Tipping Point 13-16 Sept 2022 – our football writer outlines the key European fixtures to keep an eye on this week & provides a tip for each match.
The UEFA Champions League returned with a bang last week, with Napoli further exposing the cracks within Liverpool’s squad, Dinamo Zagreb getting Thomas Tuchel with a gritty performance. At the same time, it was business as usual for Man City, Real Madrid, and PSG.
Meanwhile, in the Europa League, there was an early upset for Man United, who once again huffed and puffed against a Spanish side, and Jose Mourinho’s Roma also got off to a loss.
Liverpool 4/7 | Draw 7/2 | Ajax 15/4 (20:00) – Tipping Point 13-16 Sept 2022
The Reds will be looking to bounce back after their shocking 4-1 loss to Napoli in the first round of the group stages. Liverpool couldn’t cope with Napoli’s intensity, especially in the first half, where the score could have been worse.
They face an Ajax side that got off to a flying start, winning 4-0 against unfancied Rangers, who have also been in great form in the Eredivisie, winning six out of six.
Perhaps a better game for Liverpool to follow up that loss would have been Rangers; instead, they face another ball possession/pressing side that will be on their face again.
Ajax will analyze everything good done by Napoli and try to challenge Liverpool in Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp will have to make changes to ‘reset’ his side, but he’s not spoiled for choice with players now.
Conclusion: Playing home will be a much-needed boost for Liverpool and could give them that extra boost. The game could go either way, so I will back both teams to score.
Bayern Munich 9/10 | Draw 3/1 | Barcelona 5/2 (20:00) – Tipping Point 13-16 Sept 2022
This is undoubtedly the game of the night, if not the entire week. Barcelona visits Bavaria looking for revenge after their embarrassing run against Bayern recently.
The two giants were thrown in the same group last season, where Bayern was primarily responsible for sending Barcelona to the Europa League.
In the 2019/2020 season, Bayern delivered colossal pain across Catalunya, beating Barcelona 8-2, a loss many fans haven’t recovered from.
After a busy summer recruiting quality players such as Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, and more, Barcelona will finally feel they have enough firepower to seek revenge.
The Bundesliga Champions haven’t exactly been in great form in recent weeks, drawing their last three games and talks of players being disillusioned with Julian Nagelsmann’s tactics.
After drawing their opening game, Barcelona has picked up four victories in a row, with former Bayern man, Lewandowski, having a massive hand in those games.
Conclusion: Bayern always up their game in the Champions League, as we saw when they won away at Inter. I’m backing a double chance here: draw or Bayern win.
Chelsea 1/3 | Draw 9/2 | Red Bull Salzburg 7/1 (20:00) – Tipping Point 13-16 Sept 2022
Graham Potter’s Chelsea stint kicks off with a game in the Champions League where there’s little room for mistakes, with the London side looking to get their first win this season in the Europa League.
The away side proved they aren’t in the UCL to add numbers last game, holding an excellent AC Milan side to a draw at home. They’ve also been in a great run of form in the Austrian Bundesliga, winning seven of their first eight games.
I don’t think fans will immediately start seeing the difference Potter will bring to this Chelsea side in terms of philosophy.
What we can expect to see is probably a change in player personnel, especially in attack, with players like Pulisic expected to feature more on his side. He used a back three at Brighton, so I’m not expecting that to change at Chelsea, but they should be wary of Salzburg’s counter-attack.
Conclusion: I’m backing a Chelsea win.
Manchester City 19/100 | Draw 13/2 | Dortmund 12/1 (21:00) – Tipping Point 13-16 Sept 2022
Manchester City and Dortmund will look to continue their winning start to the UEFA Champions League Group G campaign, with both teams locked on three points apiece.
After moving to Man City this term, Erling Haaland will know all about the opposition. The Norwegian powerhouse has flourished in his new surroundings and will be raring to go against his former employers for the first time.
City was ruthless in their opening encounter, winning 4-0 at Sevilla.
Conclusion. Man City playing on home soil are always in great form. Very little should change – back them.
FC Sheriff Tiraspol 11/1 | Draw 5/1 | Manchester United 1/5 (17:45) – Tipping Point 13-16 Sept 2022
Man United opened their Europa League campaign with a stinker, struggling against a LaLiga side again.
The side failed to create clear goal-scoring chances, and their midfield was, at times, dominated by David Silva despite playing Casemiro there, and the Fred experiment failed dismally.
The only shining light for Man United was Cristian Eriksen, and things fell off when he was substituted.
What will worry Erik ten Hag is his side’s failure to show any grit despite many of the selected players being benchwarmers in Premier League games, which is a priority this season.
They face a side in great form in the Moldovan League, winning five of their opening seven games to top the league. This is the same side that caused problems for some of Europe’s best teams last season in the UCL, and they’ll relish a meeting with the Red Devils, having won 3-0 in their first game in Europa this season.
Conclusion: I suspect Ten Hag will put out his best side for this clash after what happened last week, especially with their Premier League match postponed, so I will back a Man United win.
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Tipping Point 13-16 Sept 2022
