Champions League: 5 things we learnt from Tuesday games

These are five things we learnt from the Champions League games played on Tuesday.

The Champions League returned this week with the European big boys looking to grab more points with qualification to the second round in view.

These are five things we learnt from this week’s fixtures

1. Paris Saint-Germain are favourites (Paris Saint-Germain 5 Vs 0 Anderlecht)

 

Early days still but there is no doubt whatsoever that Paris Saint-Germain are one of the favourites. Four games, four huge wins four, clean sheets, the boys from the French capital are on a roll.

They made light work of Anderlecht on Tuesday with a 5-0 win. It was a very easy game for Paris Saint-Germain who seem to be very ready for this season’s Champions League campaign.

2. Conte fails to convince (Roma 3 Vs 0 Chelsea)

 

The Champions League and cup competitions have been the Achilles heel of Antonio Conte’s colourful managerial career. In four seasons in club football, Conte has won four league titles but the Champions League eluded him. He has never even gotten close to winning it.

At Chelsea, cup competitions have continued to be the chink in Conte’s armour and any hope that might be over vanished with the 3-0 loss away at Roma. 

3. Jupp Heynckes has made Bayern Munich fearsome again (Celtic 1 Vs Bayern Munich 2)

 

Bayern Munich are always one of the favourites for the Champions League title before every campaign but the fear factor they bring left after their 3-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in September. Just one change after that defeat has made Bayern Munich competitive again. Heynckes is back as Bayern Munich coach and the man who won the Champions League title with them in 2013 has overseen two wins to ensure progress to the knock-out round.

4. Serie A sides are ready to compete (Roma 3 Vs 0 Chelsea)

 

In the last five Champions League campaigns, no Serie A side has been able to make it to the quarter-final stage of the Champions League with the exception of Juventus.

This season, however, it seems Serie A sides are ready for the challenge. Roma dismantled Chelsea 3-0 and are currently top of Group C that also has Atletico Madrid.

5. Bliss over for Atletico Madrid (Atlético Madrid 1 Vs 1 Qarabag FK)

 

Atletico Madrid have been a dominant side in Europe since 2012 when Diego Simeone led them to Europa League title.

They drubbed Chelsea in the 2012 Super Cup and started squaring up with the European elites. This season, however, the 2014 and 2016 Champions League runners-up have become a shadow of themselves.

Simone’s men have struggled this season and failed to beat Azerbaijani Premier League champions Qarabag FK in two legs. They are now in the danger of not progressing to the knockout stage and even the Europe League.