Villareal (Spain) vs Bayern Munchen (Germany)
Ángel López remains sidelined for Villareal by the cruciate ligament injury he sustained in January, but coach Garrido said Jonathan De Guzman is available, also maintaining that the absence of the suspended Borja Valero was no disaster. "I wish he could play, but we have a quality squad which gives us plenty of options," he said.
Bayern's Philipp Lahm was replaced against Freiburg as a precaution having picked up a knee injury. Ivica Olić has not played since injuring his hip scoring in a 5-0 win against Hamburger SV on 20 August; Arjen Robben (pelvic problem) has been out since the same game. Breno has not featured since undergoing knee surgery on 11 May.
It is ten years since Bayern last won away to Spanish opposition – 1-0 at Real Madrid CF in the 2000/01 semi-finals. The Bavarian side subsequently beat Valencia CF in the Milan final but have since suffered one draw and five losses in Spain, where their overall record reads: W4 D4 L9. Jupp Heynckes, the visiting manager, has coached three teams in Spain but is still working out a way to better Villarreal, who beat his previous club, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, twice in last season's UEFA Europa League. It will be a tight affair and expect both team to score in this one with a lot of quality attackers for both side. Prediction 1-1 or 2-1 to Bayern Munchen.
Inter Milan (Italy) vs Trabzonspor (Turkey)
Inter Milan suffered defeat in their opening Serie A league match 3-4 to Palermo. Thiago Motta (thigh), Iván Córdoba, Emiliano Viviano, Maicon (knee) and Andrea Poli (unspecified) are all ruled out through injury but back-up goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi is available after shaking off a knock.
Trabzonspor are doing welll in their domestic league and are 16 league games unbeaten, since a 2-0 loss at Fenerbahçe SK on 30 January. They have also kept six clean sheets in their last nine league games. Onur Kıvrak, out of action since mid-March with a cruciate ligament injury, has resumed training. Barış Ataş has not featured since tearing a hamstring during a 2-1 friendly win against Orduspor on 2 September. Adrian Mierzejewski (one game), Senol Günes (two games) and Burak Yilmaz (three games) are all suspended.
The clubs crossed paths in the 1983/84 UEFA Cup first round, the Turkish team triumphing 1-0 at home thanks to Tuncay Soyak's late strike, but Inter went through after winning the return 2-0. Expect a careful approach by both teams in order to avoid defeat in their opening game. Inter to nick it by 1-0 or 2-0. Under 2.50 goals will be my choice.
Benfica (Portugal) vs Man Utd (England)
Manchester United FC begin their 16th consecutive UEFA Champions League group stage campaign away to familiar rivals in SL Benfica. Last season's runners-up beat Benfica to lift the first of their three European Cups in 1968 and will travel to Lisbon aiming to extend their 18-month unbeaten away record in the competition. Benfica will have other ideas as they bid to improve on recent UEFA Champions League disappointments, their last three campaigns having ended in the group stage. United have prevailed in six of the clubs' seven encounters, starting with a quarter-final triumph in the 1965/66 European Champion Clubs' Cup and continuing with their 4-1 final success at Wembley two years later. When Benfica beat United 2-1 in Lisbon in December 2005, they eliminated Sir Alex Ferguson's team at the group stage for the first time since 1994. The only survivor in Benfica's squad is Luisão while Rio Ferdinand, Park Ji-Sung, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and unused substitute Darren Fletcher remain for United. That was the last time Benfica reached the tournament's knockout stages. United avenged that defeat when Louis Saha secured a 1-0 win in Lisbon in September 2006. Their subsequent 3-1 home victory at the end of the group stage consigned Benfica to an early exit.
United's away record against Portuguese opposition now reads: W5 D1 L4. Benfica's record at home to English teams is: W6 D2 L4. I predict a draw in this game. Small wager on Draw or Benfica +1/2 on the Asian Handicap.
Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia) vs Real Madrid (Spain)
Dinamo have suffered just one defeat in 13 matches this season, the 2-0 loss to Malmö FF in the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg. Igor Bišćan, out since April, is expected to miss the first half of the season following surgery on his left ankle. Defender Leandro Cufre has been rulled out with adductor problems after pulling up in training on Tuesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who struck a Liga record 40 goals in 2010/11, has scored seven goals in his last four appearances, 19 in 11 stretching back to last season. Hamit Altıntop (back) and Nuri Şahin (left knee ligament strain) are yet to make their Madrid debuts while Khedira has not featured since suffering an adductor injury in the Spanish Super Cup second leg on 17 August.
In both their previous two group stage campaigns Dinamo began with goalless draws, at home to AFC Ajax in 1998/99 and again the following season away to then holders Manchester United FC. In the first participation they were unbeaten at home, drawing two games and winning one, while in 1999/2000 they lost twice and won once. Dinamo Zagreb will have all men behind the ball for this one to try and stop Real's attacking talents from creating easy chances in this game. Take under 3 1/4 for this one as I can only see one team scoring in this game.
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