Champions League Group stage returns

The group stage returns tonight and some of the match-ups are interesting. We'll start at the start in Group A.

Group A:
PSG v Malmo
Real Madrid v Shakhtar Donetsk

Zlatan dominates the build up as he faces his first club Malmo. The Parisians are unsurprisingly overwhelming favorites for this game and should show why. The Swedes could do with sneaking away with a point but its hard to see that happening. Domestically PSG are top in France by a point from Rennes while Malmo run the risk of missing out on Europe completely for next season as they currently sit 5th in the Allsvenskan.
Nothing much to be said about the other game in the group tonight except that Real Madrid will stroll to a big win.

Group B:
Wolfsburg v CSKA Moskva
PSV Eindhoven v Manchester United

Wolfsburg face CSKA without the sold Kevin De Bruyne but do have Julian Draxler to call upon. The wolves will be a tough test for CSKA especially as they were among the stronger sides that were seeded 4th in the draw. Both sides have made good starts domestically coming into this game with Wolfsburg 3rd in the Bundesliga behind Dortmund and Bayern while CSKA are leading the Russian Premier league by 5 points from cross town rivals Lokomotiv. The obvious goal threats for CSKA are Seydou Doumbia and Ahmed Musa up front although Doumbia is yet to hit top form domestically it was his goals that overcame Sporting CP in the play-off round.
PSV old boy Memphis Depay returning to his previous club is a nice subplot in this game. Can PSV take points off United, maybe. PSV are a step above Club Brugge who were so easily dispatched by United in the play-off round so this will be a closer game than that but expect United to edge it.

Group C:
Galatasaray v Atlético Madrid
Benfica v FC Astana

I do like the look of Galatasaray v Atlético. The fanatical atmosphere from Galatasaray is always a good addition to the competition. Even though they have lost a little bit of that atmosphere with the move into a more modern stadium compared to the old Ali Sami Yen, they still are a tough opponent at home even for Atlético. For the Spaniards though they will be looking to get the Barcelona defeat out of their system. Big question here for them is does Simeone persist with Torres or does he go with Jackson or give Vietto his starting debut. On the domestic front, Galatasaray havent exactly set the world alight. They lie 8th and 5 points behind arch-rivals Fenerbahce and joint leaders Trabzonspor. Atlético meanwhile are 6th and 3 points off Barca.
The longest trip of the group stage between these two as Benfica look to get through the group stage this season. Newcomers Astana will be out to frustrate and successfully did that against Maribor and APOEL in the qualifiers. Benfica however were in goal scoring mood over the weekend hitting Belenenses for 6 and could if given space do the same tonight. Benfica lie a point behind Porto domestically while Astana are a point behind Kairat Almaty in the race for the Kazakh title with a game in hand.

Group D:
Manchester City v Juventus
Sevilla v Borussia Monchengladbach

The group favorites clash in Manchester and given the form book it seems this tie is only going one way and that is a City win. Manchester City have, since being taken over by the sheikhs, been pathetic in this competition and almost every year it's "will this be the year?". The could make a statement tonight against the beaten finalists from last season but I do think Juventus will make it difficult.
A repeat of last season's 1st knockout tie in the Europa league. Borussia M'Gladbach have endured a nightmare start to their domestic campaign and sit bottom of the league while Sevilla haven't had a good start either and are still winless. A game that could kick a season for whoever emerges with the three points and I'd probably side with a home win in this.