Inter Milan

The Carlos Tevez saga keeps dragging on and on, after talks to a move to AC Milan feel through. It has opened the door again now for Inter to come back in to re-open talks with the Argentinean. AC Milan looked almost set to capture Tevez from Man City, but with Milan forward Alex Pato deciding to stay in Italy, there was no room on the books for Tevez. So now Inter president Massimo Moratti has reconsidered a move for Tevez, but nothing, not even discussions are likely to open until after the Milan derby on the weekend. The whole saga has become a very protracted and confusing one, with the main stumbling block of the move to AC Milan down to the fact that the Italians wanted Tevez on a loan to buy sort of deal, which is understandable given the disciplinary track record that the Argentinean has. At the start of last December, AC Milan had actually made a formal offer, but City rejected that offer and now the struggles to offload him seem inherently difficult.

There is likely to not be any Premier League clubs who are going to waste their energies on Tevez, even though, as he proved in his time with Manchester City, that he is a proven match winner. The troubles he brings with him are a huge black mark against clubs coughing up the big transfer fee that his talent deserves. So the 27 year old is football limbo at the moment, having not played since last September. Manchester City boss, who accused Tevez of refusing to come off the bench in a European Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich, expects that Tevez will be gone before the close of the January transfer window. The suitors are not too many for the signature of Tevez so the options on moving him are limited. The supposed homesick Tevez couldn’t even sort out a move back to his native land, so a move to Milan in some form does seem the most likely. With Premier League sides pretty much out of the question, there is the big spending Paris St Germain who may surprise and come up with a late offer, although that is not as likely as a firm Inter bid.

Carlos Tevez Club After January Transfer Window
QPR 5/6, Inter Milan 13/8, AC Milan 5/2, PSG 5/1, Tottenham 11/1 at SkyBet

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What is more atmospheric, more intense than a Rome derby with AC Milan v Inter Milan betting? Well that is what we are faced with this weekend in Serie A, as leaders AC Milan look to put further distance between themselves and their San Siro rivals. AC Milan have been firing along at a rapid pace this season and top the league table, but only on goal difference from Juventus. AC Milan have suffered just two defeats this season and have been in a hungry mood in front of goal. The main source of goals has been Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and if coach Massimiliano Allegri could find a regular and settled strike partner for him, then they would be even stronger. The coach has extended his contract by a couple of years, with AC Milan going well at the top of the league, but they have had their critics. Milan haven’t always been playing the most attractive football or have even been playing particularly well, but they have been winning and that is what champions are made of. AC Milan triumphed home and away over their rivals Inter in last year’s Serie A, and are favourites to stretch out their lead over fifth placed Inter to eleven points with a win.

This is the first of the two meetings this year in the league. With both Italian giants at the front of the Carlos Tevez transfer saga, all that will be pushed aside for AC Milan v Inter Milan betting. Inter boss Claudio Ranieri has led the revival of Inter so very well. They were floundering badly near the bottom of the table after the first couple of months of the new season, winning just two matches out of nine. Since then, Inter have rattled off seven wins in eight matches (with a defeat against Udinese sandwiched in there). But it has been a vast improvement in form, and Inter have plugged the holes on a leaky defence which was plaguing them through the first part of the season. Inter have conceded just three goals in their last eight Serie A matches, but if you think that is good, then you should see the AC Milan defence they are up against. AC Milan have conceded just four goals at home in the league this season, that’s right, just four in each matches. So even though AC Milan haven’t been playing great at times, they know how to keep a clean sheet. There could be a pretty dramatic return to action for Dutch star Wesley Sneijder for Inter, as he hasn’t played since last September. The creative player is of course massively influential for Inter and Claudio Ranieri may be tempted to throw him straight into action in this massive derby match. Inter need to keep their impressive run of form going to try and knock a dent in AC Milan’s lead. Closing them down to three points would be a huge boost of confidence for Ranieri’s men. Diego Milito is the top scorer for Inter this season, with six goals.

AC Milan v Inter Milan Betting
AC Milan to win: 6/5 at VC Bet
Draw: 23/10 at Totesport
Inter Milan to win: 11/4 at VC Bet

There have been 200 meetings between the two Milan clubs in all competitions, and it is the Rossoneri, AC Milan who hold a slight advantage with 70 wins to Inter’s 69. Would not bother looking too much at a draw, because there hasn’t been one in the last thirteen league meetings between them, which is a pretty long streak. As these are passionate and heated affairs at the San Siro, it may be worth looking at a red card in the match, as there have been eight red cards in the last six matches between them, and for someone to get sent off on Sunday, there is a price of 7/4 at William Hill.

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There is a repeat of last year’s Champions League final as Bayern Munich and Inter Milan go to head to head in the last sixteen of the Champions league. It is a rapid coming together from the two European giants as they look for progress through to the quarter finals. Inter Milan, coached by Jose Mourinho won out on that day, but since the Special One moved to Real Madrid, Inter Milan have struggled to pick up the pieces. He really was the extra element which gave Inter a winning mentality, and since Rafa Benitez came and went at the club, failing to make an impact, Brazilian Leonardo has started to get things back on track. However, Inter Milan are by no means as good as they were last season. Things haven’t gone too smoothly for Bayern Munich this season either, as they are unlikely to pick up another league title, but they are back to full strength with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery in the thick of things, and that will make them a tough proposition. It is Ribery who could be the key factor in this match, as his trickery could unlock a static Inter Milan defence. We saw from Tottenham just what pace can do against an Italian side, and with the creativity and width that Bayern are able to put out, they should cause the Inter back line a lot of problems. Both Robben and Ribery have had a troubled seasons through injury, but now they are re-united in the side, just at the right time. Robben and Ribery are vital to Bayern’s success and with both in form at the moment, and both the extra injection of pace and quality that can unlock defences, Bayern could take a good advantage away from this first leg. There is a big threat up front to come from Bayern this time around, with Mario Gomez really leading the way. Because of injuries, Gomez has been called into the side this season, and has something of a phenomenal goal scoring record this year, hitting 26 goals in 30 matches for Bayern, including six in the Champions League. Throw Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger into the mix, then you have a very strong looking Bayern.

Only Inter Milan’s Samuel Eto’o can boast a better goal scoring record than in the competition this year, and Inter will look to his experience to lead the line. A trip to the San Siro though is never easy, and the Italians are renowned  for their defensive football. Inter failed to win their group stage, losing out to Tottenham and that is why they play at home first. This is not an easy match for the defending Champions, who have already lost to German opposition this year. On their visit to Werder Bremen, Inter couldn’t cope with what was being thrown at them, and suffered a defeat which left them reeling in second place. The defence of Inter’s Champions League title is well and truly on the line here, and you have to look at both as see Bayern as slightly the stronger team this time around. They are getting back into full flight just at the right time, and with the second leg advantage at home, they will fancy their chances of getting a quick revenge against the Italians. The big question here is whether or not Inter will be able to keep a clean sheet against Bayern at the San Siro. If Bayern come away from this first leg with a goal to their name, then you would picture them being in a very strong position. Inter are still looking to pick up the pieces, and they are lacking that x-factor which Jose Mourinho gave them. This is Leonardo’s first European match in charge at Inter Milan, and it couldn’t come with much higher pressure. However, Inter do have a strong home record, with eight straight wins in in the Champions League. In terms of form, Bayern have won five of their last six matches. Aside from last year’s final, there is another little bit of history between the two sides, with Bayern producing an away victory in the 2006/07 group stage, and a draw back in Munich.

