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Jose Mourinho, aka "The Special One" brings a special refund offer at Centrebet. Chelsea are gearing up for their big match against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night, heading into battle against the familiar figure of ex-boss Jose Mourinho. Centrebet are drumming up interest with a great offer on the Inter Milan vs. Chelsea game, by offering a refund on all losing correct score bets if Mourinho’s men win 1-0. That’s right, because of him being famed for 1-0 results while he was at the helm with the London club, and Centrebet will reward if it happens again. So if you are backing a Chelsea win by the score of 1-0, and Inter finish the match as 1-0 winners instead, you will get a refund on your stake for the losing bet.

Highlighted Correct Scores at Centrebet
Inter to win 1-0: 7.00
Inter to win 2-1: 10.00
Chelsea to win 0-1: 7.20
Chelsea to win 1-2: 10.00
Draw 0-0: 7.20
Draw 1-1: 6.00

So join up with Centrebet today to take advantage of this offer ahead of the big match on Wedneday.

The big influx on sports betting, and football headlines of the week will be surrounding the re-uniting of The Special One, Jose Mourinho with Chelsea. Inter Milan host Chelsea on Wednesday, the second of two major Italian v English Champions League clashes. Manchester United beat AC Milan 3-2 at the San Siro last week, and Chelsea will be hoping to leave with less damage done to their defence. Mourinho spent 3 and a half successful years at Stamford Bridge, winning the Premier League title twice for the Stamford Bridge outfit, building a lot on defence. Now he will have to use all of his craft and while to undo a lot of the legacy that he built, which still remains in place today under the new management of Carlo Ancelotti.

Mourinho is one of the great characters of the game, and is something to consider when looking at online betting prices on this match. Between two evenly matched teams, the manager can make all the difference. Both confident and outspoken, Mourinho certainly knows how to play up to the press, and is in many ways refreshing in his honesty. He left Stamford Bridge under a bit of cloud, but his efforts were greatly appreciated by the Chelsea faithful. Mourinho took over at the helm of Inter Milan, after they sacked now Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini for not brining them Champions League success. That is the amount of pressure which Mourinho is under, and while they are stretching their legs at the top of Serie A, domestic honours is often not enough these days for Europe’s elite. A season is apparently not complete without Champions League honours.

For the Nerazzuri, three Serie A titles in a row certainly wasn’t enough, and it cost Mancini his job, and Mourinho has yet to make a real impact with Inter in the Champions League. Keen to build a team with his identity all over it, Mourinho sold Zlatan Imbrahimovic, and brought in Samuel Eto’o, Wesley Sniejder and Diego Milito, which many believe gave Inter a lot more strength. Since the deal, which was a gamble, betting on team quality as opposed to a superstar, Inter have developed from being a one dimensional team, which was hitting the big man Ibrahimovic, to one with attacking threat from everywhere. Sneijder and Diego Milito look to have been two strokes of genius by The Special One, as both have been in outstanding for this season. The pressure is now on Mourinho to deliver in the Champions League, and to make Inter one of the strong favourites, like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Wednesday night’s opponents Chelsea, season after season.

Inter suffered a small set back on Sunday, when they were held to a 0-0 draw against Sampdoria, in which they had Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba sent off. Betting on them remains strong to win Serie A, but perhaps discipline is becoming a factor as the pressure mounts, as Sniejder was shown a red card too in their derby win over AC Milan. That wasn’t the end of it though, as two more players picked up bans for incidents off the pitch, and Mourinho will find himself in hot water again after making a “handcuffs” gesture about the refereeing decisions going against his team. Mourinho doesn’t believe that too much has changed since he left. After recently taking a trip to Stamford Bridge to soak up the atmosphere and so that the return fixture wouldn’t get caught up in the emotions of the first time being back there, Mourinho understands exactly where Chelsea are at under Ancelotti.

