Red-hot Kane faces Real test, City host high-flying Napoli

paris, October 16

European champions Real Madrid host Tottenham Hotspur with both teams looking to seize control of the group following back-to-back victories to start the competition. The odds are stacked in favour of the Spaniards who have won three of their four meetings with Spurs and are yet to concede a goal against the Premier League side. Real are unbeaten at home in the group stage dating back to 2009, winning 21 of 23 matches since then at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Luka Modric could face his former club, although Gareth Bale is unlikely to be fit for Real. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first La Liga goal of the season with a late winner in Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Getafe. Tottenham striker Harry Kane has netted 15 goals in his last 11 outings for club and country. 

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane heaped praise on Kane. “He is a fundamental player for Tottenham, he is very good in every aspect, but the best thing about him is that he’s always got the goal on his mind,” Zidane said. “He’s a very complete player even though he does not look it, but he always turns up when he needs to.”

City looking for 3 in 3

Pep Guardiola’s Premier League pace-setters lock horns with Serie A frontrunners Napoli as Manchester City attempt to make it three wins from three in the group. The Italians suffered an opening setback to Shakhtar Donetsk, but Maurizio Sarri’s side have swept aside all-comers in Italy — their 1-0 win at Roma on Saturday stretched their winning run in the league to eight matches. In England, City pulled two points clear of Manchester United at the top following a 7-2 demolition of Stoke City achieved without Sergio Aguero, who was left on the bench after recovering from a broken rib suffered in a car crash. Napoli have never won in England in five previous trips.

Liverpool search for first win

Liverpool head to Slovenia still looking for their first Champions League group-stage victory away from home since a 1-0 win at Debrecen in November 2009.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are winless in three games in all competitions and have drawn their first two Group E encounters against Sevilla and Spartak Moscow. The five-time European champs will have to make do without forward Sadio Mane. — AFP