Inter start the match as favourites, simply because they have the home advantage here, but it is a slender advantage in the odds which they take into the game, which is a fair reflection of the standing of the two sides at the moment. There looks as if there is very good value in backing the away side here, which isn’t often said for an away side in the Champions League. Bayern however, are running good at the moment, and with best odds being offered on then at 28/11 at Unibet, then they are well worth a flutter here. A draw at the San Siro is being healthily priced at 12/5 with Bet365. Bayern have the strength and the power to come away with at least a draw in this one, and have great firepower to carry them through. The likely goalscorer for Inter will be Eto’o (13/8 at Boylesports), so take a look at him in the Anytime Goalscorer market, but Munich’s Gomez (9/4 at Stan James) is in stunning form right now as well.

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It has been a short six months in charge of Inter Milan for Rafa Benitez. After running out on Liverpool after a poor season, Inter have been rapidly slipping backwards under his guidance, and now the Italian club has lost patience with the Spaniard. The reason being cited was because Benitez was asking for money to go shopping with, and this came after Inter had lifted the Club World Cup on the weekend. Even though he won that, he clearly wasn’t happy about the support he was receiving from the board at Inter, saying that the club could carry on and blame him solely for poor performances, or the club could stump up the money to buy a handful of better players. The players there didn’t do a bad job last season, so Benitez himself really has to be looked at. He has certainly shot himself in the foot now, and it will be interesting to see where his next job would be. With a history of very poor signings at Liverpool, which subsequently sunk them, he hasn’t been able to take a strong team and even solidify their status. Inter have lost three of their last four matches, including a 1-0 defeat at home against leaders AC Milan. So who will be willing to take a chance on him next? How damaged is his reputation? There is some time for Inter to get a new boss, as the Italian league is on a winter break.

The biggest problem was that Benitez had been trying to fill the big shoes that Jose Mourinho had left behind at Inter Milan. Mourinho won Serie A, the Italian Cup and the Champions League last year, and now Inter are a long way short of that. They are a massive 13 points behind rivals AC Milan, who top the Italian domestic league, and Inter could only finish second to Tottenham Hotspur in their Champions League qualification group. With a tie against Bayern Munich to come, there are tough times ahead for Inter. But to Benitez himself. Where will he end up? He is 10/11 at SkyBet to stay in La Primera Division, and out slightly at 9/4 with SkyBet to make a move back to the English Premier League. With West Ham reportedly pressuring Avram Grant, and Blackburn looking for a new permanent manager, and Gerrard Houllier struggling at Aston Villa, is there room back in the English top flight for Benitez? In a twist of irony, with Roy Hodgson struggling at Liverpool, the Reds are the favourite English club at Stan James priced at 8/1, but that is highly unlikely. So too, realistically is a move back to the Premier League, although Blackburn seems the best fit if it were to happen. The Spaniard will likely stay in mainland Europe, and a move to the Bundesliga, perhaps to take over from Steve McLaren who is under pressure at Wolfsburg, seems plausible enough. There are likely to be openings for him at Atletico Madrid, Seville and in particular Valencia (where he really made his name before moving to Liverpool), but the big question is, how desirable is his services now, following his outburst? Back me or sack me? He got his answer.

Group A

Tottenham Hotspur P5 W3 D1 L1 Pts 10
Inter Milan P5 W3 D1 L1 Pts 10
FC Twente P5 W1 D2 L2 Pts 5
Werder Bremen P5 W0 D2 L3 Pts 2

FC Twente v Tottenham Hotspur

Can Tottenham round off a marvelous debut showing in the Group Stage of the Champions League by actually winning it? They simply need to match the results which Inter produces at Bremen to do so. See our full match betting preview here for tips

Bremen v Inter Milan

Well, Inter Milan are safe, but they are not in the ascendancy in the group. After losing at White Hart Lane, they find themselves behind Tottenham in the group on goal difference. They now need a helping hand from Spurs if they are to steal back top spot in the group. They need that of course, and to produce a win themselves. They have the harder of the two matches, having to go to Germany to face Werder Bremen, who have not picked up a victory yet in this year’s tournament. They have only just two points to their name so far from two drawn matches, one of them at home against Tottenham, so there is an edge of difficulty for the Italians in this one. However, Werder Bremen are not a particularly strong side, and are having a season of struggles both at home and in Europe. They have not found the goal scoring touch which they need, having only netted three in their five matches. Inter on the other hand have banged in a dozen goals to their name, so the strong expectancy is for Inter Milan to come away with a win, and to put pressure on Tottenham for top spot. Intriguing last two matches in Group A, but Inter make the sounder bet in this one.
Tip: Inter Milan 5/4 at Boylesports
Others: Draw 5/2 at Paddy Power, Werder Bremen 12/5 at Bwin

Group B

Schalke P5 W3 D1 L1 Pts 10
Lyon P5 W3 D0 L2 Pts 9
Benfica P5 W2 D0 L3 Pts 6
Hapoel Tel Aviv P5 W1 D1 L3 Pts 4

Lyon v Hapoel Tel Aviv

Where is this group going to go? Lyon, who are usually so strong in the group stages of the Champions League, went down heavily against Schalke on Match Day Five, losing three nil in Germany. That loss has pushed them back into second place, a point behind the German side. However, they will fully expect to pick up three home points in their final group match, which is against bottom side Hapoel Tel Aviv. That would fire them up onto twelve points, meaning that if Schalke fail to win, then the French team would take top spot. A great end to this group, which has produced some great entertainment. A win here for Lyon is worth backing, as they have the bit of class and experience needed in situations like this, even though their defence isn’t standing up very well at the moment. A good European team and they will come through. Hapeoel have had a rough ride, but with a win and a loss for Benfica, they could end up in third place to get into the Europa Cup. Unlikely to happen though. Go for Lyon.
Tip: Lyon 4/11 at Bet365
Other: Draw 4/1 at SkyBet, Hapoel Tel Aviv 8/1 at Stan James

Benfica v Schalke

Portuguese side Benfica put on a bit of a late show with a thrilling 4-3 win over Lyon, which really threw this group wide open. So there are warning signs there for the visiting Germans, as that is two wins from their two home games. Will they play another big part in determining the outcome of the group? Benfica will want to cling on to third place in the group to continue their season in Europe via the Europa League, so there is incentive there to put in a good performance. Schalke will still qualify even if they lose, but they will want to secure at least the point that will guarantee they finish top. For your Champions League football betting for this one, the best tip is to go with momentum. For all the good work which Benfica put into defeat Lyon, guess who they go and lose to in the following match. Yes, Hapoel Tel Aviv, 3-0. Too unpredictable to take Benfica, but Schalke haven’t won on the road, losing at Lyon and drawing with Hapoel. A draw makes some kind of sense here. It will be enough for Schalke and Benfica.
Tip: Draw 13/5 at Bet365
Other: Benfica 10/11 at Boylesports, Schalke 18/5 at William Hill

Group C

Man Utd P5 W 4 D1 L0 Pts 13
Valencia P5 W3 D1 L1 Pts 10
Rangers P5 W1 D2 L2 Pts 5
Bursaspor P5 W0 D0 L5 Pts 0

