By Canadian Press

Solskjaer feels heat at United as Champions League resumes

Oct 17, 2021 | 6:13 PM

LONDON (AP) — The main talking points for the third round of matches in the group stage of the Champions League:

SOLSKJAER PRESSURE

Losing at Young Boys last month created new doubts over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s suitability to manage Manchester United. A 4-2 loss at Leicester on Saturday only magnified them, with United unable to benefit significantly yet from the return of Cristiano Ronaldo by picking up only one point in nine in the Premier League. Things do not get any easier for United, which hasn’t won a trophy since the Europa League in 2017, as Atalanta arrives at Old Trafford for the Group F game on Wednesday before Liverpool visits on Sunday.

SCRAPPY PSG 

Paris Saint-Germain has won 10 of its 12 games overall this season but there are serious questions being raised about the level of play. PSG again looked laborious in a league game against Angers on Friday night and scraped another late win courtesy of a controversial penalty from striker Kylian Mbappe. At least PSG will have Lionel Messi and Neymar back from international duty for the home game against Leipzig on Tuesday, but midfielder Leandro Paredes is out with a thigh injury. Messi scored a brilliant first goal for PSG against Manchester City in the previous Group A game and netted his 80th for Argentina during World Cup qualifying. 

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CITY UNCERTAINTY

Pep Guardiola will make a late decision on whether goalkeeper Ederson and forward Gabriel Jesus should play in Manchester City’s match at Club Brugge on Tuesday after being unable to prepare with the team due to a prolonged period on duty with Brazil. City, which reached the Champions League final last season, slipped to third in Group A after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital last month.

MALDINI DYNASTY

Daniel Maldini is the third member of his family to play for AC Milan. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has gradually claimed a starting position this season, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Cesare and record-breaking father Paolo, Milan’s current sporting director. Daniel scored his first Serie A goal last month and now could get his first start in the Champions League when Milan visits Porto on Tuesday in Group B. Daniel came on for the final seven minutes of Milan’s 3-2 loss to Liverpool last month.

MORE GOALS, PLEASE

Although Canadian Jonathan David is in fine form with Lille, the other forwards are not scoring enough. Timothy Weah — son of Liberia President George Weah — failed to score again when Lille lost on Saturday. David only came on in the second half so should be fresh to face Spanish side Sevilla on Wednesday in Group G. He has six league goals but is yet to score for Lille in the Champions League.

BARCELONA IN DANGER

Sitting in last place in Group E, Barcelona needs a home win against Dynamo Kyiv to have a realistic chance of advancing to the knockout stage. The Catalan club made it past the group stage every season since 2001-02. Barcelona opened with 3-0 losses to both Bayern Munich and Benfica. It is a point behind third-place Dynamo and four behind second-place Benfica. Bayern leads the group with six points from two matches.

SUÁREZ REUNION

Striker Luis Suárez will meet former club Liverpool for the first time since joining Atlético Madrid from Barcelona. Suárez scored 82 goals in 133 games for the English club. His last match against Liverpool was a 4-0 loss with Barcelona in the 2019 semifinals. For Tuesday’s Group B game, Atlético coach Diego Simeone is expected to count on a couple of players who had been doubtful because of injuries — midfielder Marcos Llorente and defender José María Giménez. 

SHAKHTAR’S MOMENTUM 

Shakhtar Donetsk will try to make it three straight group-stage victories against Real Madrid after consecutive wins last season. Madrid is hoping to rebound from its shock home loss against Moldovan league club Sheriff at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The Group D game is on Tuesday.

BAYERN BACK ON FORM

Bayern Munich returned to form with a 5-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Sunday, bouncing back from a rare loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in its previous game. Next up is Benfica away on Wednesday in Group E. Bayern won its opening two games and a third victory over the second-place Portuguese team would go a long way to securing qualification. Borussia Dortmund has star striker Erling Haaland back to face Ajax on Tuesday in Group C after a muscle injury. The other German team in the Champions League, Leipzig, has had a disastrous start to its European campaign with two defeats and will be up against it at PSG in Group A on Tuesday.

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