MATCHDAY: Ronaldo returns to Champions League after virus

A look at what’s happening around Champions League on Wednesday:

GROUP E

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy faces a quick reunion with former team Rennes, having me a huge impression since switching clubs in September. Since leaving Rennes in a deal worth $28 million, Senegal international has played five games for Chelsea in all competitions and has yet to concede a goal. While his shot-stopping has been imperious, calmness Mendy has brought to Chelsea's previously shaky defense has been telling and he is proving a huge upgre on error-prone goalkeeper he has replaced, Kepa Arrizabalaga. Chelsea has opened group play with a 0-0 draw against Sevilla and a 4-0 win at Krasdar. As expected, Chelsea and Sevilla are leing way, with both teams on four points, and alrey Rennes and Krasdar — two group-st debutants on one point apiece — appear to be battling for a third-place finish to drop into Europa League. Sevilla is at home for first match of its double-heer against Krasdar.

GROUP F

An underperforming favorite tackles an in-form underdog as Borussia Dortmund hes to Club Brugge. Dortmund started its Champions League campaign with a 3-1 loss to Lazio but has since won three games in all competitions without conceding a goal — important for a team which has struggled to string toger reliable performances in defense. Brugge is riding high after a win over Zenit St. Petersburg and a draw with Lazio. Ar good showing against Dortmund could allow Belgian club to dream of getting out of a Champions League group for first time. Zenit is looking for its first point in group play in a home match with Lazio, which is without European Golden Shoe winner Ciro Immobile, starting goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha and midfielder Lucas Leiva who did t pass UEFA's coronavirus screening despite protests from Roman club.

GROUP G

Group leer Barcelona hosts a Dynamo Kyiv squ depleted by COVID-19 cases. Ukrainian club said nine players tested positive for coronavirus ahe of team's trip to Spain. It also won't count on captain Serhiy Sydorchuk because of a suspension. Lionel Messi's squ won its first two Champions League games but remains under pressure after a poor campaign in Spanish league. draw at Alavés on Saturday was Catalan club's fourth setback in six league matches. It won only twice, with two draws and two losses, including to Real Mrid. Cristia Ronaldo returns for a visit to Ferencvaros after missing Juventus' opening two games with coronavirus.

GROUP H

Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig meet again, a little over two months after PSG won ir 2019-20 Champions League semifinal match in Lisbon. This time y're competing for a spot in kckout st and both have lost to Manchester United while also picking up wins over Istanbul Basaksehir. PSG is without its two star forwards, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, as well as striker Mauro Icardi and midfielders Marco Verratti and Julian Draxler. Reeling from a 5-0 defeat at United last week, Leipzig n lost 1-0 at Borussia Mönchenglbach in Bundesliga on Saturday. Champions League is proving a welcome distraction for United, which has earned just seven points from its first six games in Premier League but is flying in Europe and could yet qualify with two group games to spare with back-to-back wins over Basaksehir. first match of double-heer is in Turkey.

Im credits: AP