Manchester United v Valencia

The English side hold top spot in Group C and need just one point against the Spaniards to finish in top spot. They can’t afford a slip up though, because with a win, Valencia would steal top spot on goal difference. See our full match betting preview for tips

Bursaspor v Rangers

Well, this is a completely meaningless game, with Rangers on five points in third place and Bursaspor rooted to the bottom of the group with no points. Scottish Champions Rangers have put up a great showing in the Champions League this year, and everything could have looked better apart from a couple of very tight matches against Manchester United. However, they are in the Europa League now and will look to go out with a little bit of a bang away to the Turkish side. Hard to expect a hatful of goals though. Rangers have only scored two and Bursaspor have only hit one. It’s little surprise that Rangers won 1-0 against Bursaspor when they met at Ibrox.
Tip: Rangers 23/10 at Paddy Power
Other: Bursaspor 13/10 at William Hill, Draw 12/5 at SkyBet

Group D

Barcelona P5 W3 D2 L0 Pts 11
Copenhagen P5 W2 D1 L2 Pts 7
Rubin Kazan P5 W1 D3 L1 pts 6
Panathinaikos P5 W0 D2 L3 Pts 2

Barcelona v Rubin Kazan

The Spaniards have Group D all wrapped up nicely, as was to be expected really. However, they haven’t stormed their way to the top, having been held to two drawn matches. Barcelona have secured top spot as well, so they can enjoy something of a night off. This match really is all about Rubin Kazan and their battle to get into second place. This has been one of the most exciting groups in the tournament, and Rubin Kazan need to produce at least a point to keep their hopes alive. Naturally that is not going to be an easy task against Barcelona, who are the favourites to win the Champions League outright. Don’t read too much into the form of Barcelona in these group stages, because the seeded teams pretty much do enough to get the top done, and the real work starts when the knockout stages begin. The Russian side held Barcelona to one of those drawn matches, and now the return fixture really needs at least that, as a point and a Copenhagen win would put Rubin Kazan through. However, Barcelona’s slip ups have come on the road, and they are a different side at home. You would fully expect them to be too strong to let Rubin get away with taking more points off of them.
Tip: Barcelona 1/2 at Blue Square
Other: Draw 15/4 at Bwin, Rubin Kazan 13/2 at Totesport

FC Copenhagen v Panathinaikos

This is the success story of the Champions League this year, well up there with Tottenham’s at least. Copenhagen have helped give this group a fascinating twist this year, by showing that they can live with the best. The key to their success really came in the first match when they beat Rubin Kazan in Denmark. That set the stall for them to go forward. With a win over Panathinaikos away, the subsequent defeat in the Nou Camp didn’t ruin their chances really. Copenhagen held Barcelona to a draw back in Denmark to keep themselves in the hunt. On match day five, they traveled to Russia to face Rubin, but came away with a 1-0 loss, where are draw would have put them in a much stronger position. Now they may just need one more effort to complete the job of qualifying for the first knockout stage against the odds. A win would guarantee they go through in second place. While their fate may have to be in their own hands, they have the upper hand, the advantage of Rubin, who are just one point behind them, having to travel to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona. It is hard to see a win for the Russians there, so Copenhagen could be safe no matter what. However, the best way to make sure would be for them to win. Panathinaikos have only scored one goal in the competition so far, conceding ten, so things looks positive for Copenhagen. Incidentally, Copenhagen are a massive 19 points clear at the top of the Danish league, after just nineteen matches played. They have won sixteen, drawn three and lost none, and have won seven of their last eight. Incredible stats really.
Tip: Copenhagen 4/9 at Stan James
Others: Draw 15/4 at Bwin, Panathinaikos 15/2 at Bet365

Champions League Betting | Matchday Four Tuesday Predictions

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Group A

Inter Milan P3 W2 D1 L0 Pts 7
Tottenham Hotspur P3 W1 D1 L1 Pts 4
Werder Bremen P3 W0 D2 L1 Pts 2
FC Twente P3 W0 D2 L1 Pts 2

Tottenham Hotspur v Inter Milan Betting Tip: Away win 9/5 at Boylesports

This is the big Champions League night that White Hart Lane has been waiting for, as the defending Champions hit the capital. See our full match preview here
Other: Inter 19/10 at Unibet, Draw 12/5 at Totesport

Werder Bremen v FC Twente Betting Tip: Away win 9/2 at SkyBet

The Germans are still having a pretty miserable domestic season sitting in the bottom half of the table, but there is a big chance here to get themselves into a position to make a serious move into the knockout stage. If Tottenham fail to pick up a point against Inter Milan, then a first win in the group for Werder would jump them into second place with two games left. They hold the same match record this year at FC Twente, so there isn’t much to chose between them. They played out a less than exciting 1-1 draw in the Netherlands on Match day three, but the Germans have home advantage which they really need to press home. Would expect another draw here really, as Twente are a very strong side, at least on the domestic front where they haven’t lost a game all season. But, throwing all of that out of the window, FC Twente actually look a great tip for Tuesday. This is largely going against the grain of things, but they are potent side if they can put it all together, and the Germans are certainly there for the taking.
Other: Werder Bremen 7/10 at Paddy Power, Draw 29/10 at Unibet

Group B

Lyon P3 W3 D0 L0 Pts 9
Schalke P3 W2 D0 L1 Pts 6
Benfica P3 W1 D0 L2 Pts 3
Hapoel P3 W0 D0 L3 Pts 0

Hapoel Tel Aviv v Schalke Betting Tip: Away win 11/10 at Ladbrokes

Well, the Germans Schalke are having a miserable season in the Bundesliga, sitting second from bottom and only one win in their ten matches this season. However, they have picked things up a little bit in the Champions League with two wins, which has put them in a strong position. They have taken full advantage of playing at home in the Champions League and ran out 3-1 winners over Hapoel when they met on Match Day three. They should have enough quality to make a repeat performance, and they do have Klaas Jan Huntelaar who is on fire, and probably won’t be at the club for too long if he keeps playing like he does, and the club itself plays the way it does for much longer. Having pulled out a strong enough win over Hapoel in the first meeting, seems more than reasonable that they’ll do it again.
Other: Draw 12/5 at SkyBet, Hapoel Tel Aviv 14/5 at Victor Chandler

Benfica v Lyon Betting Tip: Away win 13/5 at Bet365

After having gotten their Champions League campaign off to a winning start against Hapoel, Benfica have lost their last two matches 2-0. Now it is the turnaround point for them, and while they need a win, it is going to be a tough ask against a polished Lyon side. The French team have won three out of three so far in the campaign, and another three will guarantee them a place in the next round. Lyon have hit six goals and conceded just one and that shows how accomplished they are in the Champions League. There are some strong chances of some good away wins in the Champions League this week, and that usually affords you some little extra odds. Adversely in the French League, Lyon are having something of a stuttering season, having lost as many as they have won. They are a good European side though, and you would expect them to come through this one unscathed.
Other: Benfica 6/5 at Totesport, Draw 12/5 at Stan James

Group C

Man Utd P3 W2 D1 L0 Pts 7
Rangers P3 W1 D2 L0 Pts 5
Valencia P3 D1 L1 Pts 4
Bursaspor P3 W0 D0 L3 Pts 0

Bursaspor v Manchester United Betting Tip: Away win 4/5 at Victor Chandler

Yes, another away win on the board in the Champions League tips for Tuesday night. See our full match preview as United head to Turkey to try and put a seal on top spot.
Other: Draw 11/4 at Bet365, Bursaspor 4/1 at SkyBet

