UEFA Champions League: Matchday 2 Preview

Lionel Messi

Europe’s elite once again prepare to give us a show!  This matchday serves up encounters suitable for the final, but we are certainly not complaining! Tuesday is highlighted by the clash in Paris, when Pep’s City come over, and Wednesday is certainly not outdone, with Chelsea travelling to Turin to entertain the Old Lady. 

Plenty of value on offer, you know you want to get involved.

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Tuesday 28 September

Shakhtar Donetsk 42/10
Draw 33/10
Inter Milan 11/20
(18:45)

Shakhtar have only won four of their last 20 Champions League fixtures – and when put like that it really does make for grim reading. The Ukrainian giants have had a good start domestically, but their continental campaign just hasn’t looked or felt the same.

Inter was flat against a Real Madrid side who haven’t been great either, however, their domestic response is enough to restore faith in the Italians. Get on the away win.

Ajax 1/8
Draw 7/1
Besiktas 17/1
(18:45)


Ajax got off to a flyer against Sporting, but I wouldn’t get delirious about them just yet. This might be the pessimist in me but even with all their domestic dominance, they tend to struggle at home in European competition – winning just once during the 2019 season.

Besiktas are usually a tricky side, and with the added boost of Michy Batshuayi and Alex Texeira, they could ask some questions of this Ajax side. For my money, both teams to score (Yes) at 12/10 is my value bet for the week.

Real Madrid 1/10
Draw 17/2
Sheriff 23/1
(21:00)


I wouldn’t read too far into the Sheriff result on Matchday one. I don’t think they will make life easy for anyone who visits their compact home, but this should be as straightforward as it looks.

I’m not going to get to many plaudits for tipping the home win, but Real Madrid to score in both halves is priced at 5/10 which I think is excellent value for the midweek multiples.


AC Milan 19/10
Draw 43/20
Atletico Madrid 15/10
(21:00)


This is a tough game to call, but only because we know the history and European prestige associated with these two clubs. Putting that aside, Atletico have struggled to look as though they are in control in La Liga. Their attacking prowess is negative and – whilst that isn’t particularly uncommon – they aren’t bossing fixtures and at times are vulnerable.

Milan come into the fixture with good form, and their relatively young side looked up for it at Anfield. They didn’t win the fixture, but they weren’t played off the park either. I think this will be a close encounter and extremely cagey. Under 2.5 goals for the multiple at 7/10…and a draw for the punt on the nose.

Dortmund 7/20
Draw 42/10
Sporting 6/1
(21:00)


I wouldn’t read too much into the fact that one of these sides come into the fixture with a win whilst the other, a loss. Dortmund was put away by a confident Monchengladbach, whilst Sporting put Maritimo to the sword in the Premeira Liga. However, with the greatest of respect, the Bundesliga is far more competitive and cannot be compared to its Portuguese alternative.

The one point which I would hold onto is that Dortmund just cannot keep a clean sheet now. They have conceded six from six and this Sporting side could ask questions of a rattled defensive line.

Dortmund to win and both teams to score might be the play. Get on at 17/10.

PSG 2/1
Draw 51/20
Manchester City 5/4
(21:00)


The early showdown of the Champions League comes to us on Tuesday from the City of Love. It feels almost strange to think I can say this, but both sides are searching for their maiden European Cup, after falling short in a final!

I’m not sure what it is about City for PSG, but the Parisians just cannot get a win in this fixture after five attempts. Coupled that with the fact that City come into the fixture with the added confidence of beating Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea at the weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s men have one of the toughest runs given their trip to Chelsea, PSG and then Liverpool later in the week. If anything, this is a massive opportunity for City to remind the world of their impotence and continued challenge on all fronts. They come into the game keeping five clean sheets from their last seven, and that could be the difference. Back the Cityzens and move swiftly along.


Porto 7/2
Draw 29/10
Liverpool 7/10
(21:00)

Liverpool has a fantastic opportunity to take control of their group early on, when they travel to Porto. Jurgen Klopp’s men have enjoyed this tie as well, considering no side in Europe has conceded more against Liverpool.

Liverpool is unbeaten in their last six fixtures, but more impressively they have scored at least three in all of them. that would suggest their powerful frontline is firing on all cylinders and even though you would have questions of their defence, I can’t see past the away win here.

Back the Reds to take a huge step toward the round-of-16 on Tuesday night.

RB Leipzig 9/20
Draw 37/10
Club Brugge 48/10
(21:00) 

Leipzig get my vote for the most inconsistent and most frustrating side in Europe right now. The German side have been very hit-and-miss this season and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the upset occur here (and I only say upset because of the betting markets).

Phillipe Clement’s side travelled to the vastly more favoured PSG on Matchday one and came away with a 1-1 draw. I know that score lines don’t always tell the full story, but Brugge was not the inferior side – and the stats back that up!

