Our football pundit previews the UEFA Champions league round four action which kicks off on Tuesday 31 October 2017.
With three rounds of action out the way in the group stages, we’re halfway there until we reach the business end of the UEFA Champions League. Just five teams have been perfect this season, winning all three of their matches played. From the five clubs, we expected Barcelona, PSG and the two Manchester clubs to be there, but nobody saw it coming from Besiktas. The Turkish champions have been dominant in Group G and will hope to extend their brilliant run of form.
Matchday four gives us the reverse fixtures of round three, so we get to enjoy Manchester City and Chelsea battle it out against fierce Italian opposition in Napoli and Roma, while Tottenham host title-holders, Real Madrid, at the famous Wembley Stadium.
Tuesday 31 October
FC Basel 15/20 | Draw 51/20 | CSKA Moscow 34/10
FC Basel will be hoping to secure qualification as early as matchday four when they host CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night. The Swiss champions won 2-0 in Moscow on matchday three, and if they win, while United avoid defeat in their home tie against Benfica they progress.
What will be encouraging for CSKA, is that they have won in their last two trips to Switzerland. However, this is a Basel side oozing with confidence and I’m expecting them to claim maximum points.
Manchester United 3/10 | Draw 4/1 | Benfica 8/1
Manchester United can’t seal top spot this round, but if they were to win against Benfica and CSKA fail to beat Basel, they will see themselves into the knockout stages of the tournament. There is an alternative way of progressing this round, though. If Jose Mourinho’s men draw and CSKA lose, glory glory Man United – they’ll be through to the next round.
The Red Devils won 1-0 in Lisbon, and have won all their matches at Old Trafford this season, without conceding a goal. Get on the Home Win to Nil market at 9/10!
Celtic 8/1 | Draw 47/10 | Bayern Munich 3/10
Celtic will be hoping to punch above their weight and take points off one of the two heavyweights in Group B when they host Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Many expected the Scottish giants to be no more than third spot casualties, and indeed, pundits across the globe were proved right yet again.
Since the return of Jupp Heynckes at the helm of Bayern Munich, the Bavarians have been unstoppable, while also being a joy to watch again for the neutrals – something Carlo Ancelotti couldn’t instill in his team. Back Bayern Munich on the (-1) Handicap at 13/20!
Paris Saint-Germain 1/16 | Draw 19/2 | Anderlecht 28/1
Paris Saint-Germain head into matchday four as the tournament’s best team. They’ve won all three of their matches played, scoring 12 goals (the best attack), while they are yet to concede (best defence). Can Anderlecht roll over the high-flying French giants? Probably not.
PSG claimed a 4-0 win over Anderlecht in Brussels, and the travellers are still in search of their first points and goal. Look away Anderlecht fans, this could be tough on the eyes. I’m backing PSG to Win to Nil at 13/20!
Roma 31/20 | Draw 5/2 | Chelsea 31/20
AS Roma host English champions, Chelsea, in what I fancy to be the pick of Tuesday’s action. Edin Dzeko was in fine form when the sides played to a 3-3 draw in London a fortnight ago. The Blues will be hoping that Antonio Conte can turn their poor form around in Italy.
Chelsea have lost their last three visits to Italy in UEFA matches, while Roma beat them 3-1 in 2008, their only home game against the Blues. With that being said, Roma haven’t been too convincing on their home patch. I’d have a punt on Both Teams to Score First Half at 49/20!
Atletico Madrid 1/11 | Draw 7/1 | Qarabag 30/1
Atletico Madrid will be looking to claim their first victory in the UEFA Champions League at the Estadio Metropolitano when they host Dino Ndlovu’s Qarabag. Unfortunately, South Africa’s only representative was sent off, wrongfully so, in their last match against Atletico and will play no part in their crucial visit to Madrid.
Two of Atleti’s remaining three games are at home, so they’ll be hoping to catch up on runaway giants, Roma and Chelsea, or face taking part in Thursday night Europa League action. Back the Multiscores market – Atletico Madrid to Win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 at 15/20!
Olympiacos 11/1 | Draw 5/1 | Barcelona 1/5
Ernesto Valverde will face his former employers when Barcelona travel to Greece to take on Olympiacos. The Catalans have done no wrong in their opening three matches, claiming victory in each encounter. Olympiacos have been terrible, and will be hoping to get third spot this season, at the very least. They’ve suffered defeats in all three of their matches, and face a Barca side who have not conceded in their last three games in Greece. Back Barcelona to Win to Nil at 17/20!
Sporting 29/10 | Draw 47/20 | Juventus 19/20
Sporting have a chance to go level on six points with Juventus when they host the Old Lady in what should be a thrilling encounter. The Bianconeri have lost on all three of their previous games in Lisbon, but surprisingly, have been better off away from home this season. If Barcelona avoid defeat, and Juventus claim maximum points, they will secure their spot in the next round. That should be enough to motivate Juve – back them at 19/20!