Mourinho believes that defensive tactics and positioning are the same, the formations of a 4-4-2 diamond and a 4-3-3 which Chelsea switch between are still in place from his days there. So to is the warm up procedure, and of course, the bulk of the players. The likes of Terry, Lampard, Carvalho, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba were all part of Mourinho’s success at the club. Chelsea are top  of the Premier League at the moment, but haven’t looked as consistent as in past season. Still, they remain one of the favourites to lift the domestic title, as well as the FA Cup and Champions League for the first time. They are the nearly men of the Champions League, and Mourinho himself suffered two semi finals defeats while in charge. It is hard to see Inter losing at home, as Mourinho hasn’t lost a home league game in 8 years, and betting strategies should reflect that, as well as Chelsea‘s slightly dodgy away form.

This is the big clash of knock-out stages, and a tight game should be in order. Does Mourinho have an advantage by knowing Chelsea? Or do the Chelsea players have an advantage in knowing Mourinho? Chelsea earned a battling 2-0 win away at Wolves on the weekend, and they have had their problems against lower opposition away from Stamford Bridge this season. They do have the players with the big match experience though, and they will need all of that on Wednesday night. Inter Milan keeper Julio Cesar was involved in a car accident on Sunday, which may keep him out the first leg, with bruising and cuts. He will be assessed ahead of the game, otherwise Francesco Toldo will step in.

BETTING STATS

Last 5 Match Goals (League)
Inter Milan: 5 For, 1 Against
Chelsea: 8 For, 5 Against

Overall Stats (League and Cups)
Inter Milan: P35, W22, D10, L3
Chelsea: P39, W27, D8, L4

Win Percentage
Inter Milan have an overall 62.9 win percentage
Inter Milan have a 75.0 win percentage at home

Chelsea have an overall 69.2 win percentage
Chelsea have a 47/4 win percentage away from home

Last 10 Match Form
Inter Milan: W6, D4, L0
Chelsea: W8, D1, L1

Champions League Form:
Inter Milan: DDDWLW
Chelsea: WWWDWD

Match Prices:
Inter Milan to win: 7/4 at Totesport
Draw: 21/10 at Bwin
Chelsea: 19/10 at BetFred

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Not much to choose in the betting above, but Inter’s a pretty nice price at home. Inter Milan finished as Runner’s Up in their group, behind Barcelona. They did hold Barca to a 0-0 draw, so this isn’t going to be an easy task for Chelsea, although only two wins for Inter out of their six group matches wasn’t startling form. They have a great midfield, but there shouldn’t be too much to chose between the teams on the night. A draw is favourable in the betting, but Chelsea shouldn’t be too overawed by the occasion. Carlo Ancelotti will know about the Italian way of course, and should be an even contest between two very good sides. Depending on which way you are going to lean here are some betting options. 
Chelsea +0.5 Asian Handicap: 1/2 at Bet365 is a decent price
Or
Inter Milan -0.75 Asian Handicap: 2/1 at Bet365 is a similarly nice price

It could be said that David Beckham has inspired AC Milan since his arrival back at the San Siro on loan from LA Galaxy. Since Becks rejoined the Rossoneri, they have romped to three very convincing victories, their last one being a cool 3-0 win over Juventus. Now Sunday looks forward to a massive Milan derby at the San Siro, which could have a major impact on the outcome of the league. The “Special One” Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan have been leading the way at the top of Serie A for most of the season, but are now starting to feel a little bit of heat under their collar.

After a poor, sluggish start to the season, AC Milan have turned their season around under manager Leonardo’s guidance. Now they sit just six points behind their fierce rivals, but have a game in hand over the leaders. This places enormous importance on the Milan derby on Sunday, as a win for AC would make Inter sweat even more. A win would really tie things up closely at the top, but they can ill afford to let Inter draw nine points clear again. That would be a major points difference to overhaul in the run in. AC Milan do seem to have the form on their side at the moment, and Inter’s selection problems have seen them have to dig very deep to avoid defeats in their last couple of matches. Both times they have come back from behind, but if they fall behind to AC Milan, then it could be a seriously different story.

Catch the action with Bet365’s live streaming service. You will be able to enjoy some Live In-Play betting as you watch one of the most passionate derby matches around. Can Beckham play a major part? Bet365 offer 4/1 on Beckham as Anytime scorer.