At 14/10, I’m all over the Club Brugge win/draw double chance.
Wednesday 29 September

Atalanta 9/20
Draw 37/10
Young Boys 48/10
(18:45)

Atalanta have a dynamic and versatile squad and they showed how dangerous they can be on their day. Young boys will come into this fixture with all the confidence a home win against Manchester united is worth these days…

9/20 is maybe too short on the home win… but maybe I’m giving Young Boys too much credit… Over 2.5 Goals is priced up at 5/10 and I suggest you take full advantage.


Zenit 11/20
Draw 32/10
Malmo 46/10
(18:45)
This isn’t exactly a fixture most would have in their ‘most exciting games of the week’ column, but nevertheless is does provide plenty of value. Zenit will be their usual direct and robust Russian selves. With aggression and intensity being the order of the day, I don’t think Malmo can match up. The visitors lacked courage against Juventus, and I’ve already relegated them to ‘whipping boy’ status.

Get on the home win.

Wolfsburg 37/20
Draw 22/10
Sevilla 31/20
(21:00)


Wolfsburg have been impressive so far this term in the Bundesliga, they’ve been competitive against tougher opposition and where they should be picking up maximum points – they have. Sevilla on the other hand have found success in killing off fixtures and suffocating the creative flair of their opposition. 

I think this could be a good game to watch and probably tightly fought all the way through the 90 minutes. There is little to separate theses teams, and on their day, both could come away with a good win. 

I can’t split them, and I’m happy to collect every bit of the 22/10 on offer for my indecisiveness! 

Bayern Munich 1/12
Draw 10/1
Dynamo Kyiv 24/1
(21:00)


Are you sitting down for this? Are you ready for this massive call? Are you ready to declare me an absolute genius and a gift to our generation?! Well, here it is, here is my prediction:

Bayern Munich to win!!!!!!!

Ok, I’ll admit that was a little dramatic… But in truth the challenge here is trying to find value elsewhere, because the result really does pick itself. 

So, let’s have a go at the same match bet builder that Hollywoodbets offers which is priced up at 17/10:

Bayern Munich win
Over 7.5 corners 
Over 1.5 goals 
Robert Lewandowski to score anytime


Salzburg 19/20
Draw 26/10
Lille 26/10
(21:00)


Salzburg haven’t been able to stop scoring goals and hitting the target in every game of their last six games. Furthermore, they have scored a massive 17 goals during that time and conceded just two.

You compare this to a Lille side who have been leaking goals for fun and just struggling to get their season going. I’m not sure Lille will cause enough problems for the Germans, and I think backing the home side to keep a clean sheet offers incredible value.

Get on at 18/10.

 
Juventus 3/1
Draw 49/20
Chelsea 9/10
(21:00)


I’m not sure I would want to play Chelsea after the weekend, but I still think 9/10 is a touch too short. This will be a close game and will certainly be won or lost in the centre of the park.

You should expect to see Thomas Tuchel look to dominate the middle with aggression and a far higher tempo than that which was on display on Saturday afternoon.

There are two massive factors which stand out for me here though: first, Juventus will likely be without both Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata for this encounter, and second, Chelsea have seen under 2.5 goals in every fixture under Tuchel in the Champions League!

This will be a tight affair and whilst I think Chelsea edge it, both halves to be under 1.5 at 12/10 in Turin has caught my eye like a big pizza pie and so I guess you could say, I’m all in!


Benfica 18/10
Draw 49/20
Barcelona 14/10
(21:00)


This game shouldn’t be the enticing pictogram it is but behold, we are here! The pressure is building with each passing day and under-fire coach Ronald Koeman might not be the reason Barcelona is still standing after all.

Absolutely thrashed by Bayern Munich and then flat domestic performances (only slightly made more appetizing by claiming three points at the weekend), Barcelona is not at full strength and have a host of morale issues to deal with. Of course, it is in such times that sports’ powerhouses show their metal, but I think a dabble on Benfica could prove to be a stroke of genius.

An in-form Benfica might sniff blood and look to go full send in the Estadio da Luz and we’ll be here for it. Back them on the win/draw double chance + over 1.5 at 9/10.


Manchester United 5/10
Draw 7/2
Villarreal 48/10
(21:00)

I can’t believe the prices on offer for the away win if I’m honest…Villarreal are unbeaten within 90 minutes in every game so far this season and in that time, they have played Chelsea, Atalanta, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Manchester United will begin to feel the pressure that is growing around Old Trafford and after their torrid display at the weekend I can’t help but agree with the suggestions that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to identify a style of play and build a team around that.

For me the draw is a runner in this one and I can’t – in good faith – put you in any other direction.


TREBLE @ 5/1

Liverpool Win 7/10
Zenit Win 11/20
Juventus vs Chelsea: Both Halves Under 1.5 (Yes) 12/10

Written by Ryan Liberty