Champions League preview: Carrick faces Roma under fire as Atlético host Bayern

The big games

Man United v Roma: Carrick's night of reckoning

Michael Carrick was asked on Monday whether he had two games left as United manager, Roma tonight and Aston Villa on Sunday. "No, not at all," he said, and added he could not wait for the game. The numbers explain the question: Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea stretched United's run without a win in all competitions to nine matches, and their last Champions League outing ended in a 4-1 beating at Como.

Benjamin Šeško and Manuel Ugarte are out. Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Patrick Dorgu are all doubts, and Carrick said Dorgu, just back from injury, is unlikely to feature. Lisandro Martínez, sent off at Stamford Bridge, is available in Europe, and Carrick went out of his way to defend him.

Roma arrive in far better shape: third in Serie A, still unbeaten after ten games, and fresh from a 5-2 win at Udinese. They are missing plenty, though. Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar will not play, and Lorenzo Pellegrini is also out. Gasperini refused to read much into United's form: "we know that United is a strong team."

Donyell Malen is expected to lead the line for Roma. The last time Roma visited Old Trafford in this competition, in April 2007, United won 7-1 and Carrick scored twice. The AI backs Roma to win 3-1 at Old Trafford.

Atlético v Bayern: Simeone wants to attack

Bayern will be without their manager on the touchline: Vincent Kompany is ill and his assistant Danks took Monday's press conference, as Kompany also missed Saturday's 2-2 draw with Dortmund. Bayern remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga and top only on goal difference.

Luis Díaz is out with a hamstring injury and Michael Olise took a knock on the knee against Dortmund. Atlético are without Morten Hjulmand, suspended after his red card against Stuttgart, and Johnny Cardoso is doubtful with a thigh problem. Koke is expected back after a hamstring injury.

Diego Simeone said he would like his side to "attack Bayern for 80 minutes" before admitting the reality would be different. His team come in second in LaLiga after a 2-0 win at Levante, and he leaned on the Metropolitano: "that's where we're strong."

The battle to watch is Harry Kane against an Atlético centre-back pairing that may include Cristian Romero, expected to return to the side. Simeone called Kane a natural goalscorer. With Díaz gone, Bayern lean on him even more than usual. The AI goes 2-1 to Atlético.

Barcelona v Aston Villa: Flick short at the back

Barcelona lost their last Champions League game to PSG, and Hansi Flick has narrowed his target for the league phase: "We want to finish in the top eight." Domestically they are flying, top of LaLiga after Saturday's 6-1 win over Alavés.

The problem is defence. Flick admitted that being without several defenders "isn't normal", and Frenkie de Jong is expected to keep filling in further back. Andreas Christensen's fitness was among the questions he answered on Monday.

Villa are unbeaten in Europe this season but drew 1-1 with Fulham on Saturday. Unai Emery was generous to his hosts, calling Barcelona the leading favourites for the trophy and saying the visible imprint of Flick on the side makes them hard to play against. Flick returned the compliment, calling Emery one of the best coaches in Europe.

The key area is midfield, where Emery singled out Barcelona's control as the thing Villa must disrupt. If Villa can get at a stand-in back line, they have the pace to hurt it. The AI has Barcelona edging a five-goal game 3-2.

Villarreal v PSG: Luis Enrique warns against comfort

PSG have won every Champions League game so far and won 5-1 at Le Havre on Thursday, but Luis Enrique took a hard line with anyone expecting another easy night. Those who think past results will win the match are "completely mistaken", he said.

PSG are again without Ousmane Dembélé, Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes. Willian Pacho, who joined his manager at the press conference, said Villarreal deserve better than their league position.

Villarreal lost 1-0 at home to Espanyol on Friday and are near the foot of LaLiga, yet Luis Enrique pointed to how well they played against Liverpool in Europe. They need points badly after three games: a home defeat would leave them chasing the play-off places. The AI sees PSG winning 3-1.

RB Leipzig v Man City: Maresca needs a reaction

City lost 1-0 at home to Brighton on Saturday, their second straight Premier League defeat, and now go to a Leipzig side who won 2-0 at Schalke and sit fourth in the Bundesliga.

City are close to full strength. Antoine Semenyo, out with a knee injury, is the only confirmed absentee, with a return targeted for mid-December. Leipzig are without Assan Ouédraogo and Marc Guiu, and Maxime Esteve, who missed the Schalke win, is a doubt. Enzo Maresca and Martín Demichelis, a former City defender, speak to the press today.

Two Premier League defeats in a row have taken City three points behind Arsenal. A third defeat in a week would raise real questions about Maresca's side for the first time this season. The AI has it 2-2.

Fenerbahçe v Liverpool: Iraola looks for a lift

Liverpool lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Sunday and are fifth in the Premier League, nine points off the top. Europe has been kinder: they won their first three Champions League games.

Dominik Szoboszlai returned against Arsenal and is tipped to play at right-back, because Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are both out. Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are also missing. Andoni Iraola speaks in Istanbul today.

Fenerbahçe are in a mess: interim manager Dirk Kuyt has taken over after İsmail Kartal's exit, and the club have yet to win in this season's competition. Nathan Aké, Marco Asensio and Jayden Oosterwolde are out, and Mason Greenwood is a doubt with illness. A Liverpool side short of confidence could hardly ask for a more troubled opponent. The AI backs Liverpool to win 3-0.

Elsewhere

• Inter go to Feyenoord without Alessandro Bastoni, sent off in their 1-0 win over Shakhtar. Cristian Chivu said Feyenoord raise their game at home; Inter lost 3-1 in the Milan derby on Saturday.
• Arsenal, top of the Premier League after winning at Anfield, visit Slavia Prague, who have gone 22 Champions League games without a win. William Saliba is back in training but unlikely to travel.
• José Mourinho's Real Madrid go to AEK Athens after a 3-0 win at Racing Santander.
• Stuttgart, who won 4-2 at Leverkusen on Saturday, visit Galatasaray.
• Napoli go to Porto after losing 2-0 at Juventus on Sunday.
• Dortmund host Real Betis, fourth in LaLiga, after drawing 2-2 in Munich.
• Como, unbeaten in Serie A since a single defeat, visit Lens.
• Lille, second in Ligue 1 after beating Lens 1-0, go to Bodø/Glimt.

The fixtures

All times UK.

Tuesday 3 November

• Galatasaray v Stuttgart, 5:45pm
• Shakhtar v Sporting, 5:45pm
• Man United v Roma, 8pm
• Barcelona v Aston Villa, 8pm
• Atlético Madrid v Bayern Munich, 8pm
• Feyenoord v Inter, 8pm
• Villarreal v PSG, 8pm
• Bodø/Glimt v Lille, 8pm
• LASK v Slovan Bratislava, 8pm

Wednesday 4 November

• Fenerbahçe v Liverpool, 5:45pm
• AEK Athens v Real Madrid, 5:45pm
• Porto v Napoli, 8pm
• Viking v Sabah, 8pm
• RB Leipzig v Man City, 8pm
• Slavia Prague v Arsenal, 8pm
• PSV v Club Brugge, 8pm
• Dortmund v Real Betis, 8pm
• Lens v Como, 8pm

The AI's corner

The AI's boldest call is at Old Trafford, where it backs Roma to win 3-1 and pile more pressure on Carrick. It also has Feyenoord beating an Inter side without Bastoni 2-1, and Leipzig and City sharing a 2-2 draw. Every prediction is at predisportshq.com/predictions/champions-league.