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APSPT

Spanish clubs have dominated the Champions League lately, and the odds are stacked in their favour again when the group stage begins this week.
There will be five of them fighting for this year’s title, the most ever for a country in the tournament’s group phase.
That’s because Europa League winner Sevilla joins the four teams who qualified through their league positions.

Among those, of course, are defending champions Barcelona and 2014 winners Real Madrid, who are both having terrific starts to their seasons.
Barcelona lead the Spanish league after three straight wins, including at rival Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Real Madrid re coming off two remarkable victories – 5-0 over Real Betis and 6-0 at Espanyol, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring five goals in the latest one.
Barcelona will debut at Roma on Wednesday, while Real Madrid host Shakhtar Donetsk tonight.
Here are four other things to watch for this week:

PRESSURE TO SUCCEED
English teams have much to prove in Europe. And it’s not just about last season’s failure to be represented in the last eight of either continental competition for the first time in 22 years.
Manchester United re after a rare season-long absence from Europe, but captain Wayne Rooney is set to miss Tuesday’s game at PSV Eindhoven through injury, leaving manager Louis van Gaal with a shortage of options.
United have won the European Cup three times but neighbours Manchester City have never advanced beyond the round of 16. After spending another US$250 million on new talent, City are running out of excuses – especially with Tuesday’s opponent, Juventus, struggling domestically.

While City lead the early Premier League table, Chelsea have opened their title defence with three losses in five games. Failure to beat Macabbi Tel Aviv on Wednesday would heighten the sense that Chelsea’s slump is more than a blip.
For once, the pressure in London is on Jose Mourinho rather than Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team open against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.

STRUGGLING START
Last year’s runners-up Juventus will be looking to the Champions League for respite from domestic woes after their worst ever start to the Italian league.
The four-time defending champions lost both heir matches for the first time and needed a late penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw against Chievo Verona on Saturday.
With top players Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal having departed and new signings like Mario Mandzukic still settling in, Juventus have a long way to go to match their form from last season, when they close to winning the treble.
“We’re in a period of transition but that shouldn’t be used as a way of excusing ourselves, that’s not the way we do things at Juventus,” Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta said ahead of the team’s opening match at Manchester City.
Midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss the match and could be out for a month after injuring his right thigh on his comeback from a similar injury.

UNTIMELY RETURN
Borussia Monchengladbach’s joy of returning to Europe’s premier competition after a 37-year absence has been tempered by their worst ever start to the Bundesliga.
Lucien Favre’s side have lost all of their four games and are bottom of the table with 11 goals conceded and just two scored. Friday’s 3-0 home defeat to Hamburger SV was compounded when captain Martin Stranzl, who had just returned from six months out with a knee injury, sustained a fractured eye socket and a concussion. He will be out for six to eight weeks.
The team faces the daunting trip to Sevilla with Granit Xhaka suspended and injuries ruling out Alvaro Dominguez (back), Fabian Johnson (calf) and Patrick Herrmann (knee).
“If I had the choice, I’d rather have three points next Saturday in Cologne [in the Bundesliga] than in Seville,” sporting director Max Eberl said.

MIND THE TRAPP
Paris Saint-Germain’s new goalkeeper Kevin Trapp is already under pressure just five games into the season.
PSG dropped their first points in Friday’s 2-2 home draw with Bordeaux after two glaring mistakes by Trapp. He spilled a routine header from a corner and let the ball slip over the line for the first goal, then allowed the ball to be taken away from his feet for the second.
Signed by coach Laurent Blanc in the offseason from Kaiserslauten, Trapp relegated Salvatore Sirigu to the bench. That move is already being questioned, even before Trapp’s first Champions League game.


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Uefa Champions League 2015-16

Will Spain reign? Five things to look out for this week as the Champions League returns

The Champions League trophy rests on the pitch before last year's final. Photo: AFP

Barca celebrate their triumph last season. Photo: AFP

City have spent a fortune on players such as Kevin de Bruyne. Photo: AP

Jose 

Jose Mourinho is desperate for a win. Photo: AP

Kevin Trapp watches as the ball rolls into the net against Bordeaux. Photo: AFP

Paul Pogba and Juventus have struggled this season. Photo: Reuters

Lucien Favre would take a win in the league over European success. Photo: AP

Quick return to PSV for Memphis Depay as Manchester United open Champions League campaign

Memphis Depay played poorly against Liverpool at the weekend as he prepares to face his former club. Photo: AP

Louis van Gaal was not best pleased with Memphis Depay at the weekend. Photo: AP

PSV were 6-0 winners against Cambuur at the weekend, but Manchester United present an altogether tougher test. Photo: EPA

Perfect on home front, Manchester City target fast European start against Juventus

Kevin de Bruyne made his debut for Man City at the weekend. Photo: AP

Sergio Aguero will probably miss out for City. Photo: EPA

Sergio Aguero lies injured against Crystal Palace. Photo: EPA

Paolo Dybala saved Juventus' blushes from the spot against Chievo. Photo: AP

Paul Pogba will get to show likely suitors Man City his class. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Odds stacked in Spain's favour, English sides need to deliver and more


Spanish clubs have dominated the Champions League lately, and the odds are stacked in their favour again when the group stage begins this week
