UEFA Champions League Match day 2: Group H Preview
After a goal glut on match day one, the match day 2 of the UEFA champions League returns tonight with another set of some mouth watering fixtures.
The group H of the Champions league is currently being led by Arsenal after their six-nil thrashing of Champions League debutants FC Braga of Portugal. Shakhtar Donetsk are level on points with Arsene Wenger’s side after their opening day win against of
Partizan Belgrade of Serbia but the Ukrainian’s goal difference is much inferior to that of Arsenal’s. A win for Arsenal tonight will all but make sure of their qualification to the next round as group leaders.
Partizan vs. Arsenal
The hosts will be hoping that they can take advantage of the injury-ravaged Arsenal squad tonight at the Stadion FK Partizan with 3 points, as the match holds great importance for both the sides after their opening day escapades. Partizan lost their opening
fixture against Shakhtar and all three points for Aleksandar Stanojević’s side are of utmost importance as they would not want to let their fortunes slip out of their hands in the Europe’s top competition.
A loss tonight will make it very hard for the Serbians to progress to the knock out stages of the competition, as there is no room for anymore slip ups, since they have already lost once in the group stages. The Serbians will be depending upon their electric
paced forwards Cleo and Ilic for all their attacking impetus, and if Arsenal can somehow curb their forward escapades then they will have a fighting chance in the game.
The visitors will be without their keeper Manuel Almunia in the game and Fabianski will be in the hot-seat for the Gunners. The visitor’s injury worries don’t just end there as Cecs Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin Van Persie are all out nursing various
injuries. In the absence of all their star players Arsenal surely will be hampered but they still should possess enough fire power to get past the challenge they face in Belgrade tonight.
Braga vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
After their shocking advance to the Champions league after beating Celtic in the qualifying rounds, they were brought humbling down to earth by Arsenal of the opening day but apart from that one defeat Braga have been solid at their own den and won 14 of 15
league games that they played at home last season. Their home ground is their fortress and visiting Shakhtar are not going to have an easy ride.
Braga’s success is based on their defence and they proved it in the competition once again, when they won both their qualifying matches without conceding a single goal but they lack in attacking impetus and if they can somehow find their feet in the attack,
Shakhtar will have a tough time tonight.
Donetsk already do not like playing Portuguese opponents, as they have only ever won 2 out of the eight matches that they have played against Portuguese opponents and more importantly they have lost the last 3.
Shakhtar with their frail defence and shaky attack will struggle against the rugged approach of their opponents tonight, but if they somehow manage to win tonight in Portugal then qualification into the next round will be all but guaranteed.
Both the matches will start tonight at 1945 BST.
The group standing at the moment is as follows:
Group H
Clubs
Pld
W
D
L
F
A
+/-
Pts
1
Arsenal FC
1
1
0
0
6
0
6
3
2
FC Shakhtar Donetsk
1
1
0
0
1
0
1
3
3
FK Partizan
1
0
0
1
0
1
-1
0
4
SC Braga
1
0
0
1
0
6
-6
0
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