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VfB Stuttgart v Barcelona
The Champions League continues on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the first legs of the second batch of four games. Tuesday sees defending Champions Barcelona in action away at German side VfB Stuttgart. The Spanish Giants won their group ahead of Inter Milan, and will start as strong favourites against the Germans. Barcelona are still at the top of La Liga, but cannot seem to shake the attention of Real Madrid. The two are not in any danger of being caught by anyone else, and they have only lost four matches between then all season in the league. That’s how dominant they are. Over in Germany, VfB Stuttgart are languishing near the middle of the table, well off the pace of the top four. Former Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann is still going strong in the Stuttgart net at 40, and believes that some typical German style football will give Barcelona a run for their money. One assumes that will be efficiency and some sharp tactics. Unlikely to be enough over the two legs to beat the formidable looking Barcelona, so they’ll need to keep an extremely tight ship at home in the first leg. Barca’s Daniel Alves and Xavi Hernandez have both travelled with the squad, despite both of them being serious doubts through injury.
Barcelona to win: 4/6 at SkyBet
Draw: 3/1 at Victor Chandler
VfB Stuttgart to win: 5/1 at Bet365

Olympiakos v Bordeaux
The kind of tie that will fade into the background alongside some of the other glamour ties that are happening in the knockout stages of the Champions League. But still, the two teams are there on merit, and French side Bordeaux could be the dark horse of the tournament this year. No, they are not going to draw short prices against their more illustrious opposition, but they have been handed a nice draw for the first stage of the knockouts, and for Laurent Blanc’s men, this is a great chance to progress further. They weren’t expected to make it out of Group A in qualifying, as they were grouped with Bayern Munich and Juventus, but it was the French side who were the stars of the show. The have looked invincible for long periods of the domestic season, but have had a little wobble. They have picked themselves up to win the last two games though, and are still clear at the top of the French League. Beside, the mighty Zinedane Zidane has tipped them for success, and that’s good enough for me at least. Olympaikos looked averagely uninspiring through the group stages, but finished in second place behind Arsenal in an easy group. They’ll defend well and put in a lot of passion, but the class Bordeaux have, as understated as it may be across Europe, should see the French win this one.
Bordeaux to win: 8/5 at Totesport
Draw: 9/4 at BetFred
Olympiakos to win: 2/1 at Victor Chandler

CSKA Moscow v Sevilla
CSKA Moscow are at somewhat of a disadvantage, as their season is over, and the new one doesn’t start until March. So they go into the fixture lacking match practice, as they haven’t played since December. The fact that this is a home fixture, may just bring things into balance a little bit, as it’s generally a tough place to go and pick up a win. Travelling from Spain to the cold of Russia can’t be a nice trip to endure midweek, but Sevilla should be up for it, because they must believe they have the fire power to upset a lot of teams in the Champions League this year. Sevilla are sitting fourth in La Liga, and while they are a way back from Barcelona and Real Madrid, they are having a fine season. They topped their Champions League group relatively easily, only suffering one shock defeat to Unirea Urziceni. They have up front, one of the great strikers in the world at the moment, Brazil’s Luis Fabiano, who is just a phenomenal goalscoring machine. Had a really strong first half of the season, but a bit of hit and miss form has crept into their game. His nine goals in fourteen appearances for Sevilla in La Liga keeps firing them into contention. The Spaniards are strong, and shouldn’t let anything slip in this tie.
Sevilla to win: 13/8 at Paddy Power
Draw: 23/10 at Totesport
CSKA Moscow: 15/8 at Bet365

The Champions League draw for the first knock-out stage of the 2009/10 stage was completed on Friday at FIFA head-quarters, and the fixture list does not disappoint in terms of excitement. From an English perspective, both Manchester United and Chelsea have draw tough Italian opponents, both of which sees the return of past faces. The fixtures takes place over dates in February and March, and there are some major clashes to look forward to, most notably involving the top two English clubs.

It has been seven years since England star David Beckham played in front of the Old Trafford crowd, but Alex Ferguson’s men were drawn out against AC Milan, where Beckham will be on loan for six months. It has been a desire for some time now of Beckham’s to play again there, and now he is likely to get his chance, which adds a little extra spice to this fixture. Although they had a slow start to their season, AC Milan have really picked up their form, and are chasing their domestic league title as well as a little bit of Champions League glory. They have proven to be a pain in the side of Manchester United in the tournament, most recently in 2006/07 when the Milan side had the upper hand in the semi final encounter.

Chelsea meanwhile will get to pit their wits against their irrepressible former manager Jose Mourinho, as the blues are paired up against the other Milan side, Inter. This, arguably is a tougher task than AC Milan, as Inter have been going strong all season domestically, led by the winner Mourinho. Whatever bad blood may have transpired between the hierarchy at Chelsea and the Portuguese manager, there will, more likely than not, be a war of words to the press when the time approache, even though Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti will probably a calming presence in the whole affair. Inter failed to get the better of Barcelona in the group stage of the Champions League, and that will give Chelsea some hope. Italian Carlo Ancelotti is no stranger to Inter, having coached AC Milan 8 years.

There would have been much easier draws for both Manchester United and Chelsea, and now they will really have to prove to the rest of Europe that they can take on the best of Europe and win. If they both progress then it will be the end of the Italian challenge for the Champions League this season. Arsenal meanwhile were handed one of the easiest tasks in the draw, as they drew out FC Porto, who finished second in their group behind Chelsea. Arsene Wenger will be the happiest manager of the three English participants, as Porto, despite promising a lot, were dealt with comfortably by Chelsea. The Blues didn’t really need to get out of first gear to win both of the games against the Portuguese, and Wenger will be hoping for a fully fit squad by the time the Champions League comes around again.

Current Champions League holders Barcelona will be happy with their draw against struggling German side Stuttgart, while David Beckham’s old club, Real Madrid will have a battle on their hands against French side Lyon. Lyon can be hit and miss, brilliant on their day, vulnerable when they are not. Both Spanish teams will be confident of progressing.

