Arsenal gloom one of three Champions League stories to watch
Published:
1) Tough start for Arsenal
If the Gunners were hoping for a fast start to life in Group A then they’ve been handed the worst possible fixture to do so.
Travelling to Paris Saint-Germain has been like walking the Green Mile for most visiting teams in European competition.
The French club have only lost one home game on the continent in their last 43 at Parc des Princes, and that was to the might of Barcelona in the 2014/15 quarter finals.
What makes things worse for Arsenal is that PSG have also won five of their last six Champions League curtain raisers. We go 3/4 that Unai Emery’s side add another victory to that tally.
2) Manchester City falling behind
Champions League draws throwing up familiar foes into battle again has been a common theme of the recent history of the competition.
The Citizens shared a group with Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach last season and will do so once more this year.
Despite the Germans finishing bottom of Group D last term, they held a lead over the Etihad outfit in both matches against them.
City came back to secure victory on both occasions and it’s 13/2 that they repeat the trick for a third time in the Group C opener.
3) Celtic exorcising the ghost of Champions League past
The Bhoys’ reward for reaching the group stage for the first time since 2013/14 is a trip to the scene of their joint-heaviest European defeat.
A 6-1 Barcelona win at the Nou Camp three years ago was inspired by Neymar’s first hat-trick for the Spanish club.
With Celtic on an eight-game winless run on their European travels and without victory in 14 against Spanish opposition, they’ll be looking to channel the spirit of their 2-1 home triumph over the Blaugrana from 2012/13 instead.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
