UEFA Champions League Matchday 2 Predictions Including Chelsea vs Benfica

Vangelis Pavilidis is still the target man for Benfica, and Colombian midfielder Richard Rios has been solid since his transfer from Brazil’s top league. Former Manchester United man Alejandro Garnacho, an Argentine, will need to carry some of Chelsea’s attack. Expect Mourinho’s Benfica to play defensively in such a big game, it may not be high scoring, but Chelsea likely find a way. Prediction: Chelsea 2 Benfica 1

Club Brugge at Atalanta

Club Brugge began their Champions League campaign with a thumping 4-1 win over AS Monaco, since then they are 2-1-0 in the Belgian league and come off a win on the weekend over Standard Liege. Atalanta were, perhaps unsurprisingly, dismantled by PSG in the first match, losing 4-0. They had a big match against Juventus over the weekend and came away with a draw in a game where they struggled. 23-year-old Ghanian Kamaldeen Sulemana is quickly becoming a key man in the attack as the Italian side will be looking to find some goals at home.

Brugge defeated Atalanta in the Champions League last season, and they face a reeling side they would have some confidence against. Atalanta is missing up to six first-choice players still, while Brugge misses veteran goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and at least one midfielder. Brugge’s backline is not the most impressive in the competition, but they can go forward and score and should avoid dropping points here. Prediction: Club Brugge 2 Atalanta 1

Real Madrid at Kairat Almaty

This is a historic matchup for many reasons. For the first-time, the most famous club in the world, Real Madrid, will play in Kazakhstan. The wage bill and transfer market differential for this matchup are a chasm, but with Real Madrid reeling from a 5-2 defeat in the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid, there will be some tension in this matchup. Madrid was forced to battle at home in their opening Champions League game, they barely edged Marseille 2-1 with a late Kylian Mbappe penalty the difference, after Dani Carvajal was red carded. Kairat Almaty lacks the firepower of Atletico Madrid, but can surely watch Real Madrid’s draw with Al Hilal at the 2025 Club World Cup for some inspiration.

Given Sporting Lisbon put Kairat to the sword on matchday 1, the odds are long, expect Real Madrid, who is fielding a makeshift backline due to injuries, to try to put this game away and exercise the bad mojo of the weekend. Prediction: Real Madrid 5 Kairat 0

Eintracht Frankfurt at Atlético Madrid

Meanwhile in Madrid, Atletico Madrid are on cloud 9 , after the derby win on the weekend. and will be looking to earn their first win of the Champions League campaign, after a 3-2 defeat against Liverpool on matchday 1. Diego Simeone’s Atletico has been a bit inconsistent this season, but they don’t lack talent. Frankfurt are also firing hot, they scored six goals against Monchengladbach on the weekend in 47 minutes, but they have conceded 8 goals over their last two Bundesliga games. With a massive 5-1 win over Galatasaray at home on matchday 1, Frankfurt will be looking to repeat that performance.

Julian Alvarez and Alexandr Sorloth should feast on this Frankfurt defence. Young striker Jonathan Burkardt is the key man for Frankfurt up front With goalkeeper Kaua Santos in poor form for Frankfurt, an upset would be a surprise. Prediction: Atletico Madrid 3 Frankfurt 1