UEFA Champions League: Matchday 4 Preview

Marcos Llorente

Its back for another round of the very best club football Europe can offer! It’s the Champions League and we’re getting closer to seeing the final picture at the end of phase 1.

I’ve also managed to put together a little quad at 14/1 – you have to have a look!
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Tuesday 2 November

Malmo 13/1
Draw 6/1
Chelsea 2/11
(19:45)

Malmo haven’t scored a goal in the Champions League this season and I’m not sure that is about to change. Chelsea have been ruthless on all fronts and opening up Tuchel’s box is proving more and more difficult.

This should be a comfortable win for Chelsea, for more value back them to nil. Easy as that. Get on at 8/10.

Wolfsburg 14/10
Draw 51/20
RB Salzburg 7/4
(19:45)


This could turn out to be a thriller. Both sides enjoy expansive football, and with Wolfsburg playing at home I think they might feel the need to set the tone. The home side started out the season playing exciting and successful football…only for a winless run to sort of spoil the mood.

Salzburg will prove a real test and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win. The only thing catching my eye is the 6/10 available for both to score – I think it’s a banker.

Villarreal 5/10
Draw 36/10
Young Boys 46/10
(22:00)


These two teams head into the fixture with a horrible form showing. Neither have managed a win in their last five games (in all competition) and there are worrying signs. Villarreal have some defensive issues they will know they must amend before meeting either Atalanta or United.

I think the home side win though, they have a better side with more quality and creativity in more areas of the field. I don’t trust their defence – which might bring both teams to score into the picture – but I fancy a home win.


Juventus 11/20
Draw 31/10
Zenit 48/10
(22:00)
Not a lot has been made about Juventus. The Italian giants aren’t exactly playing up to their reputation this season, but Europe is seemingly responsible for bringing out the best the Old Lady has to offer.

Zenit have been poor on the road, winning just once from their last five games (in all competition). Juve can secure their place in the next round with a win, I think they do just that and move on to focus on their dismal domestic form.
Bayern Munich 2/11
Draw 13/2
Benfica 12/1
(22:00)
Bayern Munich were embarrassed by Borussia Monchengladbach as the Bavarians were hit for five! Their recovery at the weekend justifies their favouritism here I suppose, but 2/11 is still too short.

Benfica were thumped in the reverse fixture and will fear the worse. Benfica won’t win this game… they just don’t have the quality…but they can score. Bayern to win + both teams to score is at a rather perky 14/10.

Sevilla 6/10
Draw 28/10
Lille 46/10
(21:00)

The French visitors are struggling to put together any real sort of performance in the Champions League, and I can’t see their fortunes improving in Spain.

Sevilla have been excellent at home this season, losing just one of their last seven home games. This is an opportunity for the home side to bank three points and continue pushing for qualification. Back the home win.

Dynamo Kyiv 38/10
Draw 3/1
Barcelona 13/20
(22:00)

Barcelona being priced up at 13/20 is just disrespectful. The Catalan club have flattered to deceive all season and I’m not sure they can justify that price. Dynamo have won well when playing at home and upon visiting the Camp Nou…they were largely unlucky.

Barcelona is in trouble, and I think that gets compounded on Tuesday evening. Get on the home win. You’ll thank me later.

Atalanta 7/4
Draw 28/10
Manchester United 13/10
(22:00) 

United bounced back well on the weekend, but Atalanta isn’t Spurs. The Italian side haven’t been world beaters, but they remain a tough nut to crack and will ask serious questions of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backline.

I think goals will once again be the order of the day, but I’m going to go with a draw at 28/10. Atalanta will give away chances, but you can bet your bottom cent they won’t misfire too many.

Wednesday 3 November

Real Madrid 2/9
Draw 56/10
Shakhtar Donetsk 11/1
(19:45)
Real Madrid have been lethal recently, they have had a couple wobbles throughout the season but have seemingly found their groove again. Real thrashed Shakhtar in the reverse encounter and I feel this will be much of the same.

Back the home side to win an open, but controlled engagement on Wednesday evening.


AC Milan 19/20
Draw 26/10
Porto 28/10
(19:45)
Milan have enjoyed playing at the San Siro this year, the Rossoneri have been dangerous going forward but a little sloppy when looking to keep opposing players out.

Porto will come into the fixture with confidence given their victory over Milan last time out, but they haven’t travelled very well this season. In fact, when in Italy they have only managed one win from nine. 

Milan on the win/draw double chance + both teams to score makes the most sense for me. Get on at 12/10.
Sporting 7/20
Draw 4/1
Besiktas 13/2
(22:00)
Besiktas won’t cause any problems for this Sporting outfit, and to make matters worse, the home side come into the fixture whilst enjoying a brilliant run of form. A purple patch of sorts.

Back the home side with unbridled aggression!

Borrusia Dortmund 14/10
Draw 28/10
Ajax 16/10
(22:00)


Who saw that 4-0 hammering in Amsterdam coming? There aren’t any excuses for the game, Ajax deserved that win no doubt. However, I think Dortmund are being taken for granted at 14/10, they have more than enough quality to bounce back and at home they will want to make a statement.

I’m happy to take Ajax on here and get behind the home side! But either way this could turn out to be a humdinger.

FC Sheriff Tiraspol 8/1
Draw 46/10
Inter Milan 2/7
(22:00)

Slowly but surely this group has begun to resemble something of normality – and I say that with all due respect to Sheriff. The home side have come into the most competitive environment that club football has, and have made an indelible mark.

They have scored in every game in this group and are yet to truly be rolled over. I think Inter win though but 2/7 is far too short. With that being said, surely Inter to win + both teams to score is a banker? You can enjoy around 37/20 for the bet.

 
Liverpool 13/20
Draw 3/1
Atletico Madrid 39/10
(22:00)


The pressure will be on Atletico here, which will surely make playing in the world’s most hostile stadium that more difficult. Atleti are five points off top spot in the group and will need to begin wrestling on Wednesday night. 

Liverpool will know their unrelenting attacking pressure was too much for Atletico last time out, but the Spanish side have weapons of their own even without Antoine Griezmann. 

At 3/1 I think a draw is a set bet, have a punt on the nose and look forward to the weekend’s action.

Manchester City 1/10
Draw 8/1
Club Brugge 22/1
(22:00)


Enough has been made of City’s week, it hasn’t been the best. My worry for Pep Guardiola’s side is how easy it was for Palace to penetrate their defences even before they went down to ten men.

City will qualify from the group, but they know they will be battling PSG for that top spot, so these games become that much more important. Given how City suffered with the Palace press, I think Brugge might try to employ the same thinking. It might earn the visitors a goal but City still win. Nonetheless, City winning with both teams scoring offers us a far better price than the 1/10. Have a go at 39/20.


RB Leipzig 37/20
Draw 26/10
Paris Saint-Germain 13/10
(22:00)

I can’t understand what PSG haven’t done (or rather what Leipzig have managed to do) to justify the price here. The German side have been poor recently, failing to find consistency domestically or quality in Europe.

PSG have begun to play at a level expected of their squad and I can’t see past the away win. The attacking threat they have is enough to send shivers down the spine and with Kylian Mbappe now finding his own rich vein of form I think the hosts are in trouble.

Get on the home win and enjoy every ounce of that 13/10.

QUAD @ 14/1
Wolfsburg v Salzburg: BTTS 6/10
Sporting Win 7/20
Inter + BTTS 37/20
PSG Win 13/10

Written by Ryan Liberty