City, Nigeria – Champions League don land again! Time wey every football paddy go don gather round TV, dey sip their palm wine and dey predict wetin go happen this season. We go open season with 18 matches this first week, and trust say the drama go dey plenty!
Four German clubs dey represent this season: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Eintracht Frankfurt. Dem no dey play small game, as dem sabi how to hustle for this tournament, and their fans dey expect nothing short of magic!
Arsenal dey prepare for their UEFA campaign to kick off on September 16 against Athletic Club for Bilbao. Mikel Arteta, the gaffer wey carry dem reach semifinals last season, gatz make sure say dem no fall hand this time. Dem win three out of four matches for local league, but one small 1-0 loss don make dem get one single goal wey dem concede. Na wah!
Athletic Club no dey sleep, dem also don win three out of their last four La Liga matches too. Coach Ernesto Valverde gatz fire dem up as dem dey make their first Champions League appearance since 2014/15. However, wahala dey as them no go fit use their star player, Nico Williams, wey dey out due to injury.
So, wetin be their predicted lineup? Na 4-2-3-1 formation: Simon (GK) — Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche — Jauregizar, Ruiz — Berenguer, Sancet, I. Williams — Guruzeta. Fit look strong if you ask me!
For Arsenal, e no too sweet. Talisman Bukayo Saka dey out with thigh injury, and him comrades, Havertz and Jesus, still dey recuperate from their own injuries. Captain Odegaard gatz sit this one out due to shoulder wahala. Wetin Arteta go do? Na 4-3-3 formation we dem dey expect: Raya (GK) — Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori — Merino, Zubimendi, Rice — Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze.
If we talk about Tottenham Hotspur, dem don finally win trophy after 17 years, na Europa League last season. Now, dem dey enter Champions League dance, and fans dey wonder if dem fit carry this form go far. Under Thomas Frank, dem don win three out of four league matches, so vibes dey high!
As for Villarreal, dem dey back in Champions League after finishing fifth in La Liga. Last time wey dem reach semifinals be under Unai Emery. Dem no wan slack, but na oga madman for dem next match as dem dey face Spurs. Can dem sink Spurs or dem go just dey banana?
Both teams never meet before, so this one go get all the suspense. Tottenham lineup go be like this: 4-3-3: Vicario; Porro, van de Ven, Romero, Spence; Palhinha, Matar Sarr, Kudus, Simons, Johnson; Richarlison. Phew, dem go try match Villarreal wey go lineup like: 4-4-2: Luiz Júnior; Mouriño, Foyth, Renato Veiga, Cardona; Parejo, Partey, Buchanan, Moleira; Pépé, Mikautadze.
No forget say Real Madrid dey face Marseille for another heavy clash. With Jude Bellingham back in the squad, Madrid dey feel gassed! But guess wetin? Marseille dey also click as them don win their last match. Na 4-2-3-1 be their predicted lineup: Rulli; Murillo, Pavard, Balerdi, Emerson; Gomes, Kondogbia; Greenwood, Nadir, Weah; Aubameyang.
At the end of the day, we just dey wait make the ball begin roll. Na wetin you think? Who go chop win for this season na only God sabi. Make we just sit down, pop our corn, and enjoy the show!
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
