Viktoria Plzen vs Manchester City September 17, 2013

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Manchester City get their Champions League campaign underway on Tuesday when they travel to Czech champions Viktoria Plzen in Group D.

The Blues will be hoping to improve on their last two years in the tournament after failing to get out of the group stage both times.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has been given a boost ahead of the match with the news that captain Vincent Kompany has travelled with the squad following a groin injury.

When Manuel Pellegrini sat down with Manchester City’s powerbrokers to discuss his plans to transform their club from Champions League flops into serious European contenders, he had no idea it would all begin here.
But on Tuesday, in the humble surroundings of the 11,700-capacity Doosan Arena, Pellegrini’s credentials will be put to the test by Czech underdogs Viktoria Plzen.

David Silva, Gael Clichy and Micah Richards are all doubtful.

"Vincent has worked with us normally for the last two days," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini on Monday. "We will see if he is 100%. If he is, of course he will play.

Viktoria Plzen vs Manchester City September 17, 2013

Plzen are top of the Czech league with six wins in their opening eight games and beat Slovenian side Maribor in a play-off to earn a second Champions League appearance in three years.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany could return from a groin injury as his side begin their Champions League campaign against little-known Czech side Plzen.

Kompany has been absent since his side's 4-0 win over Newcastle in their Premier League opener on 19 August.
It should be a simple enough start for City, even though they have failed to reach the knockout stage at their first two attempts in this competition, winning only once away from home.

Pellegrini’s predecessor Roberto Mancini paid the price for picking up a solitary point from his opening two games in both campaigns, but the opposition — Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Bayern Munich — was considerably stronger. 

Plzen’s only victory in this competition has come against Bate Borisov.

Pellegrini, 60 yesterday, knows what is expected. The Chilean was appointed largely on the strength of guiding Villarreal and Malaga to the latter stages of the Champions League, and he acknowledges City’s ambitions are far greater.
Defeat here would be a disaster and even a point would represent a setback considering that the next game is against champions Bayern and CSKA Moscow are the other side in Group D.

‘We have to win,’ said Pellegrini. ‘The Champions League is the most important competition.
City want to grow every year, which means they cannot go out of the group stage. We must advance.

Plzen, whose only previous appearance in the group stage of the competition came two years ago, should be full of confidence thanks to a solid start to the season with four wins and two draws.

Manchester United vs Bayer Leverkusen September 17, 2013

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Just before Manchester United’s most important game against Bayer Leverkusen, the one in 2002 that had a place in a European Cup final in Sir Alex Ferguson’s home city of Glasgow at stake, Roy Keane looked around him. There, as the Champions League anthem played, he noticed one of his team-mates, whom the Irishman  untypically refused to name, “shaking with nerves”.

There will be a shiver running through David Moyes’s body as the music plays at Old Trafford tonight but it will be of anticipation rather than fear. When the realisation he would be succeeding Ferguson began to roll through his mind, it would have been occasions like this that would have seemed most thrilling.

No stadium in England transforms itself for European nights quite like Old Trafford. On Saturday against Crystal Palace the atmosphere was flat and  routine in a way it seldom is at Anfield. However, under the floodlights it  becomes what it is, one of the world’s great arenas. As he gave his first Champions League press conference, Moyes was sitting in a room in which there were 15 separate photographs of United players and managers with the European Cup.

Manchester: David Moyes will sample the Champions League group phase for the first time on Tuesday when his Manchester United side host Bayer Leverkusen in their opening Group A fixture.

Moyes was selected to succeed Alex Ferguson as United manager at the end of last season despite having only overseen two matches in the competition during his 11-year tenure at Everton.

Manchester United are set to pair Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in attack again for the Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Rooney is close to a full recovery from a head injury sustained in training and scored against Palace at the weekend.

There are still doubts over Shinji Kagawa with boss Moyes saying at Monday's press conference: "He has a bit of flu. He did some work yesterday and a little bit today."

Youngster Adnan Januzaj, who impressed off the bench against Palace, is not part of the squad.

Manchester United vs Bayer Leverkusen September 17, 2013

Moyes confirmed that the complicated UEFA eligibility criteria means if United wait to register him until October 7, by which time he will have been with the Reds for two years, he can go on the B list of youth players.

