Champions League Match Day Three – Wednesday Preview

GROUP A
Bordeaux v Bayern Munich
Juventus v Maccabi Haifa

Juventus have yet to win a game in Group A, and Wedensday’s fixture should give them the best opportunity to do so. Two draws is not the way to go about stamping your authority on a group, and they were lucky to come away with a 1-1 win in their opening game against the French side Bordeaux. Group A is proving to be a much tighter group than one would probably have put their money on before it started. Juventus should beat bottom side Maccabi Haifa, but it will still all need a turn around in form, as Juve haven’t won in four domestic league matches. This match could be the springboard which they need to put some spark back into their season, and elevate themselves towards the top of Group A, with Bordeaux and Bayern Munich squaring off. Bayern and Bordeaux are level at the top on four points each and there is not much to choose between the two sides. The French side will be keen to press home that all important home advantage in this crucial match. The scales appear to be evenly balanced, but when it comes down to it, Bayern Munich should just have the edge. Bordeaux on a two match slump with defeats, but Bayern do have some injury concerns, notably with absent wingers Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben. There is a long way to go in the group, and come the end of the halfway stage, there should be all to play for.

Match Prices
Bordeaux to win: 17/10 at BetFred
Draw: 5/2 at Totesport
Bayern Munich to win: 7/4 at Ladbrokes

Juventus to win: 2/9 at Coral
Draw: 11/2 at Bet365
Maccabi Haifa to win: 14/1 at SportingBet

Betting tips:
Bayern to win 2-1: 10/1 at Boylesports
Juventus to win 1-0: 13/2 at Bet365

TO WIN GROUP A
Bayern Munich – 10/11 at BetFred
Juventus – 2/1 at Paddy Power
Bordeaux – 7/2 at Bet365
Maccabi Haifa – 500/1 at Stan James

GROUP B
CSKA Moscow v Manchester United
Wolfsburg v Besiktas

Man United travel off to the somewhat inhospitable domain of Russia to take on CSKA on their artificial pitch. Wayne Rooney, nor Ryan Giggs have travelled with the squad due to injury, and that could leave the Reds a little light up front. United can always find goals though when they need them, and they have the advantage that they do not ever really need to score too many, because they run a tight ship at the back. This is an interesting game on the fake grass with its extra bounce and speed. It could suit United’s flowing passing game if they get that going, but they will have to deal with some pressure as CSKA will be trying to keep up their challenge to make it out of the group stage. Wolfsburg, currently in second place in the Group, take on winless Besiktas, in a game they should win. A victory would put them on six points, the number which United have at the top of group, and so whatever happens in Russia will have a big influence on the outcome of the group. Wolfsburg are blessed with an awesome strike force, and ran United close on Match Day Two at Old Trafford. They’ll be welcoming the sanctuary of home turf as they look to get their Champions League quest back on track.

Match Prices
CSKA Moscow to win: 11/4 at BetFred
Draw: 23/10 at Bet365
Manchester United to win: 6/5 at SkyBet

Wolfsburg to win: 2/5 at Expekt
Draw: 15/4 at Bet365
Besiktas to win: 9/1 at SkyBet

Betting Tips:
Manchester United to win 1-0: 13/2 at 888Sport
Wolfsburg to win 3-0: 9/1 at SkyBet

TO WIN GROUP B
Manchester United – 1/6 at Bet365
Wolfsburg – 7/1 at ExtraBet
CSKA Moscow – 18/1 at ExtraBet
Besiktas – 150/1 at Paddy Power

GROUP C
FC Zurich v Marseille
Real Madrid v AC Milan
The one stand out fixture of Match Day three is the Madrid v Milan clash. This actually should have been a much bigger deal, but AC Milan are in no kind of form to match Madrid. The Italians are struggling to keep tabs with the top teams in the domestic league, and their Match Day Two result will have sent shockwaves through their supporters. At home to minnows FC Zurich, they were beaten 1-0 in the San Siro, in the biggest surprise of the competition so far. That could prove a valuable lost two points for them, especially now that they have to try and take down high flying Real Madrid to keep their Champions League hopes alive. AC Milan are level on three points with Zurich now, and if they lose to Madrid and Zurich pull out a home victory over Marseille, then this Group could get even more interesting. Zurich have been the eptiome of an underdog, playing with some much determination and passion, that they have gotten their fair rewards. On Match Day One, they entertained Real Madrid in a 4-2 loss, fighting back from a 3-0 deficit at one point. Marseille will be a little disappointed they are without a win, for they did more than enough to beat Milan on Match Day one, but fell to a 2-1 defeat. The subsequent 3-0 thrashing by Real Madrid did not help any, and they will be wary of what Zurich have achieved so far. While taking that into consideration, this could be the turning point where they get their first three points. Real Madrid have not been facing any problems, having scored 8 times in their two Champions League games. They are one point behind Barcelona at the top of the Spanish League, and with the array of talent they can field, they should have more than enough in the tank against a poor AC Milan side. It is the first time for Real Madrid midfielder Kaka, to face up to his old club after his summer transfer.

Match Prices
FC Zurich to win: 37/13 at Expekt
Draw: 5/2 at Totesport
Marseille to win: Evens at Blue Square

Real Madrid to win: 9/20 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 7/2 at Bet365
AC Milan to win: 7/1 at Stan James

Betting Tip
Zurich Draw No Bet: 33/20 at SportingBet
Real Madrid to win 2-0: 7/1 at SkyBet

TO WIN GROUP C
Real Madrid – 1/7 at Coral
AC Milan – 7/1 at ExtraBet
Marseille – 40/1 at SportingBet
FC Zurich – 100/1 at Paddy Power

GROUP D
Chelsea v Atletico Madrid
FC Porto v APOEL

Yes Chelsea have suffered two away defeats in the Premier League and yes they will be without Droga up front, as he endures the last of his three match European ban on the sidelines. Still, the Stamford Bridge side should have enough confidence to get past Atletico without too much bother. Chelsea did beat Porto on Match Day One without breaking into too much of a sweat, but without looking particular settled. Much could be the same of their away in against APOEL, when they slackened off after taking the lead. Under manager Carlo Ancelotti, that is not something which should be expected. What can be expected is that Chelsea should be a tight, cohesive unit, and that any kinks in defending set pieces will have been drilled out of them since the weekend. Altetico are looking a poor side, and have only won one domestic league game so far, and are without a win from their two Champions League matches. It is hard to see it coming at Stamford Bridge. Porto should be favourites to take second place in the Group, and that can strengthen that position with a win against the Cypriots. If both they and Chelsea win, that will open up a clear division in the group between the top and bottom two. Come the end of Wednesday night’s matches, it is hard to see anything other than that happening.

Match Prices
Chelsea to win: 7/19 at Coral
Draw: 4/1 at SkyBet
Atletico Madrid to win: 10/1 at SkyBet

FC Porto to win: 1/4 at Totesport
Draw: 11/2 at Ladbrokes
APOEL to win: 15/1 at ExtraBet

Betting tip:
Chelsea to win 2-0: 11/2 at BetFred
FC Porto to win 1-0: 6/1 at Bet365

TO WIN GROUP D
Chelsea: 1/7 at Bet365
Porto: 13/2 at ExtraBet
Atletico Madrid: 25/1 at Paddy Power
APOEL: 200/1 at Paddy Power