Champions League Draw First Knock-Out Stage
First Leg February 16th, Second Leg March 10 (Match odds in brackets)
AC Milan (17/10) vs. Manchester United (11/8) at Blue Square
Lyon (2/1) vs. Real Madrid (5/4) at Bet365

First Leg February 17th, Second Leg March 9
Bayern Munich (8/13) vs. Fiorentina (9/2) at SkyBet
FC Porto (9/5) vs. Arsenal (13/10) at 888Sport

First Leg February 23rd, Second Leg March 17
Olympiacos (11/8) vs. Bordeaux (13/8) at BetFred
Stuttgart (12/5) vs. Barcelona (8/11) at Bet365

First Leg February 24th, Second Leg March 16th
Inter Milan (8/5) vs. Chelsea (6/4) at 888Sport
CSKA Moscow (13/8) vs. Seville (11/8) at SkyBet

Friday’s draw will have affected prices somewhat, so here are the latest Champions League Outright Winner Prices:
Barcelona – 10/3 at BetFred
Chelsea – 9/2 at Bet365
Real Madrid – 11/2 at BetFred
Manchester United – 9/1 at Bet365
Arsenal – 10/1 at Coral
Inter Milan – 14/1 at Boylesports
Sevilla – 16/1 at Sporting Bet
Bayern Munich – 20/1 at Totesport
Fiorentina – 50/1 at BetFred
Porto – 66/1 at Stan James
Lyon – 66/1 at Bet365
Olympiakos – 125/1 at Victor Chandler
CSKA Moscow – 150/1 William Hill
Stuttgart – 150/1 at Bet365

Sixteen teams are left in Europe’s elite club competition, with the draw set to take place this Friday (18th December). While all of these sides finished either first or second in a tough qualifying group, the Champions League is in danger of becoming predictable, with only a handful of teams likely to reach the final at the Bernabeu Stadium.

While Porto and Monaco contested the final in season 2003/4, it’s hard to imagine a Portuguese team facing a French side in Madrid next May. The strength of the Premier League in England and the Primera Liga in Spain mean that the first five in the outright betting are clubs based in these countries. FC Barcelona (7/2 Ladbrokes) are favourites with most bookmakers on the basis that they won the Champions League last season and have retained the nucleus of the squad that were victorious.

The other semi-finalists last season were Manchester United (15/2 bet365), Chelsea (4/1 Coral) and Arsenal (10/1 Coral), with the three English clubs all winning their qualifying groups this season and therefore set to meet a runner-up from one of the other groups. On a separate note, it’s hard to understand why Sir Alex Ferguson’s team are so much bigger in the betting than the Blues, especially as little separates them in the Premier League and the Red Devils are likely to improve as the season wears on.

The only other team trading at single-figure odds are Real Madrid (6/1 Victor Chandler), whose ‘riches’ brought Xabi Alonso, Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema to the club over the summer. It’s on this basis that they are added to this list of favourites, and these five English and Spanish teams provide an obstacle for any other team attempting to win the competition. Part of the problem is that all ties until the final will be two-legged affairs, so this eliminates the chance of any upsets like we might see during next year’s World Cup. A top team can afford to play one poor match and still scramble through to the next stage.

Inter (16/1 Coral) might be the outstanding team in Italy, having won Serie A for the past couple of seasons under Jose Mourinho, although the team were easily beaten by Manchester United last season and this illustrates that the domestic league in Italy and other nations are some way behind England and Spain. Indeed, Greek champions Olympiakos were made to work hard for a 1-0 victory at home to Arsenal in their last group game, despite Arsene Wenger fielding an entire reserve team.

The one outsider that could go further than the betting suggests are Sevilla at odds of 22/1. Bet365 might be underestimating a team that easily won their qualifying group and have almost become the forgotten third Spanish team in the competition. Sky Bet’s quote of 14/1 seems nearer to the mark about a team that have already beaten Real this season and sit just four points behind the moneybags team.

After the completion of the Group Stages, the Champions League Draw is next on the agenda for the ultimate domestic prize in European footbal. Although the Champions League does not resume until next February, the draw for the last 16 takes place on Friday, December 18th at the headquarters of UEFA in Switzerland. The line up for the for the final 16 was completed on Wednesday night, with defending Champions Barcelona joining the fray along with Inter Milan, Stuttgart and Olympiacos, courtesy of their win over Arsenal. Incidentally, the draw for the last 32 of the Europa League, of which the 8 third placed teams from the Champions League groups enter, which includes Liverpool and Juventus, will take place after the main event of the Champions League fixtures.

The first legs of the Champions League Knock-out stage will take place on February 16/17th and 23/24th, followed by the second legs on March 9/10th and 16/17th. The Group Winners will all be kept separate in a seeding system, but that still leaves some big potential for a major clash. Let us look at the list of Group Winners and Group Runner’s Up.

As you can see, the two Milan clubs will be floating around the draw, and pose a big threat to any of the Group Winners. One stipulation is that they won’t be able to be drawn against the winners of the group which they were in, which means that there will be no repeat of Inter Milan vs. Barcelona, nor Real Madrid vs. AC Milan. At least not at this stage. So who is looking favourite after the qualifying Groups? A look at the odds right now will give better prices on teams than they will after the draw next Friday. Obviously once the Champions League draw has been made, and pairings have been decided, then the chances of winning the competition outright will change. For example, Fiorentina, who topped Liverpool’s Group, will have a better chance of progressing if they draw CSKA Moscow, than they will if they draw Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

Now is a good time to back your winner from the last 16, even if it is as an each way bet, which would guarantee you some return on your team, just for them reaching the Champions League final. Here are a list of the best Champions League Outright Winner prices available at the moment, as we rate the chances of the big teams. One thing is for certain, is that the Group Stages have shown that the competition may just be a little closer than expected this year. The major players from Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid had their hiccups along the way, so did Manchester United, Chelsea and both Milans.

