ALL but one English club won over the midweek in the Champions league. With the exception of Liverpool, the majority all recorded handsome wins against their respective opponents.

Chelsea’s win at Atletico Madrid was the most eye-catching and impressive one of the lot, if you asked me. No away English team has won there and they produced a brilliant tactical display to stamp their credentials on the tournament.

Spurs and United also produced impressive wins while Manchester City laboured to a 2-0 win at home. Liverpool again went up against a wall at Spartak Moscow and were denied 3 points by dogged defending and good goalkeeping. Two points from two games represents a poor haul from what, on paper, was a generous draw from the group stage .

Now on to the weekend where Manchester City visit Chelsea for the late kick off Sunday morning here. These two teams will be looking to get over their respective European hangover as this game is the pick of the crop for the weekend.

City are a formidable force, with Chelsea having to travel for their midweek adventures. City, who played at home, should be the more rested of the two. This game will be a tactical masterpiece to watch as two of the most respected managers in the world go head to head in an interesting battle. I implore all budding managers of the social leagues here to stay up to watch this game as it will be a masterclass or a drab 0-0 draw.

Manchester United host Crystal Palace in what must surely be a home win written all over it, what with the current form the Red Devils are in and Palace still looking to get a win. Depth of the squad must be utilised for this one, but they should have enough to see off a poor Palace that is still finding its feet.

Spurs have the early kick-off against newly promoted Huddersfield and will be ecstatic to be away from home after an European tie. Harry Kane is in red hot form and should add to his goals this weekend against not too shabby promoted side. Huddersfield at home are also a mean opponent and this should be another tasty tie.

Liverpool away to Newcastle is an intriguing match-up as the Reds are still looking to get the form that was reminiscent of last month. Newcastle also just ended their winning streak of late, and at home should be the type of banana skin that Jurgen Klopp will try to avoid. This is not the type of game that he would have wanted especially after a trip to Moscow in midweek .

Now, this weekend will give us an insight on how the English clubs are lined up for the Champions League and how they are going to handle the Premier League too. The depth of each squad will be the key factor here and how the respective managers rotate for the weekend games will be interesting.

I have always said that the Premier League is way too demanding and hence why the English sides haven’t had much success in the Champions League of late. This weekend will show if they have learned from past season or if it’s another hangover weekend. – September 30, 2017.

* Gogulan Dorairajoo is manager of KL Galaxy FC and an all-round football pundit with a passion for the world’s greatest sport. He also happens to be a long suffering fan of Aston Villa FC.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.