The 2023-24 Champions League organization level is underway, and matchday two is within the books with Bayern Munich, Actual Madrid, Manchester Town and Barcelona the one groups to conserve a 100% report. Next an exciting spherical of video games, we requested our writers Gab Marcotti, Rob Dawson and Sam Marsden to respond to a few of our burning questions.

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1. Which crew is in hassle later matchday 2?

Manchester United. Two video games, two defeats, they usually’re already suffering to qualify for the Spherical of 16. They’ve scored 5 targets in video games in opposition to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray however the best way they’ve defended has been unfortunate, leaking seven targets in 180 mins of soccer. They conceded 3 at house in opposition to Galatasaray however it will were even worse. Mauro Icardi neglected a penalty later Casemiro have been despatched off, and likewise had a just right prospect in stoppage-time with the rating already at 3-2. It’s now not the primary while in fresh historical past that United were in hassle within the organization level, going out sooner than the knockouts in each 2015-16 and 2020-21. — Dawson

5 groups are on 0 issues, however clearly Manchester United be on one?s feet out, basically as a result of the habitual psychodrama within the background (Antony, the Glazers, Jadon Sancho, part the inauguration again 4 out, and so on.) and their terrible league mode as neatly. I’d throw in Paris Saint-Germain as neatly, merely as a result of the style of the 4-1 defeat at Newcastle United, the best way the membership could be a zoo, and the truth that head tutor Luis Enrique is, neatly, other. And if I’m Arsenal, I’m now not taking issues as a right both. Sevilla house and away upcoming can also be very tough. — Marcotti

It’s Guy United, isn’t it?! However so as to add some selection, there may be power on Luis Enrique and PSG. It’s now not simply that they misplaced to Newcastle, it’s that they had been crushed 4-1. Throw within the reality they’re within the hardest organization within the festival and still have a double-header arising in opposition to AC Milan and it’s now not withered to believe them failing to manufacture it into the knockout rounds. 3 attracts and a defeat in seven Ligue 1 video games display this isn’t only a Eu factor, both. The post-Lionel Messi and Neymar years, constructed round Kylian Mbappé and French brilliance, weren’t intended to be so rocky so quickly. — Marsden

2. Which is your underdog crew to succeed in the knockouts?

FC Copenhagen. They’ve by no means been moment the crowd level, however they’ve executed enough quantity within the opening two video games to turn they’ve were given a prospect this while. They had been 2-0 up in opposition to Galatasaray in Istanbul with 4 mins to journey, and had been simplest pegged again to 2-2 later taking place to ten males; next they took the top at house in opposition to Bayern sooner than narrowly shedding 2-1. Their destiny in Team A will probably be made up our minds by way of back-to-back video games in opposition to Manchester United, and with Erik ten Hag’s crew now not taking part in neatly, the Danish champions may spring a miracle. — Dawson

Let’s face it, no person in Team F (Newcastle, PSG, AC Milan and Dortmund), which is large seen, is an underdog. Nor are Lens, frankly. So I’m going to indicate Feyenoord. I really like the truth that head tutor Arne Slot made up our minds to stay round and provides it a journey later profitable the Eredivisie identify, instead than chasing coin in other places like such a lot of of his colleagues would have executed. They gave Atletico Madrid an actual fright away, and will do the similar to others. — Marcotti

Possibly underdog is pushing it, however Actual Sociedad had been in pot 4 within the draw so must technically be the worst the crew of their organization. I do know the science to the pots signifies that isn’t essentially the case however Internazionale and Benfica would nonetheless were the 2 groups anticipated to advance. In lieu, Los angeles Actual sit down supremacy later two video games due to a draw in opposition to the Italians and Tuesday’s 2-0 win at FC Salzburg. Remove Kubo and Brais Méndez are superb amusing to look at, and they have got a homegrown backbone that makes it simple to root for them. — Marsden

