UCL FORECAST: WIN OR BUST AT BARÇA, VALVERDE’S WORLD, SPURS & JUVE WOES

The Champions League group stage has reached the home straight with some fascinating clashes over the next couple of evenings. Here’s what to expect …

💪 Game of the week

Barcelona v Bayern Munich

This could end up being a critical week for Barcelona and Xavi.

As the coach himself admitted after their defeat to Inter last week: “I wouldn’t blame the board if they sacked me”.

It might not come to that but it really is win or bust for the Blaugrana at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

If they fail to win and Inter beat Viktoria Plzen, Barcelona are going to the Europa League for the second season in a row. With Inter playing before Barça on Wednesday, it could all be over before the game at Camp Nou even kicks off.

Time to fire up another economic lever.

📊 Fun fact: Barcelona have lost nine of their last 12 Champions League games against Bayern.

🔮 Our prediction: Barcelona 1-3 Bayern Munich

🤔 Too close to call

Benfica v Juventus

assimiliano Allegri’s woes at Juventus this season have been well-documented but despite a small uptick in form domestically, the Italian coach could struggle to hold back the tides of discontent with another poor result here.

Juve travel to Lisbon to take on Benfica knowing that anything other than a win would knock them out of the Champions League.

It would be a shocking exit for a club that flew so close to the sun but have since had their wings fully melted after a number of disastrous economic decisions put them in a tailspin.

They face a resurgent Benfica side who coming off the back of a brilliant win in O Clássico against Porto over the weekend.

📊 Fun fact: Juventus have won just one of their seven Champions League games against Benfica.

🔮 Our prediction: Benfica 2-1 Juventus

😨 Potential upset

Tottenham v Sporting

Their defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford could realistically be explained away by the brilliant performance of Erik ten Hag’s side.

But this weekend’s loss at home to Newcastle was a result entirely of their own making.

Unforced errors abounded as Spurs went down 2-1 and now host a Sporting side who beat them on matchday two.

Spurs youth graduate Marcus Edwards was the star of the show that day with the Londoner scoring four and assisting the four in 15 games for Sporting so far this term.

📊 Fun fact: Sporting have won just two of their 15 away game in England in the Champions League.

🔮 Our prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Sporting