MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 13:05:59| >> :120:5624:5624:

A look at this week's Champions League opponents for English clubs

A look at this week's Champions League opponents for English clubs
© Reuters
Manchester United face a rematch with Villarreal.

This week's second round of Champions League group fixtures includes a blockbuster clash between Manchester City and Paris St Germain in the French capital and Chelsea taking on Juventus in Turin.

Here, the PA news agency examines the four opposition sides for English clubs across Tuesday and Wednesday.

Paris St Germain

Entertaining City on Tuesday evening, PSG's first Champions League home match since signing Lionel Messi sees them face the side who knocked them out of last season's competition in the semi-finals. The 2019-20 runners-up opened their Group A games being held to a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge two weeks ago – domestically, Mauricio Pochettino's men have won eight out of eight so far as the club look to regain the Ligue 1 trophy they were pipped to last term by Lille.

Porto

Porto's former Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic (left) could face his old club on Tuesday (Nick Potts/PA).
Porto's former Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic (left) could face his old club on Tuesday (Nick Potts/PA).

Sergio Conceicao's team, quarter-finalists last season, host Liverpool on Tuesday looking to build on the 0-0 draw secured at Atletico Madrid in their Group B opener, which concluded with their former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba being sent off in stoppage time. Ex-Reds midfielder Marko Grujic is also among their ranks. Second in Primeira Liga last term behind Sporting Lisbon, they are unbeaten so far this time around, taking 17 points from seven matches.

Villarreal

Villarreal beat Manchester united on penalties in the Europa League final in May (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA).
Villarreal beat Manchester United on penalties in the Europa League final in May (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA).

Four months on from defeating Manchester United on penalties in the Europa League final in Gdansk to give boss Unai Emery a fourth triumph in that competition, the Yellow Submarine meet the Red Devils again at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Villarreal – whose squad includes Francis Coquelin, Etienne Capoue, Alberto Moreno and Juan Foyth – kicked off their Group F fixtures with a 2-2 home draw with Atalanta. They lost a shootout to Chelsea in the Super Cup, and are 11th in LaLiga with eight points from six games, having won one and drawn the other five.

Juventus

Juve have made a mixed start to the season after bringing back Massimiliano Allegri as boss to replace Andrea Pirlo and selling Cristiano Ronaldo to United following last term's last-16 Champions League exit and fourth-placed finish in Serie A. They host Chelsea on Wednesday having begun their Group H games by winning 3-0 at Malmo, while their league campaign to date has consisted of two wins, two draws and two losses. Forward Moise Kean is also back at the club, returning on loan from Everton to a squad that features the likes of Alvaro Morata, Aaron Ramsey, Juan Cuadrado and Wojciech Szczesny.

ID:465667:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13622:
Written by
P A
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in action with Villarreal's Geronimo Rulli on September 25, 2021
Read Next:
Real Madrid winning run comes to an end after goalless draw with Villarreal
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atalanta BCAtalanta15111338172134
2Napoli15102321101132
3Inter Milan1494134151931
4Fiorentina1494128101831
5Lazio15101430171331
6Juventus1569024101427
7AC Milan146442416822
8Bologna145722018222
9Udinese156271822-420
10Empoli164751416-219
11Torino165471720-319
12Roma154471821-316
13Parma153662125-415
14Genoa153661324-1115
15CagliariCagliari153571525-1014
16Lecce15348826-1813
17Como152671628-1212
18Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1540111837-1912
19Monza151771319-610
20VeneziaVenezia1523101327-149


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!