Valencia v Rangers Betting Tip: Home win 2/5 at Unibet

This is actually a more enticing prospect than many may have though it would have been at this stage of proceedings. All credit where it is due, Rangers are proving to be a tough, stubborn side in the Champions League this year, and haven’t rolled over in the face of sterner and higher quality opposition. They earned a great 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, and held Valencia to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on match day three. Sandwiched in between that was a win over Bursaspor, and that is why they find themselves in a decent position. Even a draw would really keep their qualification hopes alive, and it would a great effort from them again against the strong Spaniards who are fourth in La Liga. Valencia have hit a bit of a sticky path though in terms of form, with no win in their last three domestic games, and the draw at Rangers has put a bit of a dampener on them. You would expect the Spaniards to step up a level on their home turf, and there ends the run of away win Champions League tips. Having only scored two goals in three matches, Rangers don’t look as if they will have the firepower to match Valencia, if the Spaniards really get their game going.
Other: Draw 15/4 at Stan James, Rangers 9/1 at Totesport

Group D

Barcelona P3 W2 D1 L0 Pts 7
Copenhagen P3 W2 D0 L1 Pts 6
Rubin Kazan P3 W0 D2 L1 Pts 2
Panathinaikos P3 W0 D1 L2 Pts 1

FC Copenhagen v Barcelona Betting Tip: Away win 4/9 at Totesport

Everything was looking quite rosy for Copenhagen after two match days. There they were sitting at the top of Group D, and then came the visit to the Nou Camp. Barcelona beat Copenhagen 2-0 to wrestle their way to the top of the group, and now the Danish side could find themselves even further behind Tuesday’s opponent, if they don’t pick up at least a draw against the Spanish giants. Even if Copenhagen lose they will still be in second place, simply because Rubin or Panathinaikos haven’t managed a win between them. So, another defeat wouldn’t be a disaster for the Danes, but it would put them under pressure. This group is actually wide open and is no done deal. The Danes have looked a hard working and compact unit, but you will expect the high scoring Catalan side to come out on tops. That having been said, Barcelona could only manage an away draw against Rubin, and Copenhagen are top of the Danish league by a country mile (they have a 14 point lead after just 14 games, having won 12, drawn 2 and lost 0!). So is a draw on the cards? No. Barcelona will win.
Other: Draw 50/13 at Bwin, Copenhagen 8/1 at Victor Chandler

Rubin Kazan v Panathinaikos Betting Tip: Draw 29/10 at Unibet

As predicted, the two sides ran out to 0-0 draw when they met in Greece on match day three. Rubin was supposed to be putting pressure on Barcelona at the top of the league by this stage, but the Russian champions haven’t even posted a win yet. Clearly having only hit one goal in their three matches so far, there are issues up front, and with the Greeks only managing the same amount from their attack, another draw seems more than likely. Panathinaikos have failed to score in their two home matches so far, and getting away goals in the Champions League is no easy task. If you are looking for an edge in this one, then the Russian will have it with home advantage. The Russians really need to play catch up to Copenhagen, and a win would do just that.
Other: Rubin 8/13 at Boylesports, Panathinaikos 6/1 at Bet365

Champions League Winner Betting Odds

Barcelona: 13/4 at Unibet
Chelsea: 9/2 at Paddy Power
Real Madrid: 9/2 at Ladbrokes
Man Utd: 11/1 at Stan James
Arsenal: 12/1 at Ladbrokes
Inter Milan: 13/1 at Unibet
Bayern Munich: 16/1 at Totesport
AC Milan: 30/1 at Unibet
Tottenham: 40/1 at Boylesports

With the Group Stages of the Champions League betting hitting the halfway mark, we present a football betting guide for your perusal. Things are largely going as expected in the Champions League betting for this season, and at least that should make your bets a little more secure. As far as the British teams are concerned, Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal all look to be in comfortable positions to progress, while Spurs and Rangers still have a little bit of work to do. Below is a betting guide along with best UEFA Champions League Odds for the individual groups and top scorers for the 2010/11 Champions League. Don’t forget the Champions League Predictor Game which runs through the match days of this year’s tournament at online bookmaker SportingBet. There is £10,000 up for grabs every match day. There has been a lot of cash paid out already, but no single match day jackpot. All you need to do to get in on the action, is place a qualifying £10 bet on any Sportsbook market and you will gain a free Champions League Predictor entry. Predict the outcome of all 16 matches correctly on any given match day, and you will win the cash prize, guaranteed. You can also earn yourself a free £50 bet when you sign up for an account with the popular online bookmaker.

Group A

Inter Milan P3 W2 D1 L0 Pts 7
Tottenham Hotspur P3 W1 D1 L1 Pts 4
Werder Bremen P3 W0 D2 L1 Pts 2
FC Twente P3 D2 L1 Pts 2

The Italians are in firm control of this group after their thrilling 4-3 victory over Spurs at the San Siro on match day three. However, there is a feeling that this group isn’t quite done and dusted yet. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was incredibly brave sending out an attacking line up in Italy, which backfired a bit, but there should be enough encouragement there to take on Inter back at White Hart Lane. That really will be the crucial fixture in this. Spurs now have two home matches to book themselves qualification, so it is all in their own hands, and you cannot ask for more than that at this stage. Spurs will really need to win against Inter to be comfortable, and then facing Werder Bremen who are in terrible form at home, Spurs still have a great chance of making the knockout round. You have to fancy them above the bottom two sides on strength and form.
Group A Winner: Inter 4/11 at Coral, Spurs 9/2 at SkyBet
Group A To Qualify: Inter 1/33 at SkyBet, Spurs 4/9 at Totesport, Werder Bremen 5/2 at Bwin, Twente 16/1 at SkyBet

Group B

Lyon P3 W3 D0 L0 Pts 9
Schalke P3 W2 D0 L1 Pts 6
Benfica P3 W1 D0 L2 Pts 3
Hapoel Tel Aviv P3 W0 D0 L3 Pts 0

The Champions League stalwarts Lyon have really taken a firm grip on Group B. After reaching the semi finals of the competition last season, they are off to a flyer again and look to be a threat again this year. With Michel Bastos banging in three goals in three matches, and their defence holding pretty tight, Lyon will be a hard side to beat. Their opening day win over Schalke was a big one, and although the German side are not in great form in the domestic league, they look a sure bet to join Lyon in the next round. Lyon and Schalke won’t meet again until Match day 6, and qualification could all be settled before then. It could be a group winner decider though, so keep an eye on Schalke’s form up to that final clash, and they will need to win that home match to pinch first place. Back Lyon well here and they will make a huge nuisance of themselves in the knockout rounds again. Neither Benfica or Hapoel are going to come close as they have looked largely outclassed.
Group B Winner: Lyon 1/2 at Coral, Schalke 11/4 at BetFred
Group B To Qualify: Lyon 1/25 at SkyBet, Schalke 4/9 at Coral, Benfica 2/1 at Paddy Power, Hapoel 100/1 at Bwin

Group C

Man Utd P3 W2 D1 L0 Pts 7
Rangers P3 W1 D2 L0 Pts 5
Valencia P3 W1 D1 L1 Pts 4
Bursaspor P3 W0 D0 L3 Pts 0

