It’s the final week of the Champions League group stage, with plenty of big clashes taking place around Europe. Unfortunately, there are quite a few dead rubbers in the final round, with quite a few groups already completely settled before these fixtures. We’ve gone through the games, and we’ve picked out four matches which still mean something. Who wants to bet on matches that teams don’t care about, after all?
Here are our four Champions League clashes to keep an eye on, with something to play for on both sides. That includes two Premier League teams, the Europa League and Champions League holders and a clash between two huge sides fighting for top spot. We’ve picked out betting tips on each, which you can see below.
Tuesday 6th December 2016
Basel v Arsenal (19:45) – Arsenal to win and both teams to score (16/5 with Coral)
Arsenal have already wrapped up qualification, but they’re fighting with Paris Saint Germain for top spot in the group. Topping this group is vital, but the Gunners are a long way from doing that. Now only do they need a win in Switzerland, but they need the French side to drop at least two points at home to Ludogorets. It is hard to see the Parisians passing up such an easy home win. Even so, the Gunners have to stay focused and hope they get a chance. The other game is also huge to Basel, as it could decide their future in Europe.
Basel need to better Ludogorets’ result to take third place and enter the Europa League. Can they pull that off at home to Arsenal? They’ve made life difficult for English sides in the past. The Gunners did go 2-0 down away to Ludogorets (before battling back admirably to get the vital three points), so it could be argued that Basel do have a chance to get something here. Arsenal need to finish up with a victory here, but Basel’s troubles should see them push forward too. That’s why we’re backing an away win and both teams to score, which is priced at decent odds of 16/5 with Coral.
Wednesday 7th December 2016
Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund (19:45) – Borussia Dortmund or Draw (11/10 with Bet365)
These two meet in a battle for top spot, can Dortmund seal first place with a result away to the European champions? This game will very clearly be taking a back seat for Real, who put everything in to Saturday’s Clasico clash in Barcelona. Claiming a win and overtaking the Bundesliga side won’t seem as important. It’s very clear that the league is Zinedine Zidane’s aim this season, having got the European Cup under his belt last term. Could that provide an opening for Dortmund here?
These two showed in the first game that they’re very evenly matched, as they played out a 2-2 draw. Could we see a similar result again? We expect both to get on the scoresheet, but the visitors might just edge this. They’re bound to be more focused, and they only really need a draw to ensure they finish top. We think Dortmund could spring a surprise here, yet they’re out at 11/10 with Bet365 on the double chance market. With a draw enough for the Germans, and Real switching focus away from Europe, we think that’s a great value bet.
Tottenham v CSKA Moscow (19:45) – Both teams to score (42/41 with Betfred)
While this isn’t a dead rubber, it must feel that way to Tottenham. Their bright new start in the Champions League under the Wembley lights has completely faded. Now, they’re playing CSKA for a place in the Europa League. A point takes them through, but even that seems like a push for this Spurs side at the national stadium. Two games here have seen two defeats; they’ve just not been up to the quality required to compete in this competition. That’s set them up for a quick return to the Europa League, unless they have another disastrous game here.
CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev has gone 10 years without a Champions League clean sheet. We can’t see him keeping one here, Spurs will want to send their fans home from Wembley with something good to remember. After all, they’re spending a season here next term. We can’t see them keeping a clean sheet here, CSKA are a tricky side to deal with up front. Spurs started the season well at the back, but now they seem wide open. We’re backing both teams to score in this clash, which is priced at just above evens with Betfred.
Lyon v Sevilla (19:45) – Both teams to score No (11/10 with BetVictor)
Everything was going well for Sevilla, until they conceded their first Champions League goal of the season. They ended up falling to a 3-1 defeat at home to Juventus, which knocked them off the top and left them in trouble. After winning last time out, Lyon have closed the gap on the Spanish side. That leaves this meeting as a straight fight for second place behind Juventus. Can the Ligue 1 side take the points and send Sevilla back in to the Europa League? It’s a fate that the visitors are used to, but this would be a cruel way to drop out.
Luckily, Sevilla seem perfectly set up for this game. They went to Turin in their opener and really parked the bus. That 0-0 draw was an excellent start for them, and it gave them something to build on. A home win over Lyon followed. We can see the Europa League holders taking a similar approach here, which should work against a Lyon side who are hit and miss up front. The visitors should be able to grind out another draw here, but it’s hard to see much entertainment in this one. That’s why we’re backing against BTTS, which is priced at 11/10 with BetVictor.