This week we reach the home straight in the Champions League Group Stage with the return legs of the games on Matchday 3.
Just four teams, Ajax Amsterdam, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Juventus, have 100% winning records heading into the fourth game of this stage of the tournament, while Malmo, Besiktas, AC Milan and Red Bull Leipzig have yet to claim a point in the competition so far.
Bayern Munich have the best attacking and defensive record in the competition, scoring 12 goals without conceding any in the group phase so far. Ajax, Manchester City and Liverpool have scored 11 goals between them in their three games. Juventus are also yet to concede a goal in the competition, while Ajax have conceded just one.
This set of games is a crucial one in terms of qualifying for the next phase of the tournament, with some teams able to clinch qualification if they win and results in the other game in their group go their way.
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Let’s now check out the games taking place this week, as well as how the teams shape up in terms of their individual groups in the competition at the midway point of the Group Stage.
All odds shown were correct at the time of writing with bet365 Sport but may have changed in the meantime. All kick off times are 8pm unless otherwise stated. All teams have played 3 games so far.
The top two teams from each group after six games qualify for the Knockout Phase of the Champions League in the New Year.
Group A Table
- Paris St Germain – 7pts (+3)
- Manchester City – 6pts (+5)
- Club Brugge – 4pts (-3)
- Red Bull Leipzig – 0pts (-5)
Group A Games Matchday 4
- Wed 8pm – Manchester City v Club Brugge
After earning a comfortable win over the Belgian side in Belgium, Manchester City should be confident of picking up three more points here. They did lose at home to Crystal Palace at the weekend though but it would be a huge shock if City don’t land the win here. They are 1/9 for the win, so I wouldn’t back them at that price, but you can get 15/8 on City to win and both teams to score, which may be a better value bet. A win for City would leave them needing just two more points from their final two games to ensure qualification.
- Wed 8pm – Red Bull Leipzig v Paris St Germain
A win for PSG here combined with a loss for Club Brugge in Manchester would see the Parisians almost certainly qualify, but needing just one point to be absolutely sure. However Leipzig are a tricky team especially away from. home, although their form this year in Europe has been pretty dismal. There is no doubt the sale of some key defenders has hampered them as while they have scored goals, they have also conceded far too many. As such, I am backing PSG to get the job done here. Take PSG for the win at 11/10 which I feel is a great value bet.
Group B Table
- Liverpool – 9pts (+6)
- Atletico Madrid – 4pts (0)
- FC Porto – 4pts (-3)
- AC Milan – 0pts (-3)
Group B Games Matchday 4
- Wed 8pm – Liverpool v Atletico Madrid
Liverpool have been excellent in this competition so far, scoring plenty of goals, but also conceding a few too. They beat Atletico in Spain a couple of weeks and a similar result here, combined with FC Porto not beating AC Milan in Italy would confirm Liverpool not only as qualified, but as the Group Winners too. That’s plenty of incentive for Jurgen Klopp’s team to get the job done. With Griezmann suspended, I am backing Liverpool to land the win here. Take Liverpool to win and both teams to score at 12/5.
- Wed 5.45pm – AC Milan v FC Porto
It’s been a disappointing Champions League campaign for Milan so far, but they have had some misfortune in their games, but I do feel they will pick up the win here against an FC Porto side that have.blown hot and cold in this competition so far this season. The Portuguese side earned a big win over Milan a couple of weeks back but I am backing the Italians to get right back in this group with a win on home soil. Back AC Milan to win this one 2-0 at 8/1.
Group C Table
- Ajax Amsterdam – 9pts (+10)
- Borussia Dortmund – 6pts (-2)
- Sporting Lisbon – 3pts (-2)
- Besiktas – 0pts (-6)
Group C Games Matchday 4
- Wed 8pm – Borussia Dortmund v Ajax Amsterdam
I think Ajax have been one of the strongest teams in this competition, and their 4-0 hammering of Dortmund in the first game between these two teams a couple of weeks back is a clear indication of that. Dortmund are way better than that scoreline suggests and I expect them to do better at home, but I cannot see them getting the better of Ajax here. As such, I think the draw at 5/2 is the bet to back here.
- Wed 8pm – Sporting Lisbon v Besiktas
Sporting were comfortable 4-1 winners over Besiktas in the game between the two in Turkey a couple of weeks back and given how the Turkish side have struggled in the competition this season, I think it is a good bet that a similar result is on the cards here. A win for Sporting would also bring them back into contention in this group regardless of the result in Dortmund. Back the HT/FT market here with Sporting/Sporting being the best option at 11/10.
Group D Table
- Sheriff Tiraspol – 6pts (+1)
- Real Madrid – 6pts (+5)
- Inter Milan – 4pts (+1)
- Shakhtar Donetsk – 0pts (-7)
Group D Games Matchday 4
- Wed 5.45pm – Real Madrid v Shakhtar Donetsk
Real Madrid thrashed the Ukrainian side in the first game between the two, beating them 5-0 on the road in what was another sobering defeat for a deflated Donetsk team. Real’s form since then has been pretty good and Vinicius Jnr in particular has been in superb scoring form of late. I cannot see anything but a convincing win for Real Madrid here. Back Real Madrid to grab over 3.5 goals in this game at 5/2.