Barcelona – 7/2 at SkyBet
Will be a threat, simply because they have the money to throw at problems, as well as being able to field the most accomplished set of players in the world at the moment. They are a threat simply because of their attacking prowess, but showed some vulnerability when they suffered a shock defeat in the Group Stages at against Russian Champions Rubin Kazan, and could only manage a 0-0 draw in the return fixture. Even in their final game they had to muster a comeback after falling behind to Dynamo Kiev. But they showed resilience, despite being on the brink of being eliminated at one point, coming back to win the Group by two points ahead of Inter Milan. The title holders are favourites, as with Lionel Messi and co, they have an awesome outfit, as they showed in last year’s final when they made Manchester United look like a Sunday league team.

Chelsea – 4/1 at Coral
Won their Group without looking anything too spectacular, although to be fair the opposition was not as high in standard as some of the other Groups. Their main threat, Porto, they beat twice, and the Blues did thrash a very poor Atletico Madrid 4-0. Chelsea will probably welcome the break until February to resume their Champions League dreams, as they have not won a game in their last four matches. Their final Group Match showed them being wasteful in front of goal at home, allowing the lowly APOEL to steal a 2-2 draw. By the time it comes back around, Carlo Ancelotti will have the likes of Didier Drogba back from duty in the African Cup of Nations, and they should be a good bet to reach the semi finals at the very least, and have the potential to win it, if they can iron out their problems in defending set pieces.

Real Madrid – 6/1 at Bet365
The Galacticos are another team who should be a shoe-in for a semi final appearance. Even during Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence, they had Gonzalo Higuain step in from the bench, and subsequently blitzed a hatful of goals. They have Kaka, Raul, Benzema, Alonso and Guti to name but a few, on their books. They are a serious threat, but again, like Barcelona, had their problems against one team in particular. In Real’s case it was AC Milan who beat the Spaniards and held them to a draw. Real Madrid, like Barcelona though, will score goals with the wealth of talent available to them, and the runner’s up will want to certainly avoid them in the Champions League Draw.

Manchester United – 15/2 at Boylesports
Manchester United have not looked at their best this season, and are undergoing a lot of problems with injuries to their defence. Nonetheless, Alex Ferguson’s experience has guided his team to the top of the group again, even affording the luxury of putting out a side of youngsters with a couple of games to spare. That was a calculated risk which back fired as they lost at home to Besiktas, but bounced back to thrash Wolfsburg 3-1 away in their final match to secure top spot, and dump the dangerous German side out of the competition. Should be a stronger side come February, which will make them a threat. It will be surprising if they don’t get to the semi finals. As for winning the competition, they don’t look in the same class as Barcelona, or Real Madrid at the moment.

Arsenal – 10/1 at Coral
From a neutral stand point, Arsenal are probably the most pleasing football team to watch, certainly from the Premier League. They can be dangerous, but are unlikely to be dangerous enough to win the tournament. This season they have shown that they are still behind Manchester United and Chelsea in the domestic league, and Arsene Wenger, while he enjoys blooding his youngsters, does not quite have the robust team which can take on physical sides. If they cannot get their passing game going, they will struggle. They are also missing an enigmatic figure like a Thierry Henry up front. Robin Van Persie staying fit will be vital to them progressing very far in the competition.

Inter Milan – 16/1 at Coral
A decent bet at 16/1, even at each way. Coached by Jose Mourinho, they are a good side who will always be a handful. They proved to be a difficult team to beat in the Group, but by the same measure were guilty of not being ruthless enough. They did manage to neutralise Barcelona in one game, but then were given a bit of a footballing lesson in losing to them in the reverse fixture. Inter had the chances to win the Group, especially with Barcelona’s slip up against Rubin Kazan. The Group Winners will want to avoid them, because they do have Samuel E’to. Maybe not the household names of Barca or Real Madrid, but Mourinho is a determined man, and a winner. Good outside bet.

Bayern Munich – 22/1 at Totesport
Coming from probably the toughest league Europe, the mighty Bayern have not looked as mighty as they have done in the past. They are in a dog fight at the top of the Bundesliga, and it was only a Match Day six victory over Juventus which kept them in the competition. Both they and the Italian giants were given a lesson by French side Bordeaux in their Group, and now the competition loses Juventus, while all along it looked as if it would be Bayern Munich falling back into third. They are better than they were when the competition started, but unlikely to be good enough.

Sevilla – 22/1 at Bet365
A strong Spanish side, which were keeping pace with Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, but have recently fallen back. Regardless of that, they have looked fairly impressive in their Champions League campaign, but were in a weak group. Could be one of the surprise teams of the tournament, if they can keep their form together. Only suffered one bad blip, losing 1-0 at home to Dan Petrescu’s Unirea Urziceni.

AC Milan – 25/1 at Sporting Bet
Surprisingly a little far out at 25/1, but this makes them a great bet. One thing with Italian teams, is that you know they will be resilient and hard to break down. AC Milan took a long time to get out of first gear in their Serie A season, and some of that poor early form translated to the Champions League. They suffered a rather embarrassing 1-0 home defeat against FC Zurich, and finished their last three games in the Group stage by drawing them all 1-1. Perhaps not the form of a side which can win the tournament, but they represent a good outside chance. Their form has picked up a lot, and they have climbed from mid table mediocrity to second in the league, and hot on the tails of San Siro rivals Inter Milan. Despite being such a big name, a favourable Champions League draw could see them as a real dark horse.

