The UEFA Champions League reaches its midpoint with a slate of high-stakes fixtures on Wednesday. Liverpool's prolific European form contrasts sharply with their domestic struggles, Porto sit near the bottom needing a result against Napoli, and Borussia Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy looks to extend his scoring run against Real Betis.
Liverpool's Shooting Woes
Liverpool have scored 12 goals in their first three Champions League games, with Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai among the scorers. However, in the Premier League they have managed just 11 goals in nine matches, ranking 11th for expected goals (xG). Their average shot xG is well below the top-five league average of 0.111, with nearly 40% of attempts coming from outside the box and a league-leading 37.9% of shots blocked. Manager Andoni Iraola's previous side Bournemouth ranked highly for xG per shot last season, suggesting the current issues may be tactical rather than a lack of talent. The Champions League goals have come against favorable opposition — away to LASK and at home to Villarreal — yielding 12 goals from 7.23 xG.
Porto's Desperate Situation
Porto sit 35th in the league phase with zero points after three matches. A home defeat to Napoli would likely end their knockout hopes, as projection models suggest nine points may be the cutoff after eight games. Porto have mustered only 30 shots worth 2.7 xG in Europe, while domestically they average nearly that per game. Strikers Samu Aghehowa and Andre Silva have just four shots combined, and key creative players like Gabri Veiga (five shots) and Borja Sainz (zero shots in Champions League) have been quiet. Coach Francesco Farioli acknowledged the gap: "The Champions League is a different competition. The demands and the details make all the difference. Being effective at every moment is important... we can do more, because this isn't enough."
Guirassy's Form Against Spanish Opposition
Serhou Guirassy arrives in strong form, having scored a poacher's finish in Dortmund's 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich. In 31 Champions League appearances (four for Rennes, 27 for Dortmund) the 30-year-old has 23 goals, including seven penalties, and 0.63 non-penalty xG per 90 minutes. He has scored in every meeting with Spanish sides, notably a hat-trick against Barcelona in 2025. Real Betis have conceded set-piece xG and goals in La Liga, ranking 18th in both categories, which could play to Guirassy's aerial strength. Betis have allowed just over 2.5 xG in three Champions League games against Lille, Porto and Feyenoord, but their domestic defensive vulnerabilities may offer opportunities for the Guinean striker.
