liverpool is already in a great position to advance out of the group stage after tallying three wins in three games. Liverpool has yet to concede a goal and it helps that Ajax and Atalanta, the two threatening teams in the group, drew earlier this month. That puts Liverpool five points clear half way through the group stage. This week they will take on Atalanta coming off a big 5-0 victory over that team earlier in the month. Mo Salah will be out again, but they have done fine without him. Diogo Jota has stepped in and tallied a hat trick against Atalanta in that 5-0 win. Expect another easy victory at Anfield even if Jurgen Klopp opts to make a few changes to his lineup.