Others: Bordeaux – 33/1 at SkyBet, Lyon – 40/1 at SkyBet, Fiorentina – 50/1 at William Hill, Porto – 66/1 at Boylesports, Stuttgart – 100/1 at Coral, CSKA Moscow – 100/1 at Stan James, Olympiacos – 125/1 at Skybet. Looking at the quality of the teams on the outskirts of the Champions League market, it is hard to see a winner coming from any of these. Bordeaux have had a fantastic campaign, as well as looking as if they are flying in the French domestic league. The same can be said to some degree of Italians Fiorentina, who beat Liverpool twice in their Group matches. Whether either have them have enough to make it even to the semi finals is another matter though, especially as they will have to come up against some real top quality teams. Bordeaux though, did that in overcoming both Juventus and Bayern Munich, while Fiorentina topped the Group ahead of Lyon and Liverpool. Lyon have a good tradition of being a handful in the Champions League, but still look as if they are trying to rediscover some of that real strength and class.

Again, these are just early prices, which will change when the Champions League draw is made, and when the time comes in February to play the matches. A lot of form can change between now and then, both for good and for bad. The tough winter months are ahead for a lot of the teams, and usually it is the time when the most resilience and class shines through. For now though, it is a good opportunity to back your team, or back a team who are at longer odds now, than they are likely to be come the first stage of the kncokout section of the Champions League.

GROUP E
Liverpool v Fiorentina
Lyon v Debrecen
The only that is left to be decided in Group E of the Champions League this season, is who finishes top. The Viola of Fiorentina are in pole position going into Wednesday’s round of matches, enjoying a two point cushion over French outfit Lyon. A draw should just about be good enough for Fiorentina to go through to the next round with the benefit of being drawn at home for winning the group. Lyon have the easiest of the games, against bottom side Debrecen who haven’t managed to muster up a point yet, despite giving Liverpool some scares along the way in their encounters. This is an unexpected result to this group, as Liverpool were strong favourites going into the competition, but the sparkling form of Fiorentina has largely turned the group on its head. Lyon is a good European side and as expected will take their place in the next round. Liverpool, with only two wins are concreted into third place, which means that they cannot progress because of Lyon’s far superior goal difference, despite the clubs being able to end up on the same points if Lyon happen to lose while the Reds thump Fiorentina by a good six or seven goal margin. It isn’t going to happen, so the only action Liverpool are going to see in Europe in the new year, is in the Europa League, which is the consolation prize for finishing third.

Liverpool to win: 11/10 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Fiorentina to win: 14/5 at ExtraBet

Lyon to win: 2/9 at Expekt
Draw: 11/2 at Totesport
Debrecen to win: 14/1 at SkyBet

GROUP F
Inter Milan v Rubin Kazan
Dynamo Kiev v Barcelona
The best group of the Champions League this year without doubt, both in quality and excitement. Barcelona scored a huge 2-0 win over Inter Milan on Match Day five, which essentially not only kept their Champions League alive, but also put them in pole position in Group F. This group has been so tight, with a plethora of draws, some of them unexpected. Rubin Kazan held Inter Milan, and the Russian Champions also beat the mighty Barcelona in one of the shocks of the competition. All of this means that anyone can still qualify from Group F though, with Barcelona on 8, Inter Milan on 6, Rubin Kazan on 6 and Dynamo Kiev on 5. So, if the Ukrainians beat Champions League holders Barcelona and someone wins in out of Inter and Rubin, then those winners will go through with Barcelona. However if Inter and Rubin only draw (both have drawn three of their five matches already), and Dynamo win, then Dynamo and Barcelona go through. It all boils down to the fact that Dynamo, above all need a big win. They won’t overtake Barcelona’s goal difference despite finishing on the same points as them if they win. So that means Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan could get through with just a draw as long as Dynamo don’t win. Inter, Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev all have the same -1 goal difference. Anything could happen in this group, and Barcelona didn’t have any problems getting past Dynamo Kiev on Match Day when they won 2-0. It was the Russian Champions Rubin Kazan, who have recently reclaimed the title, who gave Barcelona all of their problems, and could threaten Inter Milan’s progress. Keep an eye on this group, it could be an explosive finish.

Inter Milan to win: 8/15 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 16/5 at SkyBet
Rubin Kazan to win: 7/1 at SkyBet

Dynamo Kiev to win: 5/1 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 11/4 at Boylesports
Barcelona to win: 4/6 at Paddy Power

GROUP G
Stuttgart v Unirea Urziceni
Sevilla v Rangers
German side Stuttgart going into their final Champions League match under the guidance of a new manager. Christian Gross, who will be remembered, or not as the case may be, for his days at Premier League side Tottenham, has taken over at the helm due to Stuttgart’s stuttering season. He replaces Marcus Babbel. They are the only ones who can stop a surprise entity qualifying for the knockout stages, as Dan Petrescu’s Unirea Urziceni stand on the threshold of making history. Spaniards Sevilla top the group and have looked a class act, up until Match Day Five, when they suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat against the Romanians. That win for Petrescu’s men saw them take control in second place, two points behind Sevilla and two ahead of Stuttgart. So, just a draw for Unirea Urziceni  against Stuttgart will see them qualify with the Spaniards. Sevilla host Rangers, who they thrashed 4-1 at Ibrox, so in all probability it’ll be another tough night for the Scots. Rangers have shipped 12 goals and have only picked up two points in a disappointing Champions League campaign, and cannot even finish in third place which would have extended their European season. Whether or not Unirea Urziceni can make it to the knock-out stages is one of the biggest questions of the night on Wednesday. It would be a fantastic achievement, and standing on two wins and two drawn matches, they are there on credit having played both competitive and slick football.