One of the more intriguing groups. Manchester United haven’t put in a good performance at all yet in their three matches, and Alex Ferguson, with his team selections, seems to have taken it a bit lightly. With the Rooney saga now over after the disgruntled striker had a change of heart and signed a 5 year contract at Old Trafford, once he gets back into form United should get stronger. The fact that they are top of the group without playing well says a lot about their experience in this. Rangers are the surprise package so far, holding both United and Valencia to draws. That’s big kudos to the Scottish champions, and have put themselves in with a great chance of progressing. Their next match will be crucial. It is away in Spain and Rangers really need to get something out of that to keep up their challenge. Showed some good mettle this year in the competition, as Valencia and Man Utd were earmarked as the strong teams in Group C. You would still back United to win the group now that they have the cushion. With Valencia having to come to Old Trafford, there doesn’t look a game left which they could lose.
Group C Winners: Man Utd 1/4 at Bet365, Valencia 11/2 at Unibet, Rangers 18/1 at ExtraBet
Group C To Qualify: Man Utd 1/25 at Coral, Valencia 1/3 at SkyBet, Rangers 3/1 at Bwin

Group D

Barcelona P3 W2 D1 Pts 7
FC Copenhagen P3 W2 D0 L1 Pts 6
Rubin Kazan P3 W0 D1 L2 Pts 2
Panathinaikos P3 W0 D1 L2 Pts 1

Barcelona again haven’t had things all their own  way in the group, but they are still in control and cruising into the knockout stages of the competition, as to be expected. Their only slip up came in an away fixture against Rubin Kazan where they played out a draw. Not a disaster, not when you have Messi on fire. The big surprise package of the Champions League so far this season has been FC Copenhagen, who lost top spot to Barcelona on Match day three, when the Catalans beat them 2-0 at the Nou Camp. While Kazan would have made a great tip at the start of the competition to quality, the Danes have taken a much firmer grip of things. Even if Copenhagen lose the return fixture against Barcelona, Rubin Kazan with a win, would still be behind them in the table, so Copenhagen are in a strong position. However, what may hurt them, is that they have to go to Russia and if Kazan win that, it’ll blow things wide open. There is a serious race for second place in this group to finish behind Barcelona, as Kazan go to the Nou Camp on match day six. The standings may look a little lop sided at the moment, but Kazan are not out of this just yet.
Group D Winners: Barcelona 1/19 at Bwin, Copenhagen 18/1 at ExtraBet
Group D To Qualify: Barcelona 1/250 at Bet365, Copenhagen 4/7 at Totesport, Rubin Kazan 9/4 at SkyBet

Group E

Bayern Munich P3 W3 D0 L0 Pts 9
Basel P3 W1 D0 L2 Pts 3
Cluj P3 W1 D0 L2 Pts 3
Roma P3 W1 D0 L2 Pts 3

Well, this group as far as the winner goes, is pretty much done and dusted. Win three wins out of three, and the other three teams all taking points away from each other, last year’s losing finalists are having things pretty easy in Group E. As to who will join them in the knockout phase, well that is not so cut and dry at the moment, as there has been another surprise team in the Champions League this year. That has been Claudio Ranieri’s Roma, who were pencilled in as a major threat this year. However, their home collapse on match day three against Basel has left them rooted to the bottom of the group at the halfway stage. Do they have enough to get through now? They have to face Bayern at home still, and Cluj, but their next match is now a massive one. They have to go to Switzerland and hope for a big result. For a team which is going to strong in Serie A, you still have to have a good hard long look at them to qualify. If however you are looking for an upset, there are some decent odds on Basel.
Group E Winner: Bayern Munich 1/10 at Totesport
Group E To Qualify: Bayern Munich 1/33 at Coral, Roma 3/4 at Unibet, Basel 5/2 at 888Sport, Cluj 6/1 at SportingBet

Group F

Chelsea P3 W3 D0 L0 Pts 9
Spartak Moscow P3 W2 L1 Pts 6
Marseille P3 W1 D0 L2 Pts 3
Zilina P3 W0 D0 L3 Pts 0

Premier League Champions Chelsea are pretty much in the next round of the competition. Their solid, steady and unspectacular win in Moscow saw to that. It was a professional job well done, and that is all that can really be said about their progress so far. They now have two home matches out of the remaining three, and that makes them bankers for the group. There is an interesting race for second, largely because Marseille have been incredibly below par. A lot more was expected from them, but they only picked up their first win in a 1-0 home triumph over Zilina on Match day 3. That was also their first goal in the group stage this season. However, if Chelsea beat Spartak on Match day four, while Marseille again beat Zilina, that would put the French and Russians on level points. Then it will be all to play for in Russia when Marseille visit. Spartak have looked the better side out of the duo though, and make a more sound bet, especially with the crucial match being in their own back yard.
Group F Winner: Chelsea 1/20 at BetFred, Spartak Moscow 18/1 at SkyBet
Group F To Qualify: Chelsea 1/100 at BetFred, Spartak Moscow 8/15 at SportingBet, Marseille 17/10 at Bwin

Group G

Real Madrid P3 W3 D0 L0 Pts 9
AC Milan P3 W1 D1 L1 Pts 4
Ajax P3 W1 D1 L1 Pts 4
Auxerre P3 W0 D0 L3 Pts 0

One of the more exciting groups, although Real Madrid’s match day three victory over AC Milan sort of sorted out the issue of who is going to finish top. Under Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid have made steady progress, not conceding a goal yet. They were given a tough time in Auxerre on match day two, but came through 1-0 in typical Mourinho style. You can take Madrid as group winners right now, so the interest in this group is in the runner’s up spot. Will it be AC Milan or Ajax? As the two sides drew in Holland on match day two, this issue probably won’t be settled until match day five when they meet again, this time at the San Siro. You would expect Ajax to have a bit of an advantage in points come that point, and AC Milan will be playing catch up. That’s because in the next round of fixtures, Milan face Madrid again, while Ajax face Auxerre. You would fancy another Madrid win, so if Ajax pick up even a point against Auxerre, they will hold the cards in their hand. Their last fixture is against Madrid though, so there is still an arduous task of picking either side out of a seemingly parity laden situation. To be honest, Ajax look a little more adventurous, and could be a great punt at the price below to qualify.
Group G Winner: Real Madrid 1/8 at Totesport, AC Milan 23/2 at UniBet
Group G To Qualify: Madrid 1/150 at BetFred, AC Milan 6/17 at Unibet, Ajax 5/2 at Bet365

Group H

Arsenal P3 W3 D0 L0 Pts 9
Shakhtar Donestk P3 W2 D0 L1 Pts 6
Braga P3 W1 D0 L2 Pts 3
Partizan P3 W0 D0 L3 Pts 0

This is taking the path which was it was fully expected to really. Arsenal are head and shoulders above the rest, and the dominant force in the group. Their 5-1 thrashing of second placed Shakhtar Donetsk pretty much put a seal on that, and that was against the Ukrainians who were in pretty decent form. So, Arsenal will be expected to take the group title, especially if they come through their trip to the Ukraine on match day four unscathed. It should be plain sailing for them then. Donetsk was always going to look the second strongest side in the group, and neither Braga nor Partizan have looked anywhere good enough really. Expect an Arsenal – Donetsk 1-2 finish to the group. It should be a formality.
Group H winner: Arsenal 1/6 at SkyBet, Donetsk 7/1 at ExtraBet
Group H To Qualify: Arsenal 1/100 at Coral, Donetsk 2/9 at Boylesports, Braga 9/2 at Paddy Power

