UEFA Champions League Preview (Matchday 1): Group A

Lassana Diarra of PSG (19) and team mates look dejected in defeat after the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid at Parc des Princes on March 6, 2018 in Paris, France.

(March 5, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images Europe)

Club Brugge vs Galatasaray- Wednesday 19 September 2019

After missing out on last season’s Belgian Pro League title, Brugge and their new coach Philippe Clement decided to reinvent themselves with a greater part of process seeming to be a combination of some of Africa’s football stars. The likes of South Africa’s Percy Tau, Nigeria’s Okereke and Senegal’s Mbaye Diagne and Diatta will line-up against a Radamel Falcao inspired Galatasaray side who haven’t had the best of starts in their Turkish Super Lig title defence.

PSG vs Real Madrid- Wednesday 19 September 2019

The pick of the group and undoubtedly the round features PSG and Real Madrid at Parc de Princes. Two giants not without a history and desperate to show the disappointments of the last season are behind them. They both got knocked out in the quarter-finals by Manchester United and Ajax respectively and have no smaller goal than winning the cup itself. Furthermore, there is a tantalizing prospect of getting revenge for PSG who were beaten 5-2 on aggregate by eventual champions Madrid in the 2017/18 UCL round of 16. It’s really an opening match with UCL final written all over it. We will be watching the Neymar vs Hazard battle, world-class forwards currently re-integrating into their sides with undoubtably talismanic abilities.

FT World Cup 2018: Russia continue victorious form against Egypt

The return of Mohammed Salah was not enough to inspire Egypt in their second match in Group A on Tuesday night as they lost 3-1 to World Cup hosts, Russia.

With Salah making a return to the starting XI after shaking off a shoulder injury, much was expected from “The Pharaohs” especially in the final third, however, that was not to be the case.

Ahmed Fathi’s bizarre own goal seemed to have paved way for more goals as Russia went rampant thereafter, adding two goals in quick succession, courtesy of Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba to kill the game off. Though Salah did pull a goal back for the Egyptians 20 minutes from time with a coolly struck penalty, the damage was already done and Egypt found it hard to break a resolute Russian defense in search for a comeback.

This was a game in which much was expected from Egypt especially with the return of Salah who had been sorely missed in the team’s first match against Uruguay. But even Salah’s presence couldn’t rally the team to victory as they failed to create clear-cut chances to trouble the Russian defense.

With two losses on the hump and one game left for them, it seems it might take all but a miracle for Egypt to salvage any chance of qualifying to the round of last 16. The Egyptians’ chances are hanging by a thread as they are now dependent on the outcome of Wednesday’s encounter between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Egypt currently sits at the bottom of Group A with zero points, with Russia leading the group with six points.

Is Egypt on the brink of exiting the World Cup, or can “The Pharaohs” still make a comeback and qualify for the round of 16?

FT World Cup 2018: Africa Has Arrived - Egypt

In the history of the FIFA World Cup, no African team has ever reached the semi-finals. Ghana was agonizingly close in South Africa 2010 but crashed out after Luis Suarez’s heroics in goal, in place for a goalkeeper who was still in the game. Senegal’s Lions of Teranga had a great run in the 2002 finals before losing to Turkey, 1-0 after extra time. Can this year be a historical one for Africa?

Egypt is sweating over the fitness of their star man Mohamed Salah. If they are to have any chance of qualification to the next round, they are definitely going to need the services of the forward who can devastate opponents with his deft touch, exhilarating pace and crisp finishes.

The Egyptian team is in Group A with the hosts, Russia, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. The favorites to win Group A are Uruguay led by two attackers in Louis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. They have enough firepower in their ranks to deal away with all their counterparts at this early stage. This might prove enough when they play against the three teams in the group. Egypt will hope to settle for a second-placed finish above Russia, who are the lowest ranking team in the tournament. As much as the hosts will have the fans in their backing, the Russian side has been disappointing in recent years and are likely going to be knocked out very early in the tournament.

The match to watch will be between Egypt and Russia, played on June 19. It has the potential to be the decider of who will make it to the Round of 16. Not much can be said about Saudi Arabia apart from the fact that they are the arch rivals of Egypt. They might cause an upset against the Pharaohs, but that is really far-fetched.

Predicted Standings: Uruguay (1st), Egypt (2nd), Russia (3rd) and Saudi Arabia (4th)