Match Previews - Page 8

Goalkeeper Robin Olsen has struggled with inconsistent performances in the past two rounds, leading to his withdrawal from the national team. On the offensive side, Liverpool’s striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal forward Joel Pohjanpalo are both included in the squad, potentially forming a formidable two-pronged attack that significantly boosts Sweden’s firepower.

Defensive linchpins Rahmani and mainstay left-back Paqarada are both sidelined due to injury, a significant blow to the team’s backline. However, there’s a silver lining—young Heidenheim defender Shabani has turned down a call-up from the Swiss national team to proudly represent Kosovo. He’ll be on standby and ready to contribute whenever needed.

Both captain midfielder and forward Knudsen have been included in the squad despite carrying injuries. While they are expected to start, their form may be affected. Central defender Chukwudi withdrew due to injury, and the team called up Svendsen as a replacement.

In the last round of World Cup qualifiers, their performance was inconsistent and unreliable. Midfielder Kastanos from Verona stood out, but in midfield he was largely isolated and lacked sufficient support.

In their opening match, Shanghai Port continued their strong form with a 2-0 away win over Melbourne City. With the league title race seemingly out of reach, the team is expected to focus on continental competition.

Renowned worldwide for their intimidating home ground, Galatasaray, as the reigning Turkish champions, have been virtually unbeatable at home this season—winning all three home matches

In the last round against Bayern, Chelsea struggled throughout the match. Center-back Chalobah scored an own goal in the middle of the first half, and they were already two goals down by halftime

In the previous round against Slavia Prague, they were on the back foot for most of the match

Aston Villa currently sits 18th in the league with only 3 points, reflecting a poor start to the season and an urgent need to secure points. In their last 10 matches across all competitions, they have recorded 3 wins, 3 draws, and 4 losses

Sheffield United’s recent form has been inconsistent. In their last 10 matches, they have recorded only 2 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses. Their attack occasionally shines—such as last round’s 4-1 home thrashing of Bradford—but overall scoring efficiency is low. Defensively,

Barcelona has been in formidable form, securing victories over Valencia and convincingly winning away games against Oviedo and Newcastle.

AC Milan, as a traditional powerhouse, has been performing impressively this season