PORTO v BESIKTAS
Wednesday 13th September 2017 – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League Betting Tips
My last pick for this evening’s Champions League group matches on Matchday one concerns Portuguese club, Porto taking on Turkish outfit, Besiktas at the Estádio Do Dragão with the hosts firing on all cylinders so far this season.
A four-match winning streak in their pre-season club friendlies has continued into the new Portuguese domestic season as Porto have racked up five league wins on the trot in the Primeira Liga with victories chalked up against Estoril, Tondela, Moreirense, Sporting Braga and Chaves, so confidence will be high as they start their Champions League campaign this evening.
In addition, Porto have suffered just two defeats on home soil in their last 15 Champions League matches, so they possess a decent pedigree on home turf at this level. Forwards, Aboubakar (5 goals) and Marega (3 goals) are on fire at the moment.
Visitors Besiktas seem likely to be fighting German club RB Leipzig for the third spot in Group G as they prepare for their tough trip to Porto, and with French champions Monaco also in the mix, the Turkish club’s progress could well hinge upon their results away from home.
This was certainly the case in the group stage of last season’s Champions League as they finished in third spot behind runners-up Benfica and group winners Napoli, and they had to settle for entry into the Europa League as a result.
Besiktas are a hard side to guage away from home at this level as they registered a point at Benfica in a 1-1 draw, then beat Napoli 3-2, but were then handed a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of bottom club, Dynamo Kiev which dashed any hopes of progressing into the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
I have to give the nod, therefore, to Porto for this group opener.
Pick: Porto to win @ 1.58 Unibet
