Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Barcelona
Match Time & Date:
19/09/2023
21:00
Prediction: 3-1
Antwerp
Barcelona and Antwerp go head to head at Estadio Olimpico (different stadium) in the Champions League group stages round 1. Barca aim to kick off their campaign in fashion and their performance in a 5-0 crushing of Real Betis is surely giving fans a reason for optimism ahead of Tuesday’s clash. Summer signing Joao Felix has already started paying off, while Brazil winger Raphinha should be recalled to the starting XI. Both Pedri and Ronald Araujo are out of contention with injuries.
The Belgian champions, on the other hand, aim to build on a thrilling 3-0 win over Westerlo, but they will have a mountain to climb against the Catalan powerhouse. David faces Goliath in Barcelona; therefore, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. As for the visiting side, all Corbanie, Engels, Verhulst, and Vines should miss out through injuries.
Highlighted Player (Robert Lewandowski):
After scoring 36 goals in 59 league games for Znicz Pruskow, Robert Lewandowski joined Lech Poznan in June, 2008. The 184-cm-tall attacker scored 18 goals in 28 appearances for the club in the 2009/2010 Ekstraklasa campaign and during the season he was on Borussia Dortmund’s radar.
The Polish forward signed a four-year deal with the Bundesliga side in June, 2010 and he quickly established himself as the team’s key attacker. Lewandowski was producing excellent performances with the Millionaires between 2010 and 2014 and it has to be noted that he won two Bundesliga trophies with the club (2010/2011, 2011/2012). He participated in the 2012/2013 Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund, but the Millionaires were beaten by fellow Bundesliga side Bayern Munich in the title game.
However, he betrayed Borussia Dortmund fans in 2014 as he signed a four-year deal with the Bundesliga giants. Lewandowski impressed in the 2016/2017 Bundesliga campaign as he scored 30 goals in 32 league games for Pep Guardiola’s troops. The Polish footballer represented his homeland at Euro 2016 in France and he scored one goal at the showpiece tournament in France.
Highlighted Team (Antwerp):
Founded back in 1880, Antwerp is one of the oldest clubs in Belgium. The Great Old welcome their rivals at Bosuilstadion, the venue with the capacity of 16,144 people. Antwerp are well known for their red home kits, with the team wearing white shirts and white jerseys when playing on the travels.
Over the years Antwerp have been trying to close the gap between Belgian giants Anderlecht and Club Brugge, but they have yet to win the title in the recent history. The Great Old clinched their first domestic trophy back in 1929, with the team repeating the success two years later. The third and the fourth titles came in 1944 and 1957 respectively.
Beerschot A.C. are considered the club’s fiercest rivals, but they have a rivalry with Club Brugge as well. The club chiefs had a long-term partnership with famous English club Manchester United in the past, with Antwerp taking young footballers on loan to Old Trafford.
Real Madrid 
Sevilla
Tottenham
Liverpool
Wolfsburg 
Borussia Dortmund
Monza 
Juventus
