Champions League Match Day 5 – Tuesday Betting Preview
November 23rd, 2009 / Lee A JacksonGroup E
Debrecen v Liverpool
Fiorentina v Lyon
It really is getting down to the wire right now in Group E and Liverpool’s fate is really hanging in the balance. They are travelling off to Hungary to face Debrecen, and fortunately for the Reds, who are in no good form of their own, have to face the only team beneath them in Group E. Rafa Benitez needs a win from his men, without fail. Failure to pick up three points will mean that their Champions League campaign will have fallen at the first hurdle, something which was unimaginable at the start of the competition. Even two wins from their remaining two games may not be enough for Liverpool, as in some respect, their fate is not even in their own hands. Fiorentina only a need a point in order to reach a total of 10. Liverpool can only get ten points if they win both of their games, however, their goal difference, compared to that of the Italians, is not good. In fact Liverpool are -2, and Fiorentina +5 after thumping Debrecen twice. Liverpool need to dish out a hammering to Debrecen, but have injury worries and look very light up front. Many have underestimated Fiorentina, and the Italians are pushing hard for top spot. Lyon are a good experienced side in Europe, and are in pole position. They go to Italy looking for the win that will secure them top spot, and leave the door open for Liverpool to get second spot. The Viola will be without Adrian Mutu for the rest of the campaign likely, but a win for them over Lyon will see them qualify, something that would put all but one nail in Liverpool’s Champions League coffin. Defeat for Lyon would leave them on ten points, but with one home fixture against Debrecen to come. Liverpool simply need to win and to see Fiorentina lose, so that there is some hope going into Match Day six.
Lyon P4, W3, D1, L0 Pts10
Fiorentina P4, W3, D0, L1 Pts9
Liverpool P4, W1, D1, L2 Pts 4
Debrecen P4, W0, D0, L4 Pts 0
Match Prices
Debrecen to win: 9/1 at Paddy Power
Draw: 4/1 at Paddy Power
Liverpool to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Fiorentina to win: 11/10 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Lyon to win: 11/4 at Bet365
Betting Tips:
Liverpool to win by 2 goals: 11/4 at BlueSquare
Fiorentina -1 Asian Handicap: 9/4 at Bet365
TO WIN GROUP E
Lyon – 2/7 at SkyBet
Fiorentina – 16/5 at ExtraBet
GROUP F
Rubin Kazan v Dynamo Kiev
Barcelona v Inter Milan
No-one would have envisaged Group F being as close as it is with just two match days to go. The most familiar face in the group is not at the top. In fact they are down in third place. Who are we talking about? Current Champions League holders Barcelona. This is one of the most intense groups with all four teams still in with a chance of qualifying, as they have all won just one game each, somewhat surprising with the might of the Spanish giants alongside Italian Serie A leaders Inter Milan competing in it. Inter are the only unbeaten team in the group, with one of the biggest shocks of the Champions League coming when Russian Champions Rubin Kazan beat the Spanish champions. Now it is time again for the two giants of the group to meet again, this time in Spain, with the first meeting between them ending in a disappointing 0-0 draw, after the much hyped coming together of Inter’s Samuel E’to and Barca’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic after they swapped clubs in the summer. This means that Rubin Kazan, who have just won the Russian League for the second time in a row, face off against Dynamo Kiev. It is more than possible that Barcelona could be on the brink of elimination if results go a certain way on Tuesday night. If Inter win, they will qualify, and if Rubin also beat Dynamo, then that will put them three points clear of Barcelona in second place going into the last round of matches. That is almost unthinkable, but this group is excitingly close, and is going down to the wire on Match Day 6. Barcelona are in a tight battle with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, while Inter a five points clear at the top of Serie A. Dynamo Kiev are running away with the Ukrainian league, and coupled with re-crowned champions of Russia Rubin Kazan, this is one tough group with everything up for grabs. Dynamo Kiev ran out 3-1 winners over Rubin Kazan when they met on Match Day 1, and will be hoping for a similar result when they visit Russia.