Inter Milan v Spurs Champions League Betting Odds

Inter Milan to win: 3/4 at Boylesports
Draw: 14/5 at Bwin
Spurs to win: 9/2 at SkyBet

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Inter Milan v Spurs Betting and Match Preview:

This is a battle for supremacy at the top of Group A, after both Inter and Spurs have won one match and drawn one. This is one of the highlight matches of match day three on Wednesday, and if Spurs give a good account of themselves, then there is every possibility of seeing an upset here. Redknapp needs the kind of displays which saw his Tottenham side beat Benitez’s Liverpool three times in three home matches in the Premier League. Inter do have a good record against English teams at home though, winning seven, drawing three and losing just two. But there is great incentive for Spurs in the stats, because until Mourinho plotted the downfall of Chelsea at the San Siro last season, Inter hadn’t won in four home matches against English opposition. Spurs have enjoyed strong starts to their matches in the Champions League this year, including the qualifying matches. That is exactly what they need to do against the Italians. For your football betting on this one, a draw is a realistic and viable option as an outcome. The online bookmakers have Spurs as rank outsiders to win this match, and that is understandable, as the San Siro can be an intimidating place to travel to. Perhaps Spurs will be looking for a draw themselves, as that would keep them in a strong position, and will then look to take their chances against Inter at White Hart Lane. The outright draw price is tempting enough to back outright, alternatively look for Spurs plus in Asian handicap betting. A plus 0.75 is around evens at Bet365, while a +0.25 is 6/4 at Bet365. Backing a score draw at Boylesports brings a nice 4/1 price, while home side Inter to win by one goal is 11/4 at Bet365.

Inter Milan v Spurs Betting Tip: Tottenham +0.5 Asian Handicap 6/5 at Bet365

Inter Milan Betting:

With Rafa Benitez at the helm, Inter Milan really aren’t expected to go out and defend their title. That is the frank upshot of the Champions League this season. Inter have managed just one goal in their last three matches, which included a defeat by leaders Roma. Inter are third in Serie A, but are falling short in the goal scoring charts compared to the teams around them. They did turn on the style a bit on match day two when they beat Bremen 4-0 at the San Siro, but the frailties which were seen in their opening 2-2 draw against Twente are there. They are not as solid a team as they were last year, and they are there for the taking. There is nothing for Spurs to fear here, although Inter have all the pedigree and are expected to win the group. Both teams are on four points, and that means one of them will be able to stretch their legs a little bit with a victory. Benitez holds the better of the head to head record against Redknapp, and while he was in charge at Liverpool, he won on both occasions when Spurs visited Anfield. He will be happy enough being in the relative safety of his own back yard, and on a current streak of five straight home wins in the Champions League, there is big expectations for Inter do deliver against Spurs. They will find the challenge a little different in Spurs, who should provide a faster opposition than what they have faced before. Inter like it slow and steady, and if this were still Mourinho in charge, they would be a lot sounder defensively and you would have little problem in backing them. However, there is a air of uncertainty about them, and they have shown glimpses of vulnerability about them. They need Eto’o to fire for them, because there isn’t too much goal scoring threat coming from elsewhere. Eto’o is 7/5 at Unibet as Anytime Goalscorer. Sneijder is 11/4 at Unibet in the same market. The ever dangerous Wesley Sneijder needs to be kept an eye on as well. Inter should be safe for a draw at the very least here. Home advantage counts for a lot, and often saves teams from total embarrassment.

Spurs Betting:

Huge Champions League match for Spurs in their first season in the competition. Arguably they have played their best football of the season in the Champions League this season, as boss Harry Redknapp starts to feel his way into Europe’s elite club competition, playing the balancing act between domestic and European matches. Spurs have won one and drew one so far, but it could have been even better reading for the North London side as they blew a 2-0 lead away to Bremen in their opening match. They followed that up though by giving the home fans their first taste of Champions league group stage football by beating FC Twente 4-1. Spurs have actually been quite fearless in their matches and on the large part, despite the lapses in concentration against the Germans, have looked pretty strong. There were doubts coming into the competition as to how well they would hold up on their first attempt, but they have played their way into contention, and with Bremen struggling for form, there is a great opportunity here for Spurs. They will now face their toughest test of the campaign as they head to Italy to face the defending Champions Inter Milan. While Milan have only conceded one goal at home this season, they haven’t been what you would call prolific in the goal scoring department. That will give Spurs a lot of hope, even though they aren’t in top goal scoring form themselves. Spurs are still with Jermain Defoe, which has been a big blow for them, and new signing Rafael van der Vaart has been stepping up to the plate, but Spurs need a little more from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch if they are going to progress. Crouch is best priced as a Spurs Anytime Goalscorer for 16/5 at Unibet. They are going to be the main sources of goals for Spurs for the time being. This isn’t just another Champions League group match, this is for supremacy at the top of Group A. A win for Spurs away at Inter would be huge and they are in with a good chance, as Harry Redknapp takes on Rafa Benitez, and will look to get another one over the Spaniard after keeping Liverpool out of the top four in the Premier League last year. Do Spurs have enough in them to take down the Italians? Yes, but it will need a big night for them, and they have to be brave again. The most likely method of a victory is a Draw/Tottenham halftime/fulltime bet which brings 16/1 at SkyBet. They have found a good goal scoring touch in Europe and they don’t want to find themselves chasing a game. Spurs need to keep the tempo high and throw Inter off their more conservative game. The only thing which may be worrying Redknapp, is the problems that Spurs are having keeping a clean sheet, which hasn’t happened in the Premier League since their opening fixture. This truly is a big test of their Champions League potential now, and the Spurs defence will have to keep a close watch on Samuel Eto’o. Every chance of a shock here, as long as Spurs don’t get overwhelmed or dragged into a slow match.

Inter Milan v Spurs Football Betting Prediction: Draw

Group A

Inter Milan v Tottenham Hotspur

Inter Milan to win: 3/4 at Boylesports
Draw: 14/5 at Bwin
Spurs to win: 9/2 at SkyBet

See our full match betting preview here

FC Twente v Bremen

Twente to win: 7/5 at Boylesports
Draw: 5/2 at SkyBet
Werder Bremen to win: 2/1 at BetFred

Just as the other match is a battle for the top of Group A, this one is to see who get further away from the bottom. Twente and Bremen are both on one point at the moment, with Bremen holding Spurs, and Twente holding Inter for their respective points. A lot more was expected from German side Bremen really, as German sides are usually tough and difficult to beat. However, Bremen are in some very poor form this year and it shows in the Champions league. They were outclassed in a heavy 4-0 away defeat to Inter, and they should have been buried at home by Spurs when they fell 2-0 behind. You put these two sides on paper and you would fancy Bremen as the stronger team. However the form is letting them down, and confidence as well, and you could visibly see that in their last outing. This will give Twente a good chance to shine again at home, and after holding Inter Milan to a 2-2 draw, they actually go into the match as favourite. However there really is little to separate them, and it’s a tough call picking a winner out of them. If you want a winner then a simply betting strategy is to go with the narrow home advantage this one will bring. However, a draw is a plausible outcome here.
Tip: Draw

Group B

Schalke v Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Schalke to win: 1/2 at victor Chandler
Draw: 7/2 at Totesport
Hapoel Tel Aviv to win: 7/1 at Bet365