David Beckham will be hoping that he gets the chance to do all he can to influence matters on Sunday, where he will probably start from the bench. It is the midfield where this battle will be won or lost. Mourinho has selection problems after losing most of his midfield, to the point where has had to get very inventive with his formations. Mourinho is also without the services of striker Samuel Eto’o, who is away in the African Cup of Nations. AC Milan boss Leonardo does have a lot of injury worries too, so neither side may be at completely full strength for this match. That could lead to Beckham playing an extended role, but they need to be steadfast at the back as well, where they could have a major hole if Nesta isn’t fit enough to take to the pitch.

That doesn’t mean that there won’t still be an embarrassment of riches on display though. AC’s Ronaldinho is in some seriously hot form, and netted himself a hat-trick just last week. He will be the key figure of AC Milan, who are technically the away team, and Inter will need to make sure that they close him down as much as possible. The Brazilian has scored seven of AC Milan’s last dozen goals. With the Italians already being extremely passionate about their football, the fans of AC will be hoping that things go better than the last time they met. Earlier in the season, Inter stamped their authority of AC by hammering them 4-0. AC can’t afford such a disaster again, and they are a team far removed from the poor confidence and form from the start of the season.

BETTING STATS

Last 5 Head to Head
AC Milan 0, Inter Milan 4
Inter Milan 2, AC Milan 1
AC Milan 1, Inter Milan 0
AC Milan 2, Inter Milan 1
Inter Milan 2, AC Milan 1

Last 5 Match Goals
Inter Milan – 9 For, 6 Against
AC Milan – 15 For, 4 Against

Last 10 Form
Inter Milan – W6, D3, L1
AC Milan – W8, D1, L1

Match Prices
Inter Milan to win: 13/8 at BetFred
Draw: 11/5 at Coral
AC Milan to win: 2/1 at SkyBet

Betting Advice: Very tough call on this one. Draw’s aren’t particularly common in the Milan derby, and if you really had to pick a winner, you would probably, cautiously lean towards AC Milan. Perfect for chance for:
AC Milan Draw No Bet – 11/10 at William Hill

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.

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

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

It is time to return to Champions League action for the big four in England, plus Rangers, who are Scotland’s sole representatives this year. All four English clubs managed a win in their first outings, but they were all performances which did just enough, rather than flatter. Such things can be easily excused so early in the season after new summer signings, but Match Day 2 often signals the settling down of the groups and getting into some kind of European swing of things.

Group E
Fiorentina v Liverpool
Debrecen v Lyon
Liverpool and Lyon were both 1-0 victors over Debrecen and Fiorentina respectively in their opening home matches. They both hit the road this week, with the Reds trundling off to Italy to play the famous Viola. They will be hoping to continue playing a merry tune, as their recent form has seen them scoring freely, largely thanks to Torres and Gerard. Lyon are going along nicely in the French league, sitting in second place and having only suffered one defeat all season. They, Fiorentina and Liverpool in their respective leagues are all kind of in similar standings, so there appears there won’t be too much to choose between these three. Hungarians Debrecen host their first ever Champions League fixture at home, and they couldn’t get much of a tougher task than facing Lyon. Will the sense of occasional overwhelm them, or will the electricity surrounding the event give them the much fabled extra man and help them secure a famous result?

Betting Tips:
Liverpool to draw: 5/2 at Stan-James
Lyon to win: 5/11 at Expekt

To Win Group E
Liverpool – 4/6 at Coral
Lyon – 2/1 at Ladbrokes
Fiorentina – 9/1 at PaddyPower
Debrecen – 150/1 at Bet365

Group F
Rubin Kazan v Inter Milan
Barcelona v Dynamo Kiev
The big opening match in Group F, well, of the Champions League itself really, fizzled out to a 0-0 draw as Jose Mourinho saw his Inter Milan team hold current holders Barcelona. Barcelona looked the better team on the night, and the battle of the two swapped strikers, E’to and Ibrahimovic wasn’t really settled and so we shall await the next fixture in Barcelona. Until then, the Italians face a trip to Russian title holders Rubin Kazan, who lost their first ever Champions League fixture 3-1 to Ukranians Dynamo Kiev. Rubin Kazan was a bit of unknown quantity coming into the tournament this year, but that result against their more established foes, will have put some minds at ease, but perhaps stirred up others about Kiev. Rubin Kazan now get the chance to give their home fans a taste of the Champions League for the first time ever, and what a spectacle they will have, when the colossal heritage of Inter Milan roll up on their doorstep. But truly, whatever the Russian and Ukranian champions can muster up, its not ever likely to threaten tp be enough to get out of the group stage. Inter and Barcelona should be far too strong over the course of the group.

