Champions League Fixtures: Players Set To Miss UCL Matches

The Champions League's second half is set to kick off on Tuesday as clubs will be facing their last counterpart for matchday 4 on different turfs which could be home or away in the UEFA Champions League fixture.

AllNews takes a look at players who are set to miss the next crucial matches for their teams due to several reasons from injuries, suspensions, and the ongoing raging COVID-19.

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Barcelona: Lionel Messi and Frenkie De Jong

Ronald Koeman has decided to rest the club skipper, Messi, and the dutch playmaker, Frenkie De Jong as they travel to Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine with 9 points from 9 available and it is just a matter of one more win to seal qualification for the Catalonia club.

The undecided matter in the group is who will be leading the group at the end of the group stage but Barcelona currently tops the group with 9 points followed by Juventus with 6 points.

Lionel Messi and De Jong "needed rest" as emphasised by the former Dutch National manager as "they have played almost games" of the 2020-21 season.

Trincao and Pedri will be deployed in the match in replacement of the Argentine and the Netherlands International midfielder with Coutinho also back from injury, Koeman would want some rest for Messi as they enter a long stretch of La Liga football.

They currently sit at 13th on the table with 11 points and 2 games at hand which will do little to help if they continue to fall off the top 10 of the La Liga standing.

Chelsea: Pulisic and Kai Havertz

Pulisic picked up a knock during the International duty with USMNT and will not be available for few weeks - the US International player has been scintillating for the blues with dribbles, speed, and finishes but his recent injury woes will hinder his re-integration back into the team.

Kai Havertz tested positive for COVID-19 and he is already reaching his 14-day isolation period but he is a doubt for the trip to Rennes as the German would be given more time to rest and could be used in the next EPL game instead.

These recent injuries have slowed down the gelling of Frank Lampard's team but with the depth of the team, there is always an immediate replacement for players as injuries, fatigue or COVID-19 got some players off the squad list.

Manchester City: Aguero, Ake, Mendy and Fernandinho

Nathan Ake, Mendy, and Fernandinho's miss in the defensive line of City have not affected them much for UCL matches but in the league, the recent loss to Tottenham (2-0) shows just how much porous their backline is. 

Kun Sergio Aguero has also been missed upfront with Jesus Gabriel not as potent as the diminutive Argentine striker, it now falls on wingers like Sterling, Ferran Torres, and Riyad Mahrez to score goals for City.

Though their trip to Olympiacos will be more or the same success as the first leg - another loss in the league could bring about media scrutiny of the club especially with the winter transfer approach.

Liverpool: 8 Players Out

The Reds are the most injured side in Europe with at least 8 first team players out due to one thing or the other.

Club skipper Van Dijk; Jordan Henderson; Keita; Thiago; Oxlade Chamberlain; Salah (he has recovered though); Joe Gomez; Alexander Arnold; Williams could all be missing from the UEFA Champions League squad.

With Diogo Jota, Firmino, and Mane in the front line, Liverpool might cruise past Atalanta as they did in the first leg.

Real Madrid: 6 Players Out

Club skipper Sergio Ramos, Benzema, Mariano, Jovic, Valverde, Militao could all be missing for the trip to San Siro as Inter Milan will try to get their first 3 points in the UEFA Champions League.

If Inter Milan hopes to qualify, they would need to win all 3 matches left in the campaign and hope Real Madrid loses or draws one more after their own win against them.

Madrid still poses a threat up front with Hazard, Vinicius, and Rodrygo Goes but with the absence of Ramos they are just as weak behind.

Bayern Munich: Tolisso, Kimmich and Alphonso Davies

Kimmich's presence in the midfield has reduced the impact of the loss of Thiago Alcantara in the midfield but the German player is now off with an injury and the hole left behind could be penetrated especially with Bayern's high press.

The veteran Alaba has provided cover behind for the Bundesliga Rookie of the year awardee, Davies but the transfer speculation on Alaba's mind might be a distraction on the field of play as the winter transfer draws near.

Bayern might concede their first European defeat if Hansi Flick does not find a solution to it.

It might not be against Salzburg, but they still have Atletico Madrid and Lokomotiv Moscow.

Paris Saint-Germain: 8 Players Out

Even with all these players out, PSG still boasts of top qualities in Neymar and Mbappe with Moise Keane, Marquinhos, Kimpembe as additions.

Herrera, Verrati, Gueye, Draxler, Florenzi, Bernat, Icardi, and Kehrer could all miss the trip to Germany to face RB Leipzig as PSG sits at 3rd with 3 points. 

A loss to Leipzig would mean almost no qualification to last season's UEFA Champions League finalist.

That could spell doom to Thomas Tuchel and signal the end of his time at the Stade de Princes.

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