Five talking points ahead of the Champions League action | OneFootball

Five talking points ahead of the Champions League action, featuring Xabi Alonso’s return to Liverpool and a clash between the competition’s most successful sides.

Five talking points ahead of the Champions League action

Alonso makes Anfield return

When it was announced Jurgen Klopp was to leave Liverpool, it was widely expected Xabi Alonso would be named as his replacement. The Spaniard’s stunning achievement in leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten German double – the first league title in their history – made Alonso hot property and with his Liverpool links appeared a natural fit.

Alonso instead turned down advances to remain with Leverkusen, though there’s unlikely to be any ill-feeling when the Bundesliga champions arrive at Anfield on Tuesday. Alonso was a hugely popular figure during his time with Liverpool and will receive a warm welcome on Merseyside, though Leverkusen should not expect the same treatment.

Liverpool are thriving under Arne Slot and looking to maintain their perfect record in the Champions League this season.

European royalty meet at the Bernabeu

Real Madrid host AC Milan on matchday four, a meeting between the two most successful sides in the competition’s history. The Spaniards won a record-extending 15th Champions League title last season and will expect to go deep into the tournament once again, despite an indifferent start under Carlo Ancelotti in 2024/25.

Milan, meanwhile, are aiming to return to former glories. A semi-final appearance in 2022/23 was the first time the Rossoneri had reached that stage since winning their seventh European crown in 2007.

After one win in three games so far this season, Milan need to turn things around to avoid an early European exit.

Amorim has early date with future rival

Ruben Amorim has been named as Manchester United’s new manager, with the Sporting Lisbon coach set to take charge during November’s international break. First, Amorim has a date with the team he will be aiming to overthrow in the Premier League.

After two decades of dominance in the Premier League, Manchester United have watched on as Manchester City have become the league’s leading force. An unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles have been collected in recent campaigns and City are the benchmark for Amorim to inspire towards when he takes over across town.

Wednesday night provides the 39-year-old with a first chance to get a measure of the blues.

Battle of the unbreached defences at the San Siro

Arsenal are enduring a tough time in the Premier League with defeat at Newcastle extending their run to three games without a win. Key absences have contributed to recent results and the fixture list does not offer any sympathy to the Gunners this week.

Mikel Arteta’s team travel to Inter Milan on Wednesday night, looking to extend their unbeaten run in this season’s competition. The Italian champions are also undefeated in Europe, battling to a goalless draw at Manchester City on matchday one before wins over Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys.

Neither side has conceded a goal in the Champions League this season as two of Europe’s best defences meet at the San Siro.

Iconic Performances: Thierry Henry’s irresistible display at Inter

Can PSG and Atletico revive Champions League fortunes

Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid would have entered this season’s Champions League with cautious optimism.

Each, however, has struggled to live up to expectations. Since a fortuitous win over Girona in their opening fixture, PSG have lost at Arsenal and been held at home by PSV Eindhoven.

Atletico, meanwhile, have suffered back-to-back defeats to Benfica and Lille since opening with a win over RB Leipzig.

Luis Enrique and Diego Simeone know each other well from memorable clashes in Spanish football, though this will be the first-ever meeting between the teams. Neither can afford to lose.

Read – Midfield Magicians: Xabi Alonso, the grand master of 4D chess

See more – The winners and losers of Amorim’s Man United appointment

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