Betting Tips:
Inter Milan to win 1-0: 6/1 at SkyBet
Barcelona to win 3-0: 13/2 at 888Sport

To Win Group F
Barcelona – 4/9 at Totesport
Inter Milan – 3/1 at Coral
Dynamo Kiev – 16/1 at ExtraBet
Rubin Kazan – 66/1 at ExtraBet

Group G
Unirea Urziceni v Stuttgart
Rangers v Sevilla
Sevilla are clearly the strongest team in this group, but Rangers have a great chance to get themselves out of the group stages this season. Stuttgart aren’t having their most wonderful season with only two wins from eight attempts in the Bundesliga, and Romanians Unirea Urziceni shouldn’t pose too many threats to anyone else in the group. There are some big nights ahead for Rangers, and they will need to make the most of home advantage. They will need to overturn some worrying trends against Spanish opposition in order to do so, as they have a terrible record against Spanish teams. Still, the fixtures they way they are for Rangers, could help them get a great boost. A draw wouldn’t even be too bad for the Scottish side and will give them a little heart as the underdogs of the group will be visiting Ibrox next. Unirea Urziceni, guided by the ever happy face of ex Chelsea favourite Dan Petrescu top the Hungarian Liga 1, and this truly is their big chance to grab a night of European glory. It’s a big home night for them too, and passions will be high.

Betting Tips:
Sevilla to win: 20/19 at Expekt
Unirea Urziceni to draw: 5/2 at Boylesports

To Win Group G
Sevilla – 8/15 at Ladbrokes
Stuttgart – 7/2 at ExtraBet
Rangers – 6/1 at Totesport or (6/4 to qualify at Victor Chandler)
Unirea Urziceni - 66/1 at ExtraBet

Group H
Arsenal v Olympiakos
AZ Alkmaar v Standard Liege
Arsenal aside, this is possibly the weakest group in the competition. After getting stunned by two goals in the first five minutes against Liege, Arsenal rallied to a 3-2 win. A loss there would have been considered something of a disaster for Arsene Wenger’s team, and they’ll be glad to get back to the Emirates where they have a formidable record. Olympiakos are a decent team, but not of the quality of the Gunners, and while stubborn, should see defeat. AZ Alkmaar aren’t the wonder boys of Dutch football at the moment, as they have lost three times already in their first eight games, and are facing mid table mediocrity. Standard Liege are three points off the top in the Belgian League, and will be somewhat spirited by the performance against the Arsenal, even if they couldn’t sustain it for 90 minutes. If their fixture against Alkmaar was at home, they would probably be worth backing for a win. However, whether they can replicate their early showing against Arsenal away from home is a different matter, but are still worth an outside punt.

Betting Tips:
Arsenal to win 1-0: 13/2 at Extrabet
Standard Liege Draw No Bet: 13/5 at William Hill

To Win Group H
Arsenal – 2/7 at Coral
Olympiakos – 7/1 at Ladbrokes
AZ Alkmaar – 16/1 at ExtraBet
Standard Liege – 66/1 at ExtraBet

Betting Advice. Clearly you are not going to get a lot of market action on the favourites such as Barcelona. Look for slight underdog teams which are home if you are looking for an upset, but opposed to going all out for a shock, consider the draw. Or, if you want to hedge your bets on an underdog, look for Draw No Bet, which will mean that you will break even in the event of a draw, and be laughing if they do win. Asian Handicaps should also offer a little more chance of return, or just double up, or run an accumulator with some of your selections. Winning a little is better than losing everything.