Inter Milan P4, W1, D3, L0 Pts 6
Rubin Kazan P4, W1, D2, L1 Pts5
Barcelona P4, W1, D2, L1 Pts 5
Dynamo Kiev P4, W1, D1, L2 Pts 4
Match Prices
Inter Milan to win: 9/2 at BetFred
Draw: 5/2 at Totesport
Barcelona to win: 4/5 at Bet365
Rubin Kazan to win: Evens at Coral
Draw: 12/5 at Bet365
Dynamo Kiev to win: 16/5 at SkyBet
Betting Tips:
Inter v Barcelona: Winning Margin Score Draw – 4/1 at Bet365
Rubin Kazan -1 Asian Handicap: 7/4 at Bet365
TO WIN GROUP F
Barcelona – 4/5 at Skybet
Inter Milan – 7/4 at Bet365
Rubin Kazan – 10/1 at SportingBet
Dynamo Kiev – 33/1 at Victor Chandler
Group G
Rangers v Stuttgart
Unirea Urziceni v Sevilla
Spanish side Sevilla are the runaway class team in Group G, but many were hoping from a little more out of Scottish side Rangers. This isn’t a great group, and Rangers have almost played their way out of the competition. They are bottom of the group, and desperately need a good win over Stuttgart, who themselves are looking horridly out of form in their domestic league. Neither Rangers or Stuttgart have a win between them in the Champions League, with the Germans having drawn three of their four games, including the first meeting against Rangers. Back at Ibrox, Rangers need to take advantage of the home fixture, keep things tight at the back and pile more misery on the German side. A win for Walter Smith’s men will keep them in touch with Unirea Urziceni who are sat in second place, five points behind Sevilla. A surprise win for Dan Petrescu’s Romanians over Sevilla would essentially put Rangers out because of goal difference factors, but Sevilla, despite slumping to a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart on Match Day 4, are no slouches, holding third place in La Liga behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid. They are within just three points of top spot there, and that is some indicator of just how good they are, and are not to be underestimated in the competition. They have Brazilian goal scoring machine Luis Fabiano at their disposal and is one of the many reasons why they are enjoying deserved success. Unirea Urziceni are battling well, and putting up some good performances and are deservedly in with a chance of taking second spot in the Group.
Sevilla P4, W3, D1, L0 Pts 10
Unirea Urziceni P4, W1, D2, L1 Pts5
Stuttgart P4, W0, D3, L1 Pts3
Rangers P4, W0, D2, L2 Pts2
Match Prices
Rangers to win: 7/4 at Stan James
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Stuttgart to win: 13/8 at Bet365
Unirea Urziceni to win: 21/10 at Bet365
Draw: 23/10 at Boylesports
Sevilla to win: 13/10 at 888Sport
Betting Tips:
Unirea Urziceni v Sevilla – Under 2.5 Goals 7/10 at Bet365
Rangers Draw No Bet 5/6 at Blue Square
Group H
AZ Alkmaar v Olympiacos
Arsenal v Standard Liege
The race is on for second place in Group H, pretty much the way it was expected to be from the off. Arsenal were expected to win this group with relative ease, and that is what will transpire. They can clinch the group with a win over Standard Liege, something that will also be expected to happen at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Arsenal lost at home to Sunderland on the weekend though, and they are without the influential figure of Robin Van Persie up front, as he got injured playing for Holland. The Gunners will seriously miss him, and so will be reliant on Croatian striker Eduardo, and hope that his troubled time at the Emirates because of injury, is long behind him. Arsenal made hard work of beating Standard Liege when they met in Belgium, having to come back from 2-0 down. It should be a different story this time around, as Arsene Wenger will expect nothing less than a victory against Liege, who do actually have designs on second place with a win. Greek side Olympiacos hold that honour of being in second place behind Arsenal, something else which was expected in one of the more predictable groups. If the Greeks can pick up a win against the disappointing AZ Alkmaar, then they will be joining Arsenal in the stage of the competition. Olympiacos beat Alkmaar 1-0 at home on the opening night of the competition. On the other hand, a win for the Dutch Champions, who are nowhere near as good as they were in the domestic league last year, would really make for an interesting Match Day 6.
Arsenal P4, W3, D1, L0 Pts10
Olympiacos P4, W2, D0, L2 Pts6
Standard Liege P4, W1, D1, L2 Pts5
AZ Alkmaar P4, W0, D2, L2 Pts2
Match Prices
Arsenal to win: 1/3 at Bet365
Draw: 9/2 at SkyBet
Standard Liege to win: 11/1 at Paddy Power
AZ Alkmaar to win: 6/5 at Expekt
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Olympiacos to win: 13/5 at Bet365
Betting Tip:
Olympiacos -0.25 Asian Handicap – 9/4 at Bet365
Arsenal -1 Asian Handicap – 1/2 at Bet365
TO WIN GROUP H
Arsenal – 1/8 at SkyBet
Olympiacos – 18/1 at ExtraBet
Tags: Arsenal, barcelona, Champions League, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Rangers

















