Spartak Moscow (7/4) v
Benfica (17/10)
Spartak have only won one of their last 15 Champions League
matches and look vulnerable against Benfica if they defend as badly as they did
when losing a lead against Celtic here when the two last met. The Russians have
lost their next two games since, admittedly against strong Russian opposition,
but Benfica can be placed in the same rank and showed their credentials for
this kind of trip when going down bravely to Zenit in the away leg of their
Last 16 last year.
Advice: 1 pt Benfica (17/10 general)
BATE (13/5) v
Valencia (6/5)
Given their travel woes – they’ve lost four and drawn one of
their 5 games on the road this season, albeit with three of them being Real
Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona – Valencia don’t make for great looking 6/5
favourites on the road to BATE, who showed their credentials for this
competition when beating Bayern Munich 3-1. A similar performance against the
Spanish, who haven’t shown their best on the road and don’t boast the side of
old thanks to financial difficulties, would see Los Che in for an uncomfortable
night.
Advice: 1 pt BATE (13/5 general)
Barcelona (1/10) v
Celtic (33)
Even with the fact that they’re free to target this
completion above all others, a start of 4 points from their opening two games
is a dream start for Celtic. On paper Barcelona are miles clear of the Scots
and despite the incredible results of the past for Celtic in Europe, this might
be a mismatch. Barcelona could well be more than one infront before half time.
Advice: 1 pt Barcelona -1 on half time handicap (5/4
general)
Nordsjaelland
(21/5) v Juventus (2/5)
Juventus have a
crucial chance to get their foot in the race for Group E qualification with a
win over Nordsjelland. The Italian Champions haven’t quite hit the same form in
Europe that they have been at home but they’re still unbeaten in a staggering
25 away games and deserved a point at the least from their trip to Stamford
Bridge, even if Shakhtar should have gotten more than a point from their trip
to Turin. The Danish debutants haven’t disgraced themselves so far, but have
lost by two goals or more in both matches.
Advice: 1 pt Juventus -1 (21/20 general)
Galatasaray (8/11) v
Cluj (9/2)
Galatasaray suffered
a hammer blow for their qualification hopes when they were beaten by Braga, but
Cluj have lost 4 of their last 5 and if they can’t be beaten at home, then it’s
truly curtains for the Turks. They should have just enough to gain a home win,
but they’re not for anything more than small stakes.
Advice: 1 pt Galatasaray (8/11 Coral)
Lille (6) v Bayern
(4/7)
Missed chances cost
Bayern dear when they went down for the first time this season in a 3-1 loss at
BATE, but they had 13 shots, 14 corners and 66 per cent possession against a
side that beat hapless Lille 3-1 on the first Matchday. They’ve not failed to
cover a 1 goal start in the Bundesliga so far this season and look excellent
value to do so once again at 13/8.
Advice: 2 pts Bayern -1 (13/8 Ladbrokes)
Manchester
United (4/11) v Braga (9)
The way in which Braga beat Galatasaray the last time the
two met is a serious marker for Manchester United, who were lucky to beat
Galatasaray and failed create anything of note for long period of their game
against Cluj. Their Premier League games have been a different matter with
Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie causing havoc, but this is a tougher test and
this is sure to prove yet harder so the 1 goal winning margin might be the best
value.
Advice: 1 pt Manchester United to win by one goal (3/1
Ladbrokes)
Shaktar (6/4) v
Chelsea (85/40)
This is the tie of the night with Shaktar unbeaten in 28
games, winning 26 of those, and having scored in all of their 16 games this
season, taking on Premier League leaders Chelsea, who stormed to an impressive
4-2 win over Tottenham in midweek to make it seven wins in eight games so far
including trips to Arsenal and Tottenham. Shaktar will be a hellish away trip
for Di Matteo’s Blues, but this season’s vintage looks to be one of their
finest teams and in what looks sure to a cracking encounter, can make a
statement of their European intentions as well as their domestic ones. Both
teams to score looks to be a staple but Chelsea are far too temptingly priced
to take all the points from Ukraine.
Advice: 3 pts Both Teams to Score (3/4 Bwin, 8/11 general),
2 pts Chelsea to win and both teams to score (24/5 Coral)
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