A fantastic schedule of Champions League football awaits us this week and it’s one that sees four English team’s fly out for potentially tricky away fixtures. Both Manchester United and Liverpool have a trip to the Russian capital where they will face CSKA Moscow and Spartak Moscow respectively. Chelsea on the other hand travel southwards to the Spanish capital for a tough test against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
Tottenham will also be jetting off to warmer climates as they head to Cyprus to play APOEL Nicosia for the first ever time. Staying put on home soil are Manchester City who got off to an absolutely flying start with their 4-0 victory over Feyenoord. This week they are up against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, who also began their European campaign with a victory. Last and by no means least, two of world football’s giants, PSG and Bayern, lock horns as they fight for top spot in the group.
Tuesday 26th September 2017
APOEL v Tottenham Hotspur (19:45) – Tottenham to win with a -1 handicap (5/6 with Betfair)
Tottenham passed their first Champions League test of the season with flying colours, a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund. They didn’t look like the team who struggled in this competition last season and the opening group game win should give them plenty of belief ahead of their next test. Mauricio Pochettino will be without the services of the suspended Jan Vertonghen but this does not look like a game which the Belgian would have been too busy in.
APOEL certain didn’t disgrace themselves at the Bernabeu two weeks ago when losing 3-0 but it’s clear they aren’t at the same level as Europe’s top sides. To make matters worse, they have lost both of their last domestic home fixtures. If Tottenham can come close to replicating their Dortmund showing then this game will only go one way. Pochettino’s men don’t usually mind travelling and with a near full strength side available, back the visitors for a comfortable victory.
Man City v Shakhtar Donetsk (19:45) – Man City to win by a two goal margin (3/1 with Betfair)
Pep Guardiola has got his side scoring for fun at the moment and his attacking options should be giving the Shakhtar defence cause for concern. A 4-0 victory over Feyenoord came in the middle of a 5-0 thrashing of Liverpool and a 6-0 demolition of Watford. With the Citizens able to perform at their peak on a much more consistent basis now, you may be thinking that they will tear through their Ukrainian opponents on Tuesday evening.
It’s important not to underestimate Shakhtar though who showed what they are capable of when beating a very talented Napoli side 2-1. Their excellent record away from home makes you think they can put in another good showing here too. Since the 3rd August 2016 they haven’t lost a single competitive game on the road, a quite incredible record. Ultimately City are likely to have a little too much quality for them but don’t expect the visitors to be blown aside.
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool (19:45) – Liverpool to win (4/5 with Betfred)
Had Roberto Firmino converted his penalty against Sevilla, Liverpool could have well have gotten off to a winning start in Group E. A win here would help make up for the disappointment a fortnight ago but you never know which side of Liverpool you will get. Defensive frailties are often a concern and while they are regularly able to create chances at the other end, converting them is something which is rather hit and miss.
Lokomotiv Moscow’s 4-3 win over one of their city rivals was the first time Spartak had lost at home in almost a year. The Otkrytiye Arena can be considered a bit of a fortress and Jurgen Klopp must approach this clash with caution. Massimo Carrera’s men are not overly accustomed to playing teams of such high quality however and Liverpool’s pace and attacking movement could be enough to see them though this tricky test.
Wednesday 27th September 2017
Atletico v Chelsea (19:45) – Under 2.5 goals (4/6 with Betfair)
Chelsea’s return to the Champions League couldn’t have gotten off to an easier start as they breezed past Qarabag with absolute ease. A much stiffer test awaits them at the Wanda Metropolitano however. Atletico haven’t lost a single game this season and their record in this competition is an excellent one having reached two finals and one semi-final in the past three seasons. As usual for a big game, Diego Simeone will set his men up to frustrate their opponents first and foremost.
Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has faced Atletico several times before but the former Real Madrid man has never found a way past their defence. The Blues have racked up big tallies against weaker sides just lately but they are likely to find themselves struggling for goals against such a well organised opponent. In last year’s competition, Atletico scored just seven goals and conceded two from their six group games so another conservative and low scoring game looks on the cards.
CSKA Moscow v Man United (19:45) – Man United to win (8/11 with Betfair)
These two sides met in this competition two years ago and there wasn’t a lot between them with one game ending in a draw and the other a slender win for United. It’s the away team who have improved the most since this meeting though and with some great summer signings made, Jose Mourinho’s men are getting closer to returning to their former glories. The Portuguese boss should name a strong line-up here as he seeks to get his team’s spot in the knockout stages secured as quickly as possible.
CSKA haven’t enjoyed the best start to the season but they are still very much title contenders in the Russian top flight. Interestingly, it’s at home where they’ve dropped the most points and this could harm their chances here. They did however perform exceptionally well to claim all three points against Benfica in their opening Group A game. United is an even tougher challenge though and you shouldn’t fancy them for another surprise result.
PSG v Bayern Munich (19:45) – Over 3.5 goals (19/20 with BetVictor)
PSG’s star-studded side face their most difficult test of the season so far. Ligue 1 has proven far too easy for the Parisians so it’s in games like this where we really see how good they are. Their attacking flair will certainly give Bayern plenty to think about and the likes of Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe possess such quality that not even the Bavarians will be able to keep them out.
Bayern will be fancying some goals of their own here too. PSG’s rearguard can look a little vulnerable on occasions and two error prone goalkeepers don’t help matters. Many French sides haven’t seen enough of the ball to test the PSG defence but Bayern will be able to do just that and when they work themselves an opening, you can expect them to take it. This is shaping up to be a wonderful game for the neutrals with plenty of goals on the menu.