This is one your football predictions will have home win written all over it. After losing to Lyon in their opening fixture, German side Schalke overturned Benfica 2-0 in a comfortable home victory. They will have been happy to get that one under their belt, and having seen Lyon beat Hapoel away from home, Schalke will see this as an easy two points. You football betting should as well. Schalke are actually in the relegation zone in the Bundesliga and could only manage a home draw against bottom side Stuttgart on the weekend. They aren’t in great form, but they should still have the energy and quality to beat Hapoel who have shipped five goals in two matches in the Champions League. They have Klaas Jan Huntelaar up front who is firing on all cylinders at the moment at international level, and in the domestic league. Huntelaar is 11/10 at Bet365 to get on the score sheet as Anytime Goalscorer. They also have ex Real Madrid legend Raul who is 11/8 at SkyBet. As for Hapoel, the really haven’t managed to pose much of a threat to anyone. Look for a home win in this one, as German grounds are notoriously intimidating at the best of times to travel to.
Tip: Schalke to win

Lyon v Benfica

Lyon to win: 5/4 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at SkyBet
Benfica: 13/5 at BetFred

Lyon are always one of those sides which you look to and think that they should be a banker at home. They are always hanging around the Champions League, and always give a good account of themselves. They reached the semi finals of the competition last year, ousting Real Madrid along the way, and they are very sound group stage players. After seeing off the main threat of Schalke in their opening match, and backing that up with a comfortable win over Hapoel, they now have a comfortable home match against Hapoel. Another three points will see them on maintain at least the three point lead they hold now. Six goals in two games shows that there is no shortage of confidence up front. Portugal’s Benfica got themselves off to a nice start by beating Hapoel, who are regarded as the weakest side in the group, before falling to Schalke on match day two. That was really a missed opportunity for the Portuguese, who didn’t find the Germans in great form, but still couldn’t get the better of them. Now they have the extremely hard task of trying to get the better of one of the best Champions League performers around in Lyon. They travel to France as underdogs, and your football betting should easily reflect that. Expect Lyon to push on comfortably with a win and maintain expected progress towards winning the group.
Tip: Lyon to win

Group C

Manchester United v Bursaspor

Man Utd to win: 2/9 at 888Sport
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
Bursaspor to win: 14/1 at Bodog

See our full match betting preview here

Rangers v Valencia

Rangers to win: 13/5 at BetFred
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Valencia to win: 5/4 at Totesport

It may be a little bit of a surprise to some as to how well Scottish Champions Rangers are do in the Champions League so far. With no automatic place in the competition from next season for the winners of the Scottish Premier League, Rangers have to go for broke. They sit on four points, level with Man Utd at the top of the group, and a lot of that was down to the incredible amount of hard work which they put in to earn themselves a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. Many had expected the Scots to go there and get walked all over, but they didn’t. In many ways they generally held on comfortably and made Man Utd look a bit lethargic and devoid of ideas. That was to their credit, and even more to the credit of Rangers, they sneaked themselves a win against Bursaspor in their second match, leaving them unbeaten after two matches. Man Utd and Valencia were supposed to be the strong teams to lead the way, and that may yet happen. Valencia really were the better team against Man Utd, but they just never took their chances, and the Spaniards paid the price when United stole a late goal through Hernandez to claim all three points. Up until that point, Valencia really had looked the most likely to win, and with their 4-0 thumping of Bursaspor prior to that, Valencia have to be strong favourites in your betting for this one. They are a good, quality side, and could over power Rangers. Rangers need one of their biggest European nights at home to stay in contention in the group with this one. However, you have to question the lack of firepower in Europe, and it is hard to see them outscoring Valencia.
Tip: Valencia to win

Group D

Panathinaikos v Rubin Kazan

Panathinaikos to win: 9/5 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at Boylesports
Rubin Kazan to win: 7/4 at Victor Chandler

There is still a lot to play for in this group really, and this is an important match. Rubin were seen as one of those potential dark horses in the tournament, and difficult to beat. Their opening day loss against Copenhagen really put the dampeners on that reputation, and now they find themselves on one point from two matches and in danger of being out of the qualification race. However, a win for them here would really get them back on track with Copenhagen and Barcelona squaring off. Rubin put in a better performance on match day two, frustrating the might of Barcelona in Russia in a 1-1 draw. That was more of what was expected from them, and you have to look at them as favourites to go on and win this one, if they are to give a serious account of themselves. Panathiakos haven’t shown up to the races yet, as the Greeks have suffered two defeats and only one goal. They got hammered 5-1 by Barcelona on the opening day, and then lost at home to Copenhagen, leaving them bottom and without a point. There doesn’t look enough quality to really challenge for a qualification spot, but this is their best chance of picking up at least a point. A draw here looks very promising, otherwise would lean towards  Kazan sneaking it by the odd goal. Nothing more than that, in what should be a tight match.
Tip: Draw

Barcelona v Copenhagen

Barcelona to win: 1/7 at Bet365
Draw: 15/2 at Victor Chandler
Copenhagen to win: 20/1 at BetFred

Not many would have expected to see Copenhagen topping Group D after a couple of matches. TO their credit though, the Danes have done what Barcelona have failed to do, and that is win their opening two matches. What is more pleasing about the performances of the Danes, is that they have really ran a tight ship and kept two clean sheets with good, organised defensive displays. While the win against Panathinaikos was somewhat expected, holding on to a 1-0 against Rubin showed some good mettle. With Barcelona trailing Real Madrid in La Liga, and after only managing a 1-1 draw away at Rubin on match day two, the mighty Catalan side really need a victory here. It looks as if it is not going to be as comfortable as a ride as they would have thought when the draw was made. Anything less than a win for Barcelona would really set the cat amongst the pigeons and in situations like this, your football betting is generally well served by backing the favourites to come through any little awkward tricky patch. A good away win would put Barcelona firmly in the driving seat of Group D, in which they sit in second place at the moment, two points behind Copenhagen. Barcelona will have home advantage left against Copenhagen and Rubin still to come.
Tip: Away win

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Group A

FC Twente v Inter Milan

The defending champions Inter Milan kick off the defence of their title away to FC Twente of the Netherlands. Twente came from nowhere and shocked the establishment in Dutch football last year when they won the Eredivise. That was the first time they had won the domestic title, and it secured their unexpected place amongst Europe’s elite in the Champions League this year. Being newcomers to the top stage in European club football, Twente look, to some degree to be making up the numbers in Group A. Scour Dutch newspapers and sports feeds and you will see that there they are expected to be heavy underdogs in the group, and especially against the illustrious team that Rafa Benitez can field for Inter Milan. Tests don’t get much tougher than meeting the European Champions in your first ever Champions League match, but, with the Dutch side being at home, you can expect plenty of spirit and a lot of that underdog passion to shine through. Twente have gotten off to an OK start again this year in their domestic league, sitting third with their most notable stat showing that they have only conceded one goal in their five league games. As for Inter Milan, they have lost their most important part, Jose Mourinho, to be replaced by former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez. Inter are not expected to come close again to winning the tournament this year, and you can see that in Champions League betting. They have won one and drawn one in their first two league games so far, and while they will be expected to get out of the group, they may not have it all their own way. They won’t be as defensively sound as last year, adding some vulnerability to their results. They probably don’t have enough in the tank to win the tournament, but they should get off to a good start here, but it won’t be easy at all. Twente will come at them with pace, not something Inter is particularly well built to deal with, but they have enough quality individuals to battle through.
FC Twente to win: 7/2 at Bet365
Draw: 5/2 at SkyBet
Inter Milan to win: 10/11 at BetFred