- Wed 8pm – Sheriff Tiraspol v Inter Milan
For me Sheriff Tiraspol have been arguably the team of the tournament so far, beating both Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid to rack up six points, they sit top of the table ahead of their second game against Inter Milan on home soil. The Italians dominated the game in Milan, earning a 3-1 win to bring themselves back into contention in the group. However, Sheriff look a decent side and I think on home soil they may be a tougher prospect. I think the draw at 9/2 is a great value option.
Group E Table
- Bayern Munich – 9pts (+12)
- Benfica – 4pts (-1)
- Barcelona – 3pts (-5)
- Dynamo Kyiv – 1pt (-6)
Group E Games Matchday 4
- Tue 8pm – Bayern Munich v Benfica
Bayern Munich have swept through Group E in supreme form, yet to concede a goal and having scored the most of any team in the competition. Benfica were their nearest challengers but Bayern dominated the game between the two a couple of weeks back, earning a 4-0 win over the Portuguese side who were outclassed. I can’t see anything but a repeat of that performance here. Take Bayern to win with a -2 handicap at odds of 6/5.
- Tue 8pm – Dynamo Kyiv v Barcelona
Ronald Koeman has been sacked since Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Dynamo at the Nou Camp, but I am still very wary of backing Barcelona here despite the odds on them being short. I actually feel Kyiv showed enough in that first game to suggest this could be a rough ride for Barcelona in the Ukraine. As such, I am backing the home side to pick up a draw here at 29/10.
Group F Table
- Manchester United – 6pts (+1)
- Villarreal– 4pts (+2)
- Atalanta – 4pts (0)
- Young Boys – 3pts (-6)
Group F Games Matchday 4
- Tue 8pm – Atalanta v Manchester United
After wins over Villarreal and then Atalanta, where they came from 2-0 down at half time to win 3-2, United have moved top of Group F, but their grip is a precarious one and they need another big performance away to Atalanta here to maintain their grip at the top of the group. After a 3-0 win over Spurs, I think they will get it as I don’t feel the Italian side are that great at home, with just 2 wins in 7 games in all competitions at home this season. Take United to land the win here at 29/20.
- Tue 8pm – Villarreal v Young Boys
Villarreal have earned a bit of a reputation as being draw specialists in recent times, but they earned a very good win in Switzerland when these two last met and I think on home soil, they will be confident of repeating that outcome. Young Boys are a tricky side and they are a threat, especially at home, but I think the Spanish side will do enough to claim the win here as they have that touch of extra quality that the Swiss side lack. Back Villarreal to win this one 3-1 at odds of 10/1.
Group G Table
- Red Bull Salzburg – 7pts (+3)
- Sevilla – 3pts (0)
- Lille – 2pts (-1)
- Wolfsburg – 2pts (-2)
Group G Games Matchday 4
- Tue 5.45pm – Wolfsburg v Red Bull Salzburg
A win at Bayer Leverkusen ended a run of four defeats in a row for Wolfsburg just in time for this crucial game with Salzburg. A win for the Austrians would put them in real control of this group and leave Wolfsburg likely battling for a Europa League spot. A win for Wolfsburg brings them right back into contention. That sterling performance against Leverkusen has convinced me that they can get back to winning ways in Europe here. Bet on Wolfsburg to win this one 2-1 at 17/2.
- Tue 8pm – Sevilla v Lille
It’s fair to say that I’ve been disappointed by both these teams in the competition this season and the number of draws they have had in their first three games (3 for Seville, 2 for Lille) does make that pick an attractive option. My one caveat here is that at home, Sevilla are pretty decent usually, but that hasn’t always been the case. Lille are an odd team, brilliant one week, awful the next but I am backing the visitors to cause a shock here and take the win at 9/2.
Group H Table
- Juventus – 9pts (+5)
- Chelsea – 6pts (+4)
- Zenit St Petersburg – 3pts (+2)
- Malmo – 0pts (-11)
Group H Games Matchday 4
- Tue 5.45pm – Malmo v Chelsea
Malmo have yet to score, let alone claim a point in the Champions League this season and I am pretty confident that those two records are going to continue after this game too. Chelsea are the defending Champions and easily beat the Swedes when they met a couple of weeks back and I would expect a similar scoreline in this game tonight. A 3-0 Chelsea win is a 6/1 shot and that looks like a very appealing correct score bet to me.
- Tue 8pm – Juventus v Zenit St Petersburg
Dejan Kulusevski’s late strike was enough to give Juventus a vital win away to Zenit, but the Russian side have proven to be obdurate opponents for both the top two and they are not going to make it easy for the Italians on home soil. Juventus had to be patient to land their win over Zenit, just as Chelsea did in Week 1, and I think they will do so again here. Back a 2-0 Juventus win at 6/1.