Wednesday 1 November
Liverpool 1/50 | Draw 13/1 | Maribor 46/1
Liverpool secured a club-record European away win when they hammered Maribor 7-0 last time out. Can they better that impressive scoreline? Not in this current form. At the time of writing, Liverpool have won just one of their last nine matches.
Maribor, however, have nothing to feel confident about, especially after losing all four of their previous UEFA games in England. Liverpool are way too short to back at 1/50, so I suggest you take Over 2.5 Goals at 2/13. It’s not the best bet out there, but it’s the only betting market worth taking.
Sevilla 9/20 | Draw 36/10 | Spartak Moscow 47/10
Spartak Moscow top Group E heading into this game – level on five points with Liverpool – after their 5-1 demolition over Sevilla on matchday three. The Spanish giants have a chance of leapfrogging their opponents, and could sit atop the standings, depending on results in Merseyside. Sevilla have a decent record against Russian opposition, winning four of their five matches played. In fact, few teams come to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and leave the happier of the two sides. My money is on the home win!
Shakhtar Donetsk 7/20 | Draw 4/1 | Feyenoord 6/1
Shakhtar Donetsk will be confident heading into their reverse tie against Feyenoord after humbling Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men in Rotterdam by a 2-1 scoreline. The Miners will also be glad to be playing in Ukraine, and are on a winning streak of four matches at home in UEFA group stage matches.
Feyenoord are on a five-game losing streak in UEFA club competitions and are yet to pick up a point so far in the campaign. Shakhtar are a banker at 7/20, but for more value, back them on the (-1) Handicap at 9/10.
Napoli 31/20 | Draw 26/10 | Manchester City 29/20
Napoli and Manchester City do battle in what promises to be one of the biggest blockbuster matches of the round. Man City swept them aside in the opening stages of their last tie, while Napoli missed a penalty that game, settling for nothing more than a consolation goal by Amadou Diawara. If Pep Guardiola’s side avoid defeat, they’ll be guaranteed a spot in the next round.
However, Napoli are unbeaten in five home games against English sides, winning four, including a 2-1 win against City back in 2011. The Sky Blues look like one of the best teams in Europe at the moment and I’m backing them on the Double Chance & Both Teams to Score at even money!
Besiktas 5/4 | Draw 51/20 | Monaco 39/20
In Wednesday’s early kick-off, Besiktas look to maintain their perfect record when they host Monaco. The Black Eagles won 2-1 in Monaco last time out, and are through with a win, or with a draw if Leipzig manage to beat Porto. The hosts are on a four-game winning streak at home across all European competitions and are unbeaten in their last 11. Besiktas should claim maximum points here, and in doing that, ensuring their place in the next round.
Porto 23/20 | Draw 24/10 | Leipzig 9/4
Both FC Porto and Leipzig will be looking to chase Group G leaders, Besiktas, when they battle it out on Wednesday night. Leipzig claimed their first win in the group stages when they beat Porto 3-2 in their matchday three encounter. That defeat meant that the Dragons have lost their last four competitive meetings against German opposition. Still, Leipzig haven’t been too convincing away from home, while Porto definitely have the players in their squad to bounce back. Get on the home win at 23/20!
Dortmund 1/16 | Draw 9/1 | APOEL Nicosia 30/1
Both sides took their first point of the tournament when they drew goalless on matchday three. Dortmund need to get their act together and show that they’re worthy of playing in the knockout stages, or be forced to settle for a third-placed finish, going down to the UEFA Europa League.
APOEL Nicosia are yet to win an UEFA match in Germany in the eight attempts. Dortmund just have to come good here. Back the Bundesliga giants on the (-1) Handicap at 2/9 – once again, not the best bet out there.
Tottenham 19/10 | Draw 11/4 | Real Madrid 23/20
Finally, the tie we have all been waiting for. Tottenham vs Real Madrid. Mauricio Pochettino vs Zinedine Zidane. Harry Kane vs Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s all going down at the famous Wembley Stadium. Both sides will be looking to qualify, and a victory for either club would guarantee that. Real Madrid have won 1-0 in both their previous away games against Spurs – back in 1985 and in 2011.
Pochettino’s men are also yet to keep a clean sheet in five European games at Wembley, winning just two of those. Spurs are looking dangerous at the moment, but I don’t see them getting anything against the best team on the planet right now. Los Blancos are my pick for this one – get on at 23/20!
Tuesday TREBLE @ 9/2
Basel Win 15/20
Man United Win to Nil 9/10
PSG Win to Nil 13/20
Wednesday TREBLE @ 9/1
Besiktas Win 5/4
Porto Win 23/20
Real Madrid Win 23/20
