Barcelona, Bayern, and Arsenal to Continue Winning Streak in 'Champions'

Top clubs in the Old Continent are shifting their focus to the second round of the unified group stage of the UEFA Champions League, with some seeking to confirm their strong starts, like Spanish side Barcelona and German club Bayern Munich, while others aim to regain balance, such as Italy’s Inter Milan. Barcelona travel to face Turkish giants Galatasaray, carrying a perfect record across all competitions so far in a promising start that could be among the best in the history of major European clubs. The Catalan side won their first nine matches of the season for the first time since the 1935-36 campaign. Although they have failed to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League since last season’s launch, they appear as formidable opponents for the Turkish powerhouse, which has managed only one victory against Barcelona in ten meetings, achieved at home in 1994.

Bayern Munich travel to face Viking FK in what promises to be a relatively straightforward test for the Norwegian side in their first-ever home match in the competition. Viking lost 3-1 to Stuttgart in the opening round, marking their debut in the tournament. Facing a new German opponent, they will rely heavily on their strong home form, which has seen them win their last 11 official home games. Viking defeated Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 at this venue in August and reached this stage after winning all ten of their home league matches this season. Coincidentally, Bayern became the first team to begin their journey in the main phase of a European competition against two different Norwegian clubs, having previously thrashed Bodø/Glimt 5-0 last month. Despite Augsburg making things difficult for them on Saturday by coming back twice to secure a 2-2 draw, the six-time European champions remain unbeaten in all competitions this season (six wins and two draws).

English side Arsenal, runners-up in the last edition, face Lille, second in the French league. The new format of international breaks this season means it has been a full month since Arsenal’s 1-0 away victory over Italian hosts Napoli in the opening round. The Gunners boast an impressive record at this stage, having suffered only two defeats in their last 31 group stage matches. Conversely, Lille find themselves in a difficult position after a 2-3 home loss to Spanish side Real Betis in the first round, though they responded well by winning two of their next three official matches. Inter Milan seek quick redemption and avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in the competition when they host Belgian club Club Brugge. Since their opening-round loss to the Belgian side, Inter have bounced back strongly, scoring ten goals in three league matches without defeat (two wins and one draw), highlighted by a 3-0 victory over Parma on Saturday.

Meanwhile, their compatriots Napoli aim to avenge their loss to Arsenal when they travel to face injured side Villarreal, who themselves suffered a 3-2 home defeat to German club Borussia Dortmund. Manchester United prepare for a tough trip to Spain to face Atlético Madrid. Atlético secured their fourth consecutive league win on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Alavés, but they are also eager to secure their first European points after a 2-1 opening loss to Liverpool. Meanwhile, Michael Carrick is experiencing Manchester United’s worst start to a league season in 40 years, increasing pressure on the manager after his players squandered a lead and settled for a 1-1 draw against Tottenham, who played the final portion of the match with ten men on Saturday.