Match Previews - Page 67

Sporting Lisbon, one of the giants of the Portuguese league, clinched last season’s Primeira Liga title by a narrow two-point margin over rivals Benfica, securing a spot in this year’s Champions League group stage.

Premier League powerhouse Manchester City have had an inconsistent start to the season

Newcastle United rebounded impressively last season in the Premier League, finishing fifth and securing a spot in this year’s Champions League group stage.

Bookmakers opened the line with Liverpool favored at -0.75 goals, later adjusting to -1.0, signaling strong confidence in the home side. Squad valuations also underline the difference: Liverpool’s roster stands at €1.12 billion compared to Atletico’s €627 million. Moreover, the Reds have history firmly on their side, having beaten Atletico in all three of their most recent Champions League encounters.

Ajax remain the most decorated club in Dutch football history, boasting 28 Eredivisie titles since the league turned professional in 1956. However, their domestic dominance has waned in recent years.

Bayern Munich returned to the summit of German football last season, collecting 82 points to reclaim the Bundesliga crown for the 34th time in their history.

Paris Saint-Germain have ruled Ligue 1 since the 2012–2013 season, and last year they once again proved their superiority.

FC Gangwon were last season’s league runners-up, making a historic entry into the elite stage. The team continues to be led by Jung Kyung-ho this season, but two key foreign players have departed. Although they brought in Oliveira from FC Gwangju to strengthen aerial defense, the tall center-back has recently been sidelined due to injury.

Arsenal have performed exceptionally well on the road, winning four out of seven away matches last season, including consecutive victories over Girona and Real Madrid. This will give them considerable confidence for their first-ever visit to San Mamés.

In the last six seasons, they have reached at least the quarter-finals, and even won the title in the 2019/20 season, making their overall strength hard to underestimate. As the Bundesliga powerhouse

This season, Juventus are under the guidance of legendary coach Tudor, with star striker Vlahović confirmed to remain at the club. During the summer transfer window