Stuttgart to win: 8/13 at BetFred
Draw: 11/4 at William Hill
Unirea Urziceni to win: 11/2 at SkyBet

Sevilla to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at BetFred
Rangers to win: 10/1 at Stan James

GROUP H
Olympiacos v Arsenal
Standard Liege v AZ Alkmaar
Arsenal have this league sewn up, without being caused too much bother. Now it is all down to who can finish second in Group H and join them in the next round. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for Olympiacos, they get to finish their Group Matches against Arsenal. The Gunners beat them 2-0 at the Emirates, but have shown their vulnerability lately, and Arsene Wenger is fighting a back log of injuries after losing most notably, Tomas Rosicky to injury on the weekend. With knocks picked up by several other players as well, and missing top striker Robin Van Persie, Wenger will be scratching his head, but will be thankful that Arsenal don’t need to do anything in Wednesday’s game. Olympiacos could benefit greatly, if Wenger throws his youngsters into action, for the Gunners have a big game against Liverpool in the Premier League on the weekend. Belgians Standard Liege are the only team who can catch Olympiacos in second place, but they will need a win over disappointing Dutch side AZ Alkmaar to do so. A win for Standard Liege and Arsenal, could put Olympiacos in peril, as it will come down to goal difference, and Standard have a slight advantage in that department. Olympiacos have struggled for goals, and they will need to break out on Wednesday night to try and progress in the Champions league. Anything less than a win for Standard Liege will leave them short, and a defeat would mean that they will get pushed out of third place altogether.

Olympiacos to win: 11/10 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at Boylesports
Arsenal to win: 10/3 at Coral

Standard Liege to win: 18/19 at Expekt
Draw: 12/5 at Ladbrokes
AZ Alkmaar to win: 10/3 at BetFred

Sunday, November 29
Kick-off: 6pm GMT

El Classico. The name says it all. This is the heavyweight clash in La Liga between two of the strongest teams in Europe, when at the Camp Nou on Sunday, the world gets treated to the showcase that is Barcelona vs. Real Madrid.

This fixture is more than just a bitter rivalry, it is also a contest to brag as to who really is the best team in Europe. The Spanish league continues to be one of the strongest on the continent, with Barca, Real and Sevilla going well in the Champions League, and the national team recently leap-frogging above Brazil at the top of the FIFA World Rankings. This is a battle between the best of the best, and should produce a classic game, especially if they stick to their game plans and go for broke instead of being cautious. On a day of derby games in the English Premier League, this Spanish rivalry is always one of firey contests, with emotions often running over.

Real Madrid were buoyed by the sight of Cristiano Ronaldo making a 20-minute cameo appearance in their midweek Champions League fixture. That was the ex-Manchester United man’s first run out for his clubs for about eight weeks. For Barcelona, their enigmatic figure, Argentine Lionel Messi, is also fit again after injury, and the derby will see them go head to head in a tussle for supremacy. Barcelona will also welcome back striker Zlatan Imbrahimovic for Sunday’s game. Ronaldo and Messi are the stand out talents on both sides, which is saying something considering the names that get pencilled into the respective team sheets every week.

The amount of  talent on show is simply staggering. Not only is there Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but when you run down a list of names which include Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Guti, Lassana Diarra, Raul, van Nistlerooy, Benzema, Thierry Henry and Iniesta, then the talent is unquestionable. Real Madrid are of course, famed for collecting together the best players in the world, seemingly regardless of cost. It has led them to the current standing of top of La Liga by one point over Barca, but Barca are still unbeaten in the league, whereas Real Madrid have lost one game. A win for Madrid would open up a convincing and commanding lead at the top.

This is new generation of Galacticos in Madrid, backing up the golden generation of the likes of David Beckham and Zinidane Zidane. That injection of cash from Real President Perez, failed to bring home the silverware intended, and actually it gave rise to Barcelona’s success instead. Madrid’s coup of Beckham, meant that Barcelona instead ending up signing some Brazilian guy called Ronaldinho, which would inject good fortunes on the Catalan side. Barcelona won the treble last year, the first team in Spanish history to do so, all under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, who has come under fire this term, due to performances in the Champions League.

The two sides had contrasting games in the Champions League, with Real Madrid getting an expected win over FC Zurich, while Barcelona, who are in a tight battle for a qualification spot, rallied back to their best for a needed win over Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. Madrid have a lot to prove, after Barcelona ran riot in their last meeting in the league last season, running out 6-2 winners over them. There is actually, having watched the teams ply their trade in the Champions League, a difference in class between the two giants. One thing that stands out, is that Barcelona look to be more of a team unit, while Madrid at times look like strangers still trying to get used to a way of playing with the personnel at their disposal. That could mean that there is a lot more to come from Real Madrid and coach Manuel Pellegrini.

El Classico brings together some of the best players in the world. Barcelona are the stronger of the two sides, and Real Madrid are failing to bring their A-game to the pitch when facing some of the best teams. However, Real Madrid look to be the form team with four wins and draw from their last five league games, whereas Barcelona have won two and drawn three. Camp Nou advantage here though, should mean that Barca will be good enough to take back some initiative in La Liga and press home their dominance over their bitter rivals.

Match Prices:
Barcelona to win: 10/11 at Totesport
Draw: 11/4 at Bet365
Real Madrid to win: 10/3 at Coral

Last four head to head league meetings:
Real Madrid 2 – Barcelona 6
Barcelona 2 – Real Madrid 0
Real Madrid 4 – Barcelona 1
Barcelona 0 – Real Madrid 1

Betting Stats:
Barcelona have a 100% home record
Real Madrid have a 60% away win record
Last 10 matches: Barcelona W7, D3, L0 – Real Madrid W8, D1, L1

Betting Tip: Barcelona -0.75 Asian Handicap – 15/14 at Expekt

Some more pieces of advice that might give you a helping hand when it comes to football betting!

1)  Back No Goalscorer rather than 0-0

Anyone who has ever backed the goalless draw on the correct score market rather than No Goalscorer on the 1GS market needs their head testing! Bookmakers offer these outcomes at the same prices, yet you can back the latter and still win your bet if the game finishes 1-0. That’s because own goals don’t count as far as First Goalscorer betting is concerned, something that was in evidence when Newcastle won 1-0 at Sheffield United earlier this season. Ryan Taylor’s shot deflected off Chris Morgan and flew into the net, although no further goals in the game saw No Goalscorer settled as a winner.