Werder Bremen v Tottenham

Tough start to their first Champions League venture for Tottenham. Werder Bremen at home is not an easy place to go to, and with Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson, and awaiting full fitness of Luka Modric, Spurs are up against it. They need to play a very smart defensive game and not get carried away by the emotion of the night. Read our full Werder Bremen v Tottenham betting review here:
Werder Bremen to win: 5/4 at Paddy Power
Draw: 5/2 at Totesport
Tottenham to win: 11/4 at SkyBet

Group B

Lyon v Schalke

This seems as if it will be one of the more entertaining matches of Match Day one and a close contest. Lyon have a great history in the Champions League and came close again to glory last year when they reached the semi finals. They are wonderfully hard working and diligent team, and enjoy causing upsets in the Champions League. They got the better of Real Madrid in the first knockout stage last year to progress, and that is how much of a force they can be when they get it right on the night. As for German teams, you can generally back them to put in a good performance in the Champions League. Schalke made it to the quarter finals in 2007/08 but didn’t get through qualification last year to enter the Champions League proper. They did pick up Dutch striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar to boost their forwards, and he will likely be a threat during the tournament. These two teams look fairly evenly matched as both have gotten off to pretty poor starts to their new domestic seasons. Schalke have lost all three of their opening Bundesliga matches, while Lyon have picked up just one win from five matches (with two drawn). A draw here would not be too much of a surprise, but if you are looking for a winner, Lyon generally have a habit of sneaking matches by the odd goal in the Champions League. Both of these teams should be front runners to qualify from Group B.
Lyon to win: Evens at Totesport
Draw: 5/2 at Stan James
Schalke to win: 10/3 at Ladbrokes

Benfica v Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Another fresh face in the Champions League this year, Hapoel are only the third team from Israel to take part in the competition. They are one of five clubs making their Champions League debut, and that lack of experience will naturally be some kind of hindrance to them in the long run. Portuguese opponents Benfica on the other hand, have had plenty of cracks of the Champions League whip and their best effort in the competition came back in 2005/06 when they reached the quarter finals. Neither team are expected to be much of a threat, and in a group with Lyon and Schalke, if either get into the knockout stages it will be something of a surprise. Benfica will have the best chance of doing so though, and you can expect them to edge this one, even though they are another team which is having a poor start to the season. In the Portuguese league, they have won just one of their opening four matches. Hapoel did come through qualification quite well, helped nicely along by Mahran Lala who hit three goals in four matches. They could cause an upset, but being away from home will make things all that much more difficult for them.
Benfica to win: 4/9 at Paddy Power
Draw: 7/2 at Boylesports
Hapoel Tel Aviv to win: 8/1 at Ladbrokes

Group C

Bursaspor v Valencia

What do we know about Bursaspor for our Champions League betting? Well, the Turkish side are one of the debutant sides in the competition this year, and they have an interesting opening against Italian side Valencia. To back up their efforts of getting into the Champions League, they have climbed straight back to the top of their domestic league, with four wins out of four for the new season. They have also only conceded one goal in those matches. Turkish sides are usually quite physical and like a good midfield battle, but then at the flick of a switch pull out some wonderful creative move. This should be a good match, especially with the fanatic home crowd pulling out the stops. Valencia though, look to be a good quality side, and could be one of the dark horses of the tournament. They have won their opening two matches in Spain’s La Liga, and really gave a great account of themselves last year in the tough league. Don’t forget, Valencia reached two Champions League finals back in 2000 and 2001 and there is a lot of belief that they can make and impact here. They will be favourites to qualify from Group C which also houses Manchester United and Rangers, and they could give teams a big headache. Not the easiest of starts because of the enthusiasm of the Turks, but nonetheless, you have to look towards them to run out as winners here, however uncomfortable if they are going to stand up and be counted.
Bursaspor to win: 9/4 at Ladbrokes
Draw: 9/4 at Bet365
Valencia to win: 6/4 at Paddy Power

Manchester United v Rangers

A nice Battle of Britain scenario to get the Champions League underway this year. Scottish champions Rangers head south with the formidable task of trying to unseat Manchester United at Old Trafford. United though are showing defensive frailties at the moment, failing to kill of games. Is this the right time for Rangers to cause a major Champions League shock? Read our full Manchester United v Rangers preview here
Manchester United to win: 1/5 at Boylesports
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
Rangers to win: 18/1 at Totesport

Group D

Barcelona v Panathinaikos

Here come the mighty Catalans Barcelona, now with the added factor of Spain’s goal machine David Villa playing up front for them. But wait, in their opening La Liga fixture, Josep Guardiola saw his side defeated at the Nou Camp by two goals to nil by Hercules. That was the big shock of the football betting weekend as Barcelona, pre tournament favourites to win the Champions League will have been rocked by that. Quite where that came from, Barcelona fans will be left wondering. Barca were expected to deliver the goods last year in the Champions League, but they found Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan just too much of a defensive stalwart to break down. The pressure is always on them to deliver, and now with Mourinho at rivals Real Madrid, the two Spanish clubs are expected to press hard for European glory here. They still have a squad which is an embarrassment of riches, and they will make for a sensible Champions League bet as outright winners. When you field Lionel Messi, David Villa, Xavi, Iniesta and co, then you are always in with a chance. Barca also picked up Javier Mascherano from Liverpool and really once they start clicking again and getting momentum, they will hard to take down. They fire off this new campaign against Panathinaikos who are just two matches into their new domestic season, and remain unbeaten there. The Greeks are one of those teams which pretty much continuously just grace the group stages of the competition, and they never look as if they have enough quality to really threaten the top sides. They could face a bit of a Barca backlash after that shock defeat, and anything less than a comfortable pick up of maximum points for Barcelona, really would be an even bigger shock than the La Liga loss. They have a lot to prove and need to come out firing.
Barcelona to win: 1/7 at Bet365
Draw: 8/1 at Stan James
Panathinaikos to win: 20/1 at SkyBet

FC Copenhagen v Rubin Kazan

This is quite an interesting match, from the point of view of who should finish second in the group behind Barcelona. Copenhagen make their Champions League return after four years out, and they could be quite a handful if their league form are anything to go by. They are strong leaders at the top of the Danish league, and while the Danish league may trigger raised eyebrows over the quality levels, they are full of optimism and see this match as a massive chance to take out one of the strongest competitors in the group. Rubin Kazan caused a shock in last year’s Champions League when they beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp, and held Inter Milan to a draw as well. They looked to be a breath of fresh air, but they couldn’t hold everything together in the end, and the Russian champions finished third behind Barca and Inter. Now they are paired back with Barcelona in Group D, and while we await that rematch, they should be the stronger force in this match, and should be able to build on their experience of last year. Rubin Kazan themselves appear confident of getting a draw out of this match, at the very least, and will be worth looking at if you want to edge a winner. However, this looks as if it will end up in some form of parity, as Rubin drew three of their group matches last year. Neither team will have enough of a cutting edge to threaten if they make it through to the knockout stages, but realistically, behind Barcelona, you would tip the Russians to take that spot.
FC Copenhagen to win: 7/4 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 23/10 at Stan James
Rubin Kazan to win: 9/5 at Boylesports