NEWS
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UEFA Champions League Preview (Matchday 2): Group C
Atalanta vs Shaktar
Manchester City vs Dinamo Zagreb
Group C
Atalanta vs Shakhtar Donetsk– Tuesday, 01 October 2019
Baptism of fire, that’s what Atalanta got on their long-awaited, emotional and fairy-tale return to the Champions League. La Dea were possibly at their worst, with a timid performance that saw them lose 0-4 at the hands of Zagreb in Croatia. They have however not capitulated after that, responding with two impressive Serie A wins, 0-2 away at Roma and the recent 4-1 thrashing of Sassuolo. Gasperini’s men will now take two when they welcome the Ukrainians on Tuesday and with the Colombian Zapata in sizzling form, Shakhtar could find themselves in the firing line.
To be fair to the Ukrainian champions, they have been quite decent in their European matches in the past seasons. They could be forgiven for losing 0-3 to Manchester City on matchday 1 but would be expected and are good enough to get a result in Italy. The question will be on whether they can sustain their opposition’s momentum and desire to prove themselves on the biggest stage.
Manchester City vs Dinamo Zagreb– Tuesday, 01 October 2019
It looks obvious on paper but not so much in reality.
City have since picked themselves up from their shocking 2-3 loss at bottom of the league Norwich, with victories such as an 8-0 dragging of Watford, 3-0 win at high flying Championship side, Preston North End and most recently a late 3-1 win at Everton. In particular, the Algerian captain and AFCON 2019 champion, Riyad Mahrez has re-captured his Leicester form and looks like a new signing for the English champions.
On the other hand, the Croatian champions lie at the top of Group C for a reason. Dinamo Zagreb crushed Atalanta on opening night with a 4-0 scoreline and their league form hasn’t suggested they have put off their foot off the pedal, lying only a point off leaders Hajduk Split in the league. It obviously will be a clash, a level up what they have been involved within recent weeks, but quite capable of getting a result as well. After all, Lyon did it at Etihad last season.
UEFA Champions League Preview (Matchday 1): Group C
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Manchester City
Dinamo Zagreb vs Atalanta
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Manchester City- Wednesday 19 September 2019
The Ukrainian champions who are sitting comfortably at the top of their domestic league after registering 7 wins in 7 opening matches welcome their favorite UCL group stage opponent in recent years, Manchester City. These two have been drawn together in each of the past 2 seasons with Man City dominating the fixture, a 9-0 aggregate scoreline recorded last campaign is a good example. Shakhtar have also gotten one over City, a 2-1 home win in the 2017/18 campaign that ended the English Champions’ unbeaten run in all competitions. After being shockingly beat by Norwich over the weekend, Pep’s men will be keen to quickly get back to winning terms but it’s all obviously easier said than done.
Dinamo Zagreb vs Atalanta- Wednesday 19 September 2019
The Croatian First Football League champions, Dinamo Zagreb will welcome perhaps Europe’s most adored football club right now, Atalanta. “The Goddess” will be making their champions league debut since the rebranding of the tournament. The Serie A side has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the past 2-3 seasons after swinging on the relegation pendulum for a while, most profoundly finishing 3rd in the last season ahead of the two Milan clubs and 2017/18 UCL semi-finalists, Roma. Gasperini’s men clearly had their eyes projected to this fixture as they battled to a nervy 2-1 league victory over Genoa in the weekend and most eyes will be on them as they visit relatively UCL regulars, Zagreb, who have relished a near perfect start to their domestic title defence.