However, it’s worth noting at bet365 that they offer a ‘Bore Draw Money Back’ offer, where losing correct score, HT / FT or scorecast bets are refunded if the game finishes 0-0.

2)  Watch out for dead rubbers in the Champions League and Europa League

We’re coming towards the end of the group stages of both competitions, so it’s worth treading carefully when backing short-priced teams. After all, last season, we saw eventual winners Barcelona lose 3-2 at home to Shakhtar after Pep Guardiola decided to rest his entire first team. Similarly, Inter lost their remaining two group games last term against Panathinaikos and Werder Bremen, with Jose Mourinho concentrating on the domestic league instead. Although both of these teams are scrapping for their lives this time around, it’s worth noting that Lyon, Sevilla, Manchester United, Chelsea, Porto and Arsenal are all safely through to the last sixteen. Even if their respective managers field strong teams, there won’t be that level of intensity you get from a team that need the points.

Similarly, there are plenty of teams in the Europa League group stages who will be playing in the knockout stages. Shakhtar, the victors over Barca last season, might take their own turn at being complacent after achieving maximum points from four matches. They will be joined in the final 32 by the likes of Salzburg, Sporting, Galatasaray and Werder Bremen. With many sides resting players for this competition in the first place, teams don’t need an excuse to take it easy as we approach a hectic fixture schedule.

3)  Keep a note of players on a scoring spree

Like many sports, football is very much a game of confidence and this is especially true for strikers. It’s not a coincidence to see a forward scoring for five consecutive matches, only to fail to hit the net in the next half dozen matches. Although the media focus will clearly be on Jermain Defoe at Villa Park this Saturday, it’s better to keep a note of players who are scoring on a consistent basis, not just at home to Wigan. Earlier this campaign, Darren Bent embarked on a scoring run of five matches and last Saturday’s goal against Arsenal could trigger something similar. Equally, Emmanuel Adebayor got his goal at Anfield on Saturday and has two home matches to start putting a run together.

Click here for last week’s tips and good luck!

Group 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

GROUP E
Fiorentina v Debreceni
Lyon v Liverpool

Fascinating group this one. Liverpool started this campaign as favourites to win the group, but are now scrapping for their Champions League lives. Fiorontina are fifth in Serie A, and big haired striker Stevan Jovetic has been making quite a name for himself. It was the unmistakable hirsute wonder bagged himself a brace in the victory over Liverpool, and the striker is drawing a lot of acclaim across Europe. The Viola also have Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino to choose from up front, and they have a comfortable next game on Wednesday, when Hungarians Debreceni come to Italy. Debreceni have not made much of a show on their Champions League debut and can say goodbye to any romantic dreams of progressing. They were drawn in a hard league though, but Wednesday’s opponents Fiorentina may have been underestimated by many, especially with the more famous Italian teams from Milan taking part. Liverpool’s problems have been well document and won’t be dwelt on too much here. They have one win in seven matches in all competitions, are without Steven Gerrard, and possibly without Fernando Torres. Rafa Benitez must be getting close to the dreaded vote of confidence, and Lyon, with home advantage are the kind of team which can punish you harshly. They are back to their powerful best, and are hunting down the French title and the Champions League. They are going well in both competitions and are clearly the class outfit in Group E. Both Lyon and Fiorentina are playing good football at the moment, and have a clear route to goal. Unfortunately, if all three English clubs are going to get through, Liverpool need to discover that touch, that inspiration, that unity which saw them beat Manchester United comfortably. Struggling against bad form and having to go to Lyon though, is not ideal. Could be a huge night for the Reds. Lyon and Fiorentina won on the weekend. Liverpool and Debreceni did not.

Group E
Lyon – P3    W3    D0    L0    Pts9
Fiorentina – P3    W2    D0    L1    Pts6
Liverpool – P3    W1    D0    L2    Pts3
Debrecen – P3    W0    D0    L3    Pts0

Match Prices
Fiorentina to win: 1/6 at Bet365
Draw: 13/2 at SkyBet
Debreceni to win: 18/1 at SkyBet

Lyon to win: 7/5 at Totesport
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Liverpool to win: 21/10 at Coral

Betting Tips:
1st Half/2nd Half Result – Draw/Fiorentina: 3/1 at William Hill
Lyon to win 2-0: 10/1 at Paddy Power

To Win Group E
Lyon – 3/10 at William Hill
Fiorentina – 4/1 at Paddy Power
Liverpool – 25/1 at Blue Square

GROUP F
Rubin Kazan v Barcelona
Dynamo Kiev v Inter Milan

Rubin, the Russian champions, and the team which look set to retain that title, caused one of the big upsets of the competition by beating Barcelona, the favourites to win the Champions League, in their own back yard. That happened on Match day three, to leave the Group in a very precarious position. All in all this has been the most hotly contested group, with Rubin, Barcelona and Kiev on four points, and Inter Milan winless at the bottom with just three. Surely nobody saw that coming at the halfway stage. Rubin have been a bit of bright spark, and have played their way into contention for qualifying from the group. They held Inter to a draw in Russia, and then pulled off the momentous win at the Nou Camp, with goals in both halves of the match. They have given themselves a great deal of hope now, and Barcelona will be the ones who will have to approach the game back in Russia with some caution. Barca are undefeated at the top of the Spanish League by one point over Real Madrid, and that is what made the loss against the Russian so spectacular. Combined with the 0-0 draw they could muster in the heavyweight battle against Inter Milan, the group is the tighest in the competition, with all sides in with a realistic chance of qualifying. Let’s no forget the impact that Dynamo Kiev are having on Group F as well. The Ukranians, top of their domestic league, and have the same record as Barcelona and Rubin in the Champions league. The game in Milan on Match day three produced an interesting 2-2 draw, and probably will not be giving Inter an easy ride when they face them again on Wednesday. Inter, who are flying away with Serie A at the moment, really need a win to get back on track, regardless of what happens in the other Group F match on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho will need all of his guile and wisdom to negotiate a tricky game, and to get his side back on track. This could still be a really close group come the end of Match day three. Barcelona should still win out in time, but their competition are keeping them on their toes.

