2019/20 UEFA Champions League Matchday-2: Real look to avoid 3 consecutive home European defeats, Bayern travel to Tottenham in big game
The first matchday of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League saw 45 goals scored, the same number as was scored at the same stage of the competition a season ago. In key games on the first matchday, champions Liverpool started their title defence with a defeat at Napoli, Real Madrid fell to a 0-3 defeat at Paris St. Germain, Barcelona were held to a goalless draw at Borussia Dortmund, Juventus were held 2-2 draw by Atlético and Bayern Munich beat Crvena Zvezda 3-0 at home.
The second matchday of the competition on 30 September 2019 would see resurgent 13-time champions Real Madrid at home to Club Brugge, striving to avoid three consecutive European home defeats in 38 years. In other key games on the day, PSG travel to Galatasaray, Juventus welcome Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Turin and German champions Bayern Munich travel to last season's runner-up Tottenham Hotspur.
Here is how groups A to D line-up on matchday-two of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League:
Group A
French champions Paris St. Germain are the early frontrunners in the group following their 3-0 win over 13-time champions Real Madrid at home, while the other group game between Galatasaray and Club Brugge ended in a 1-1 stalemate. On matchday-2, Madrid welcome Brugge to the Santiago Bernabéu while PSG are away at Galatasaray.
Real Madrid vs Club Brugge
Record 13-time winners Real Madrid play their first European home game of the season against Belgian side Club Brugge. Following an overwhelming 0-3 reverse at Paris St. Germain on the first matchday, the record champions, who lost 0-3 at home to CSKA Moscow in the last group game of the 2018-19 group stage and 1-4 to Ajax in the Round of 16, would be keen to avoid a third straight European home reverse for the first time in 38 years.
Madrid lost 2-0 to Club Brugge away and drew goalless at home in 1976-77, in their only two previous meetings with their matchday-2 visitors. Standard Liège (1969-70) is the only one of five Belgian clubs to have played and won at the Bernabéu.
A resurgent Real, who have kept three clean sheets on the trot and lead the Spanish Primera Liga after seven matchdays, would look to continue their recent defensive solidity by taking all three points against the Belgian league leaders.
Galatasaray vs Paris St. Germain
Group leaders Paris St. Germain travel to Turkish side Galatasaray on matchday-2, buoyed by their solitary goal win at Bordeaux which kept the capital club top of the pile in France.
In their only visit to Galatasaray in the competition, PSG lost by a solitary goal in the second group stage of the 2000-01 season.
Group B
Five-time winners and table-toppers Bayern Munich travel to last season's runner-up Tottenham Hostpur on matchday-two, following their 3-0 home win over Crvena Zvezda and Tottenham's 2-2 draw at Olympiacos on the first matchday.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Bayern Munich
Last season's runner-up Tottenham Hotspur welcome 2012-13 winners Bayern Munich on matchday-2. In 25 previous meetings with German opposition, Tottenham have won 13 times and lost 8 times.
Tottenham would be playing Bayern in the Champions League for the first time. In their only two competitive meetings with Bayern, Spurs drew 1-1 at home in the 1982-83 Cup Winners Cup second round and won 2-0 in a 1983-84 UEFA Cup/Europa League game.
In their last visit to England, Bayern drew goalless with eventual winners Liverpool in the Round of 16 last season. The Bavarian giants would, however, be enthused by the fact that they triumphed in four of their last five visits to London.
Crvena Zvezda vs Olympiacos
Olympiacos recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw with last season's runner-up Tottenham in their first European game of the season on matchday-1.
On the second matchday, the Greek league leaders travel to 1990-91 winners Crvena Zvezda of Serbia. This would be the first competitive meeting between the two sides.
In 11 previous meetings with Greek opposition, Crvena have won six times and lost on five other occasions. The Serbian champions have never lost to a Greek club at home in five meetings, winning all five of such match-ups.
Also check out: Champions League Schedule Champions League table Champions league top scorers