CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH DAY 3&4 PICKS
SportsBeat!
Written by Aaron Cantin
It may have a rough matchday 1 and 2 for myself, but the excitement on the pitch did not disappoint. The big news, of course, Barcelona getting thrashed at home by PSG. I expected PSG to put up a hard fight. I didn't even bother to think Barcelona wouldn't. PSG has shown their class and has proven they will be a tough team to eliminate.
Canadian professional soccer player Alphonso Davies; Source: VoxMedia | Photo from TF/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Liverpool put all the doubters to rest, lulling RB Leipzig to sleep with a solid 2-0 victory. Borussia Dortmund finally found the form they've been looking for, finding the back of the net three times in the first half, putting themselves in a great position heading home. Porto stunned Juventus in a dull 2-1 home win. I say dull because Juventus were nowhere near the level they should be. That should be an exciting matchup in Turin for the return leg in a couple of weeks.
Now that the past is in the past let's look towards the future. Matchdays 3 and 4 have just as much firepower as 1 and 2, and if we're lucky, they will be just as compelling.
Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea
Atletico +150, Draw +210, Chelsea +190
Atletico Madrid is cruising in the La Liga but has stumbled into the Champions League's knockout rounds. Finishing second in a Group behind Bayern Munich is nothing to be ashamed of, however. Chelsea, have slipped up in the English Premier League race and are at full force in the Champions League. They finished the group stage unbeaten, winning four and drawing two.
Atletico is at home, so that is a significant advantage, even without fans. Travelling takes a toll on the opposition, and you can imagine how stressful travelling through Europe can be during the pandemic. Still, Chelsea has the talent. You have to wonder if Atletico Madrid will focus on La Liga rather than the Champions League. I like the English side to earn a hard-fought upset in this one.
- Pick: Chelsea +190
Lazio vs Bayern Munich
Lazio +425, Draw + 333, Bayern -175
Let's begin with reigning champions Bayern Munich. Yes, they are on the road, but that is no excuse for a squad with this much talent. Led by Robert Lewandowski up front, Bayern has numerous ways to beat you, and sometimes Lewandowski will do it on his own. Bayern took care of Group A, finishing with five wins, one draw and no losses. After such a performance, top clubs often fall into a "trap" game, underestimating their opponents and not being entirely focused. Manager Hansi Flick needs to get his squad in the right space between the ears.
On the other hand, you have an Italian squad with absolutely nothing to lose. Qualifying for the knockout stage was the goal heading into the tournament. Everything beyond this is gravy. Lazio has struggled in the Serie A this year, but they have shown glimpses. They also tend to play up (or down) to their opponent's skill. Led by Ciro Immobile up front, I expect Lazio to make this an enjoyable game with the potential of plenty of goals.
- Pick: Bayern Munich -175
Atalanta vs Real Madrid
Atalanta +160, Draw +275, Real Madrid +145
On paper, this is a no-brainer. The deeper you investigate, you begin to wonder if Atalanta has it in them for a massive upset. Real Madrid may have finished first in their group, but they finished with fewer points in the group stage than Atalanta (Real Madrid 10 vs Atalanta's 11).
Real Madrid certainly has their flaws this year, and that was on display in the group stage, finishing with a record of three wins, one draw and two losses. It is worth mentioning that the Italian squad Atalanta were nearly in the Champions League's semi-finals last year before two last-minute PSG goals. They have struggled in the domestic league, however. Real Madrid are comfortably in a Champions League spot in Spain, and Madrid may come into this game a bit too comfortable. I like Atalanta to score first, but ultimately, Madrid's talent will shine.
- Pick: Real Madrid +145
Borussia Monchengladbach vs Manchester City
Borussia +600, Draw +400, Manchester City -250
Manchester City enters this week the largest betting favourite, as they should be. Since the beginning of the calendar year, they have been in great form having yet to lose a match in any competition. They began the season slowly but, City now sits 10 points clear atop the table in England. Travelling to Germany for a knockout match is never an easy task, nor should it be considering the circumstance. Manager Pep Guardiola is made for games like this and has a plethora of talent at his disposal. One man in particular who has been in fine form is the german Ilkay Gundogan. The defensive midfielder scored a brace last weekend and is a man to watch for in this one.
Monchengladbach, meanwhile, has been trending in the opposite direction. The German club began the Bundesliga season strong but have since fallen, currently sitting seventh in the league, outside of a Champions League spot. With lots of work to do in the Bundesliga, Monchengladbach does not have the depth City does to battle on multiple fronts. I expect the home side to create chances, particularly Alassane Plea already sitting on five goals in the Champions League, but it will not be enough to end City's winning streak.
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