Group F
Barcelona – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Dynamo – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Rubin – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Internazionale – P3    W0    D3    L0    Pts3

Match Prices
Rubin Kazan to win: 7/1 at SkyBet
Draw: 7/2 at Boylesports
Barcelona to win: 9/20 at Victor Chandler

Dynamo Kiev to win: 13/5 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Inter Milan to win: 6/5 at Totesport

Betting tips:
Barcelona to win 2-1: 8/1 at Boylesports
Dynamo Kiev Draw No Bet: 6/4 at Stan James

To Win Group F
Barcelona – 1/2 at Totesport
Inter Milan – 4/1 at Extrabet
Dynamo Kiev – 14/1 at SkyBet
Rubin Kazan – 14/1 at Bet365

GROUP G
Unirea Urziceni v Rangers
Sevilla v Stuttgart

Spanish side Sevilla are sitting in third place in La Liga, and that will be a clear indicator of just how good they are. They look a powerful side, far more powerful than any of their Group G rivals at least. Three wins from three and averaging three goals a game definitely shows that. With another win over stuttering Stuttgart, Sevilla will be cruising out of the group stages. If the strong Sevilla side do that, having already won 3-1 comfortably in Germany, it would actually give Rangers a little helping hand. Rangers are struggling to cope with the quality of the group, which, aside from Sevilla there is not a lot of to be truthful. Stuttgart are going to be facing a relegation battle if they continue at the woeful pace they have been in their domestic league, and Unirea Urziceni, while all credit is due to them, for now they look second favourites to get out of the group, they are not the kind of team that is going to bother Barcelona, Chelsea or Real Madrid in any way shape or form. Rangers are without a win, and they desperately need one. Having already been beaten by the Romanians 3-1 at home though on Match day three, won’t give Walter Smith much heart. Another good win for the Romanians would see them unexpectedly on the brink of getting out of the group stages along with Sevilla. A disappointing group, but could have a small fairy tale in it for those who recall Chelsea favourite Dan Petrescu, who manages Unirea Urziceni. Sevilla and Urinea both won on the weekend, Rangers and Stuttgart both drew.

Group G
Sevilla – P3    W3    D0    L0    Pts9
Unirea Urziceni – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Stuttgart – P3    W0    D2    L1    Pts2
Rangers – P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1

Match Prices:
Unirea Urziceni to win: Evens at BetFred
Draw: 5/2 at Bet365
Rangers to win: 3/1 at Coral

Sevilla to win: 1/2 at Stan James
Draw: 7/2 at Ladbrokes
Stuttgart to win: 7/1 at SkyBet

Betting tips:
Unirea Urziceni to win 1-0: 6/1 at 888Sport
Sevilla to win by 2 or more goals: 6/4 at Bet365

To Win Group G
Sevilla – 1/25 at Ladbrokes
Unirea Urziceni – 20/1 at Paddy Power
Stuttgart – 80/1 at Paddy Power
Rangers – 500/1 at Paddy Power

GROUP H
Arsenal v AZ Alkmaar
Standard Liege v Olympiacos

Belgian side Standard Liege only got in the competition because Barcelona won both La Liga and the Champions League last season, which opened up another spot. Sitting third in their domestic league, they were never going to pose a major threat, and whilst they have their moments of entertainment, it has completely panned out that way. Olympiacos will be happy about that, as they will look to capitalise on their 2-1 home victory over the Belgians, when they meet again on Wednesday in Greece. That win would secure the Greeks at least second place, and a comfortable one at that. In contrast to the groups with both Milan sides in them, this has been a lopsided group, with Arsenal head and shoulders above the other teams. Their draw against AZ Alkmaar in the previous match will be nothing more than a glitch, as they are bound to enact some attacking force revenge when the Dutch side visit the Emirates on Wednesday. This will be the first group to be settled, which will be a good thing for Arsenal, as it will take some pressure off and allow them to have time to get back injured players and push on in the Premier League. AZ Alkmaar was a name which promised much on the back of their successful domestic season, but their form has been a bit dismal lately, and are having a hard time keeping up any kind of pace. They are also missing their top scorer through injury, which won’t help their cause.

Group H
Arsenal – P3   W2    D1    L0    Pts7
Olympiacos – P3    W2    D0   L1    Pts6
AZ Alkmaar – P3    W0    D2    L1    Pts2
Standard Liege -P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1

Match Prices
Arsenal to win: 1/5 at Stan James
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
AZ Alkmaar to win: 16/1 at Paddy Power

Standard Liege to win: 5/4 at Blue Square
Draw: 5/2 at Skybet
Olympiacos to win: 12/5 at BetFred

Betting Tips:
Arsenal to win 2-0: 11/2 at BetFred
Draw No Bet Olympiacos – 11/8 at Boylesports

To Win Group H
Arsenal – 1/7 at Coral
Olympiacos – 8/1 at Extrabet
AZ Alkmaar – 50/1 at William Hill
Standard Liege – 150/1 at Paddy Power

Group E
Debrecen v Fiorentina
Liverpool v Lyon
It is Match Day three in the Champions League and already the action has thrown up some major suprises. Italian side Fiorentina gave themselves a massive boost on Match Day Two, when they turned over visitors Liverpool 2-0. That put them on level points with the English team, and will have the chance to double their points against bottom of the Group Debrecen. The Hungarians have yet to score a goal, and suffered a 4-0 thumping against Lyon last time out. Fiorenitna, who themselves lost to Lyon, can leave Liverpool reeling if the Reds fall to Lyon. The win for the Italians should be no problem in coming. While Debrecen have looked more awkward and stubborn in their resistance, Fiorentina are sauntering along nicely in Serie A, sitting in fourth place in what could be a tight race. The big game of the night is at Anfield, where Liverpool need to get themselves back on track. They have suffered three straight defeats in a row, and can ill afford another one. Defeat here could be disastrous as it will more than likely leave them chasing just second place along with the Italians.