Those games, in 2005, saw the Merseyside club beaten 4-2 by Villarreal over two legs in the third qualifying round, but Moyes is relishing the prospect of a second bite at the apple.

"I have been in the Champions League before but I have not made the group stage. I had quite a few episodes in the Europa League, which were good, but nothing at the level of the Champions League.

"We will do our homework to make sure we are as prepared as we can be."

United are the only genuine European heavyweights in the group, but with Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Sociedad making up the pool, there is not a weak team in Group A either.

Moyes says that although things could have been better, they could also have been a lot worse.

"It was the first time I have been involved in a draw at that level," said the Scot.

"When the names came out, there were some that I didn`t want and others I would have been happy with. Relatively, I am quite pleased.

Manchester United predicted starting XI:

De Gea; Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Van Persie.

Where: Old Trafford in Manchester, England

When: Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 2:45 p.m. ET (7:45 p.m. BST)

Arsenal vs Aston Villa August 17, 2013

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The more last season went on, the more impressive Paul Lambert's side were, and the addition of six more young new signings should only improve his squad further AND the supporters' belief in the idea of evolution through youth.
At 23, the exciting Bulgarian winger Aleksander Tonev is the oldest of Villa's new boys, and if, as expected, Shay Given departs this transfer window - there won't be a single player aged 30 or above in the squad.

As well as the incomers, seven of last season's team have signed new long-term deals this summer, with the persuasion of Christian Benteke to stay surely the most important signing of all. Will Arsenal fans be looking at him thinking what they could have had?

They have signed one player who's been likened to Benteke (20-year-old Frenchman Yaya Sanogo) - but that's it, just one player. You can understand some Gooners thinking it's 'groundhog season' again.
Bids for superstars like Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain show that Arsene Wenger is trying to strengthen with sizeable funds available, and the boss insists the club will be active in the transfer market until deadline day.

The bookies make Arsenal strong favorites to win this game but, I have a feeling this could be very tight.

Although Arsenal have had a reasonable pre season culminating in a 3-1 victory over Man City there is sure to be a hint of unrest over the lack of any, as promised, marquee signings.

Aston Villa on the other hand seemed to have invested wisely during the window with numbers and experience being added to the squad. This being topped off with Paul Lambert persuading star striker Christian Benteke to stick with the Villain’s for at least another season.

From the outside I see Villa progressing this season and finishing in the top ten, would be interested if their fans would be satisfied with that progress and a run in one of the cups. I won’t mention Bradford if you don’t!

I think there will be goals in this with both teams looking stronger offensively rather than defensively and with my Arsenal head I am tipping the Gunners to edge it by the odd goal.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

English Premier League
Saturday, 17 August 2013
7AM PT/10AM ET/3PM BT
Emirates Stadium, London

Liverpool 1-0 Stoke City August 17, 2013

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Potters' boss Mark Hughes appeared set for a point in his first game in charge but Mignolet kept out Jon Walters's spot-kick after Daniel Agger handled. Earlier, Potters' defender Robert Huth and Reds centre-back Kolo Toure were both denied by the woodwork. Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge then scored the eventual winner, arrowing in a 22-yard shot. The first game of the league begins today. Liverpool vs Stoke City match of the first week after a long break. This match Premier League's first match played today.

Information about the match, the match stats share with you. Detailed article about the struggle played today.

As the Premier League season kicks off, Liverpool will host Stoke City, as both clubs eye improvement on last year.

Liverpool open the Premier League season against Stoke City on Saturday, with Brendan Rodgers' team favourites for the lunchtime match. They've been busy in the transfer market so far, with Spanish attacking arrivals Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, defender Kolo Touré and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet all set for their debuts.

However, Rodgers will be without striker Luis Suárez, who is still suspended after chewing on Branislav Ivanović's arm last season. Defensive duo Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are both early doubts with slight injuries, though will hopefully be available for selection.

Liverpool injuries and suspensions

Out: Luis Suárez (suspended). In doubt: Daniel Agger (knee), Martin Skrtel (knock).

Stoke City injuries and suspensions

Liverpool vs Stoke August 17, 2013

Both clubs experienced disappointing campaigns last season relative to what the clubs are looking to achieve, and the new campaign is an opportunity to erase those failures.

Venue: Anfield, London, England

The match kicks off at 12:45 p.m. UK time (7:45 a.m. ET)