CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHDAY 2 BEST BETS

Soccer

Written by Aaron Cantin

If you’re looking for Champions League predictions, you’ve come to the right place. This week, the second round of group stage fixtures in the Champions League is played. Last season’s winners, Real Madrid, are among the sides in action on Wednesday, while Manchester City hosts Borussia Dortmund.

Below, are some of my best bets ahead of matchday two on Tuesday and Wednesday. Note – this is assuming all English side matches will not be postponed as a result of the Queen’s death over the weekend.

Source (Background Photo): Tottenham Hotspur FC / Getty

Bayern vs. Barcelona

Best Bet: Bayern Munich Win (-112)

We’re not used to anyone being odds on to beat Barcelona but the plight of the Spanish side has been well documented over the summer. Granted, they have started the season strong, are undefeated in La Liga and beat Viktoria Plzen 5-1 in their opening UCL group game.

But Bayern is a totally different proposition and at home, the German giants should command proceedings on Tuesday night. Yes, Barca has ex-Bayern star Robert Lewandowski, and new men Raphinha and Andreas Christensen in the team. But Bayern was slick in their 2-0 win at Inter Milan last midweek.

With Thomas Muller still marshalling the forward line and Sadio Mane now part of that offence, it’s hard to see the hosts not scoring two or more goals here. And that should be enough to get past this Barca side.

FC Porto vs. Club Brugge

Best Bet: Draw ML (+400)

Porto will be without striker Mehdi Taremi following his red card last week. Yes, they can still call upon Evanilson, Joao Mario and Mateus Uribe to provide the attacking threat, but they are certainly blunted.

Relative European minnows Brugge, meanwhile, have begun the season in flying form. The Belgian side is on a six-game winning streak that includes the 1-0 result at Bayer Leverkusen in their first UCL group game. Boss Carl Hoefkens has plenty of options from the bench too. This will be a tighter game than one expects and is one of the better outside bets to place if you’re seeking high odds.

Rangers vs. Napoli

Best Bet: Over 3.5 (+200)

Rangers were at the back end of a thrashing from Ajax last week, losing 4-0 in Amsterdam. It was a sobering loss for boss Giovanni van Bronkhorst and a severe dose of reality upon their return to the Champions League.

Rangers didn’t play over the weekend due to the Queen’s passing, and so they prepare for Napoli’s arrival knowing they need to get at least a point from this game. Anything less and it will be very difficult for Rangers to even finish third in this group.

Napoli beat Liverpool 4-1 last week and was magnificent going forward. They set the trap and Liverpool fell into it time and again. On Wednesday we can expect a similar set-up – a tough defence, a midfield willing to sit deep, and a forward line primed to counterattack. The Rangers should score at Ibrox but Napoli will probably grab a couple. The clear wager, then, is to focus on goals.

Chelsea vs. Salzburg

Best Bet: Chelsea ML (-250)

In the space of a week, Chelsea has sacked their Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel, appointed Brighton boss Graham Potter and his entire backroom staff, avoided having to rush into an EPL game with Fulham at the weekend, and now prepare for what should be a routine UCL home game against Salzburg.

What a difference a week makes. There’s a cliche that clubs enjoy a ‘new manager bounce when the boss is replaced, and Potter will certainly hope to get that at Stamford Bridge. He is one of England’s most highly-respected coaches, but then again, Tuchel was one of Germany’s.

It’s hard to know what’s going to happen to Chelsea this season. They could thrive under Potter, just as they did immediately after Tuchel arrived. Or they could capitulate. He has a new-look team, disjointed in many ways, but at least has a relatively easy opponent in Salzburg to face first. Chelsea, based on squad value alone, should win. But it won’t be an easy game.

Manchester City vs. Dortmund

Best Bet: Draw ML (+700)

Let me make myself perfectly clear. I think Manchester City will win. Do I think Dortmund has enough to make it a close game or even grab a result? Certainly. At +700 it is definitely worth throwing a small bet on this. Besides, Manchester City has to let up at some point, right? The billionaire club thrashed Sevilla 4-0 in their opening Champions League group game and the team has had the weekend off. Now the focus is on crushing Borussia Dortmund – the side Erling Haaland used to play for.

Haaland seems to be the final piece in Pep Guardiola’s jigsaw. He’s scoring for fun, has oodles of supply from those around him, and is physically at his peak. But Dortmund has its own strengths. They were solid against F.C. Copenhagen last week and, while they lost in the Bundesliga at the weekend, they’re an experienced UCL team that knows how to handle big occasions.