Match Prices:
Liverpool to win: 5/6 at Bet365
Draw: 5/2 at Blue Square
Lyon to win: 4/1 at SkyBet

Fiorentina to win: 2/5 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 7/2 at SkyBet
Debrecen: 33/4 at Expekt

Betting Tips:
Fiorentina to win 1-0: 6/1 at SportingBet
Lyon to win 1-0: 12/1 at SkyBet

To Win Group E
Lyon – 17/20 at SportingBet
Fiorentina: 15/8 at SkyBet
Liverpool: 5/1 at ExtraBet
Debrecen: 750/1 at Ladbrokes

Group F
Barcelona v Rubin Kazan
Inter Milan v Dynamo Kiev
Who’d a thunk it? The mighty Inter Milan, top of Serie A, were humbled on their visit to Russia, where their 10 men had to hang on for a 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan. The other Milan team would have found that hilarious if they had not been suffering an even more embarrassing result, losing 1-0 at home to FC Zurich. Now they have to face ex-San Siro AC Milan hero, Andriy Shevchenko as Dynamo Kiev roll into town. Shevchenko netted 14 times against Inter when he was in AC colours. Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho will not have taken that Match Day Two result lying down. You can only imagine the dressing room after that. Inter have bounced back with a couple of good wins in their domestic league, and they still sit top with only one defeat. They are a lot stronger than that European hiccup suggests. But with just two points from two games in the Champions League, it is time for them to get going. They are currently one point behind Tuesday’s opponents Dynamo. Barcelona, not surprisingly are top of Group F. The favourites to relcaim the Champions League title, will hope to do a better job than Inter against the Russian champions when they face them on Tuesday. As much as the previous result will have lifted Rubin, history is not going to repeat itself and they will be under some of the severest pressure they will have faced.

Match Prices
Barcelona to win: 1/8 at Expekt
Draw: 15/2 at Stan James
Rubin Kazan to win: 22/1 at ExtraBet

Inter Milan to win: 4/9 at BetFred
Draw: 18/5 at SkyBet
Dynamo Kiev: 17/2 at Stan James

Betting Tips:
Barcelona to win 2-0: 11/2 at BlueSquare
Dynamo Kiev Draw No Bet: 11/2 at Paddy Power

To Win Group F
Barcelona – 1/4 at Boylesport
Inter Milan – 9/2 at Ladbrokes
Dynamo Kiev – 25/1 at Totesport
Rubin Kazan – 80/1 at Paddy Power

Group G
Rangers v Unirea Urziceni
Stuttgart v Sevilla
Big night for Rangers in Group G, as they will go in search of their first win of the new campaign. They need it too. Defeat would be something of a disaster, as you can expect Sevilla to overcome the king of the draws, Stuttgart in the other match. Rangers, with just one point from two games, need to take all three points to get themselves back into contention. A defeat and they will be stuck at the bottom with a mountain to climb at the halfway stage. Sevilla are looking like hotshots and could be a great outside bet to reach at least the semi finals. Another Spanish powerhouse, Sevilla are third in the Spanish league, just three points behind Real Madrid (who they recently beat), and four behind Barcelona. That intimates that they are very strong team, and other Champions League teams should be wary of them. They lost on Saturday and that was after a run of seven straight victories, and coping with a lot of injuries. Watch out for them, and watch out for Luis Fabiano who leads the Champions League with assists. A classy outfit.

Match Prices:
Rangers to win: 5/6 at Blue Square
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Unirea Urziceni to win: 4/1 at SkyBet

Stuttgart to win: 11/4 at Coral
Draw: 5/2 at Stan James
Sevilla to win: 11/10 at SkyBet

Betting Tips:
Rangers to draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Sevilla to win 2-1: 8/1 at SkyBet

To Win Group G
Sevilla – 1/5 at Stan James
Stuttgart – 15/2 at Paddy Power
Rangers – 22/1 at Paddy Power
Unirea Urziceni- 80/1 at Paddy Power

Group H
Alkmaar v Arsenal
Olyimpiacos v Standard Liege
After suriving a potential Match Day One banana skin, Arsenal should cruise to winning this Group, and there does not appear to be much anyone else is going to do about it. Much has been said about Dutch Champions Alkmaar and their home record in Europe, but they are on a slump of form, especially when compared to Tuesday’s opponents Arsenal. The Gunners have their injury problems, but can still field a team which can pass rings around most opponents. This will probably be their toughest test, but no more difficicult than playing a bottom half of the table Premier League team. They will come through to make it three wins from three. With Arsenal’s dominance, there could be a tight and hotly contest race for second place in Group H, but it is unlikely to pan out that way. The favourites for second spot would be Greek side Olympiakos, and they can go a long way to making themselves comfortable by beating Standard Liege. The Belgium team’s 1-1 tie with Alkmaar has left both teams on just one point, and having to travel to Greece is should, for all intents and purposes settle positions in the Group, especially if Arsenal win.

Match Prices:
Alkmaar to win: 6/1 at Boylesports
Draw: 3/1 at Bet365
Arsenal to win: 8/15 at Totesport

Olympiakos to win: 5/6 at BetFred
Draw: 5/1 at Bet365
Standard Liege to win: 15/4 at Expekt

Betting Tip:
Arsenal -2 Asian Handicap: 11/4 at Bet365
Olympiakos to win 2-0: 7/1 at SportingBet

To Win Group H
Arsenal – 1/10 at Blue Square
Olympiakos – 14/1 at Paddy Power
AZ Alkmaar – 25/1 at Paddy Power
Standard Liege – 40/1 at Paddy Power