Group of death action is back tonight as Real Madrid make a trip to Germany and Ajax host Manchester City. Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester city are all gunning for the top spot in the group.
Team News:
Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid
Marcel Schmelzer and Mario Gotze are back from injury but Gundogan is still a doubt for the game. Real Madrid’s injury worries continues as Alvaro Arbeloa, Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao are all out for the crucial game tonight. But they welcome Sami Khedira back from a leg injury.
Expected Starting lineups:
Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Bender, Subotic, Hummels Piszczek, Kehl, Grosskreutz, Leitner, Gotze, Reus, Lewandowski.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Ramos, Varane, Pepe, Essien, Alonso, Modric, Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Benzema.
Prediction: 2-2
Ajax vs Manchester City
Ajax are expected to have the same lineup that drew 3-3 with Heracles on Saturday. For Manchester City, David Silva did not travel along with the team because of Hamstring problems. Javi Garcia, Maicon and Jack Rodwell are all out for the game with thigh, ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.
Expected Starting lineups:
Ajax: Vermeer, Van Rhijn, Alderweireld, Moisander, Blind ,Poulsen, Eriksen, Sana, De Jong, Boerrigter, Babel
Manchester city: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Yaya Toure, Barry, Nasri, Dzeko, Aguero
Prediction: 1-3
Pre Match Quotes:
Kompany – “The past is irrelevant, we will go into the game hoping to win as we always do. “
Mourinho – “Playing at Dortmund is always nice, because it has a special atmosphere. The atmosphere of champions”
Jurgen Klopp – “If you play Real Madrid and don’t get a grip on Xabi Alonso, you are going to have a problem. If you don’t watch Ángel Di María, you are going to have a problem. If you let Cristiano Ronaldo attack at speed, you are going to have a problem.”
Frank de Boer – “Can we beat City? Of course,”
Mancini – “This is a very tough group and we always knew that. There are no easy games and this one is no different. It’s very tight, but it makes it more exciting.”