3. Which participant has exceeded expectancies up to now?

Manchester United were garbage within the Champions League however £72 million striker Rasmus Hojlund has, no less than, been a good. The 20-year-old was the youngest participant to attain in his first two Champions League video games since Erling Haaland when he discovered the web in opposition to Galatasaray later opening his United account on matchday one in opposition to Bayern. His first in opposition to Galatasaray was once a thumping header from Marcus Rashford’s pass, and his 2nd was once about his occasion and completing skill later racing clear of the midway order. Hojlund is beneath large power to accomplish as United’s central striker and, up to now, he’s dealing with it neatly. — Dawson

Am I allowed to mention Newcastle defender Dan Burn? What, you wish to have anyone extra glamorous? I had 0 expectancies for Icardi, however he got here up profusion for Galatasaray endmost season and it’s proceeding this yr. Some love for Atletico striker Álvaro Morata too, please. Mendez has been in point of fact remarkable for Actual Sociedad, and Guy Town’s Julián Álvarez will get higher each and every while I see him play games. — Marcotti

It’s withered to concentrate on one participant later simply two video games, however I’ll journey with Alvarez. He was once the big name in Manchester Town’s win over Crimson Famous person Belgrade and next got here off the bench to indisposed RB Leipzig on Wednesday. He’s making it inconceivable for Town boss Pep Guardiola to let go him out when the heavy video games come round. A scream out for João Félix, too, who has been just right in either one of Barcelona’s video games up to now, and Actual Madrid big name Jude Bellingham. Although we anticipated him to be just right, we didn’t believe him having this have an effect on so quickly, with impressive targets in wins over Union Berlin and Napoli. — Marsden

4. What wishes to switch at Guy Utd to strike their stride and manufacture it out of the crowd?

They wish to secure higher. Accidents, specifically on the again, were a infection this season, however Lisandro Martínez, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are prone to pass over the extra of the group-stage video games and supervisor Ten Hag has to have the ability of bettering with the avid gamers he’s were given to be had. One simple recovery is to advance Sofyan Amrabat from a makeshift left-back into midfield to present Casemiro some aid. Casemiro should grant a suspense later his purple card in opposition to Galatasaray, however having him along Amrabat as soon as the Brazilian is again will manufacture United way more powerful in the course of the sound. — Dawson

It’s kinda two other questions as I see it, within the sense they don’t wish to strike their stride to withdraw from the crowd. Clearly, they wish to shoot 4 of six issues within the double-header in opposition to Copenhagen and steer clear of defeat in Istanbul. After, on matchday six, they play games Bayern, who will almost certainly have certified by way of next and might play games the C-team. In order that’s 8 issues they may be able to get with out being specifically just right. And that may well be enough quantity.

How do they in reality get just right? Neatly, that’s a much more sophisticated query. I’m now not positive their injured guys will probably be again in while to have an effect on this organization level, Casemiro is now suspended, Antony is any person’s supposition. There’s enough quantity there that Bruno Fernandes and Rashford can elevate them from time to time (now not all of the while as we’ve evident) however there’s a explanation why they’ve simplest gained 3 video games all season (I’m now not counting the win over Palace within the Carabao Cup). And, lest we overlook, Wolverhampton Wanderers had been robbed later outplaying them for lengthy stretches, and United they needed to come from two targets indisposed to overcome Nottingham Woodland, who performed the endmost 23 mins with 10 males. In the meantime, in opposition to Burnley, they had been completely outplayed and it took a occasion of enchanment from Bruno (and … look forward to it … Jonny Freaking Evans!) to get the 3 issues. Yeah, it’s evil, it’s in point of fact evil. — Marcotti

As Gab issues out, the 2 aren’t mutually unique. United are actually in a condition the place they wish to flip to an vintage soccer cliche and shoot issues sport by way of sport. In that sense, they have got a pleasing fixture record. Again-to-back suits in opposition to Copenhagen, who’ve confirmed tricky fighters in opposition to Galatasaray and Bayern, give them a prospect to restore their Eu hopes. Successful the ones fixtures would arrange a profusion sport in Turkey in opposition to Galatasaray. Past that, they wish to get avid gamers again of their herbal positions (which isn’t simple with their record of absentees, however Amrabat into midfield could be a get started) and manufacture round their perfect avid gamers, who on the occasion are Bruno and Hojlund. The last’s goal-scoring skill may aid elevate the temper across the crew, nevertheless it appears bleak on the occasion. — Marsden