Top 6 games to watch in Champions League group stages

Some really tasty games on offer in the Champions League.

Champions League never fails to deliver, and it was only reaffirmed after yesterday’s draw for the group stages as the new season is upon us.

Like always, several top guns will be facing off against each other in the first round, but there’s more to it than what meets the eye.

We have some old reunions, exciting rematches, and also, interesting first-duels between various teams. Here are the top six games to watch during the group stages of the 2020/21 season:

#6 SSC Lazio vs Borussia Dortmund

More from Champions League

• PSV Eindhoven v Rangers: Can Gers make it through to group stage?
• Manchester City win their first Champions League
• Champions League Final: Manchester City meets Internazionale in Istanbul
• Manchester City standing on the cusp of a treble
• Barcelona Femeni win their second Champions League title

Lazio returned to the Champions League after 12 years but weren’t given a happy welcome after drawing in a tough group. Their biggest adversaries though will be Borussia Dortmund, against whom it should be an enticing, high-scoring affair. Let’s not forget, the Eagles were an unstoppable force last season before the lockdown, spearheaded by the peerless Ciro Immobile. However, the Yellow Submarine have formidable attacking talents of their own, like the precocious creator Jadon Sancho and last season’s breakout star Erling Haaland. There will be fireworks.

#5 Real Madrid vs Inter Milan

On paper, Los Blancos are favorites to come through Group B as winners, but Inter Milan are no pushovers, making huge strides under Antonio Conte last season by finishing runners-up in both Serie A and the Europa League. There’s a lot of attacking firepower in both camps, so we can expect plenty of goal-mouth action, but Inter’s shaky defense might prove to be their own undoing.

#4 Manchester United vs Paris Saint-Germain

Redemption will be on every Parisien’s mind as PSG look to exact revenge for the humiliating last-16 exit at the hands of Manchester United in 2019, but it’s far easier said than done. The Red Devils, who wiped out a 2-0 first-leg deficit to win 3-1 in the French capital in their last meeting, are an even better side now, armed with the attacking prowess of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood, while Marcus Rashford continues to go from strength-to-strength. Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and co. will be given a run for their money once again.

#3 Liverpool vs Atalanta

Liverpool and Atalanta have never met before, but the sheer quality in their attacking ranks makes this tie worth looking forward to. Gli Orobici were the surprise packages of last season, marching all the way to the quarter-finals by executing some impressive, free-flowing football, whereas the Reds, the reigning Premier League champions, were crowned winners just over 12 months ago. Given the staggering number of goalscoring weapons in both teams, this one has goals written all over it.

#2 Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid

Group A seems heavily tilted towards Atletico and reigning German and Champions League winners Bayern, who’ll battle it out for the pole position, just like they did four years ago. Hansi Flick’s all-conquering side are the obvious favorites, but it’d be fascinating to see the new-look Rojiblancos, now led by the exciting attacking pair of Diego Costa and Luis Suarez, come up against Bayern’s fearsome attacking corps.

#1 Juventus vs FC Barcelona

The biggest narrative to develop upon the conclusion of the group stage draw was the enticing face-off between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who’ll meet on-field for the first time since May 2018. So naturally, all eyes will be on the games between Juventus and Barcelona as the European giants compete to finish atop Group G. Neither side particularly impressed in the Champions League last season, so the double-header between the two will see how far they’ve come since then.