UEFA Champions League Preview: Group B, Matchday 2
Group B of the Champions League this season is perhaps the least glamorous group of all. With Schalke, Benfica, Tel Aviv and Lyon, this is a group with no glamour but football doesn’t need glamour to entertain and if the matches
on match day 1 are anything to go by, fans are in for a treat tonight as former European Champions Benfica travel to Germany to take on FC Schalke and French side Lyon travel to Israel to face off against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Schalke v Benfica
Real Madrid and Manchester City aside, Schalke were the biggest spenders in the summer as they strengthened their ranks with the additions of Raul from Real Madrid and Jurado from Atletico Madrid amongst others. But despite the influx of fresh blood in their
ranks, they lost their opening fixture to Lyon and if they have any hopes of progressing past the group phase of the competition, they have to come up with the goods tonight in their own den.
Even domestically, Schalke have not set the Bundesliga alight this season and are struggling. Currently languishing in mid table, if they put up a patchy performance tonight at the Vetlins Arena, the Portuguese team will punish
them severely.
A win tonight though can prove to be a catalyst for Felix Magath’s side; but it is guaranteed that it will not come easy and they will have to earn it against the physical approach play of Benfica.
Benfica will all but guarantee their progress to the next round if they can win tonight’s encounter, but the Germans for sure will be no pushovers as they have an agenda of their own.
Hapoel Tel Aviv v Lyon
The Champions from Israel looked pathetically out of sorts in their opening game against Benfica and were more than lucky to not lose that encounter by more than 2 goals. Tonight though, they may face an even sterner test against
Lyon.
Lyon made it to the semi finals of the same competition last year and things will not be any easier for the side from Tel Aviv.
Hapoel are not a bad side but they struggle when they come up against the European bigwigs and will be hoping that they do not choke again tonight as they welcome the former French Champions to their city.
Even a draw tonight will be a good result for the hosts but that surely will increase the complexity of the group as a whole.
No one expects Tel Aviv to make it to the next round from such a difficult group, but a good result tonight will surely build some pedigree for them in the competition.
Lyon themselves are not in the best of form but should be able to get past the challenge they face tonight and make it two wins out of two.
This is Lyon’s game to win but if they bottle the opportunity tonight in Israel they will only have themselves to blame.
Tags: