Two of Europe’s footballing powerhouses, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, are ready to face off in the Champions League. The Gunners, who are still searching for their first title in the tournament, face PSG, who are eager to shake off their recent European woes.
Arsenal's start to their Champions League campaign has been far from smooth. Following a fortunate draw against Atalanta, they need to bounce back after struggling to find the net in recent matches. However, the Gunners have shown resilience in domestic competitions, most recently securing a dramatic 4-2 victory over Leicester City. With 11 goals scored in their last three games, Arsenal is optimistic that their attacking form can translate into success on the European stage. Manager Mikel Arteta will have to navigate some absences, including key playmaker Martin Ødegaard and defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Meanwhile, PSG enters the match on the back of a solid domestic run, sitting at the top of Ligue 1 with five wins in their first six matches. Their Champions League opener against Girona was a nail-biter, with a last-minute own goal securing a 1-0 victory. Manager Luis Enrique is under pressure to turn around PSG's European fortunes after a series of disappointing campaigns, only reaching the round of 16 in the last two years. PSG has also struggled away from home, suffering defeats in their last three encounters against English opposition. Key players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nuno Mendes are back in contention, offering the team a boost as they look to assert themselves in this crucial fixture.
Both teams face significant injury concerns. Arsenal will be without several key players, including Ødegaard, Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Ben White's availability is uncertain. On the PSG side, Gonçalo Ramos and Lucas Hernández will be out of the squad, along with Kimpembe.
Arsenal possible lineup: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Havertz, Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Paris Saint-Germain possible lineup: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Neves, Zaire-Emery; Lee, Kolo Muani, Barcola
With contrasting results in their opening fixtures, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan meet at the BayArena on Tuesday evening, both vying for crucial points in their Champions League campaigns. This marks the first competitive encounter between the two clubs in European competition, adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already significant match.
Bayer Leverkusen has made a strong return to the Champions League, kicking off their campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Feyenoord. Young star Florian Wirtz made history as the first German player to score twice on his Champions League debut, contributing to Leverkusen's largest away win in the competition. The Bundesliga champions are unbeaten in their last nine UEFA home matches and seek to extend this streak. Despite an impressive attack, head coach Xabi Alonso will need to address defensive concerns, as his side has conceded 10 goals in their first five league matches. After a thrilling draw against Bayern Munich and a recent high-scoring affair with Wolfsburg, the pressure is on Leverkusen to tighten their defense while continuing their offensive prowess.
AC Milan enters the match looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-1 defeat at San Siro against Newcastle in their opening Champions League fixture. However, recent league performances have injected new life into the team, with back-to-back wins, including a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Inter Milan. New manager Paulo Fonseca's side showed promise in a 3-0 victory over Lecce, with key players like Christian Pulisic, who has scored in his last four matches, finding form. The seven-time European champions are ready to prove their worth against a strong opponent in Leverkusen, aiming to secure their first away win in the Champions League in eight campaigns.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso is likely to stick with the majority of the squad that performed well against Bayern Munich. Key players such as captain Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz are expected to feature prominently, with Wirtz having been directly involved in 24 goals in his last 26 European starts.
On the other side, AC Milan will look to Pulisic as their main threat while also considering the return of Ruben Loftus-Cheek to bolster their midfield. The Rossoneri will miss Marco Sportiello, Ismael Bennacer, and Alessandro Florenzi due to injuries, with captain Davide Calabria also facing fitness issues. As both teams prepare for this pivotal encounter, the matchup promises to be a thrilling battle as they seek valuable points in the Champions League.
Bayer Leverkusen possible lineup: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
AC Milan possible lineup: Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Abraham
BAYERN LEVERKUSEN VS MILAN
2.95
ANYTIME GOALSCORER - FLORIAN WIRTZ
BAYERN LEVERKUSEN VS MILAN
2.95
ANYTIME GOALSCORER - FLORIAN WIRTZ
ARSENAL VS PSG
1.77
1X2 WINNER - ARSENAL
ARSENAL VS PSG
1.77
1X2 WINNER - ARSENAL
