CSKA Moscow v Roma, Wednesday, 17.55
On the face of it Roma look reasonably priced at 11/10 having beaten the Russians 3-0 in Italy a fortnight ago.
However, the Italian side’s away form in the Champions League is patchy, losing their last five. They’ve shipped 16 goals in the process and are shy a few players.
Granted CSKA are no Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barca or Atletico, but they have shown enough to suggest this game won’t be a gimme. They’ve lost just two of their last eight Champions League home games (to Basel & Man Utd last season) and will be emboldened by their 1-0 home win over an out-of-form Real Madrid.
On a brighter note, former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has scored 10 Champions League goals this calendar year and has hit the net at least twice in his last two fixtures in this competition.
The 32-year-old may not be as effective doing the donkey work up front if Roma try to play safe and we think there’s enough uncertainty about both sides ability to win outright to call this a draw at 13/5.
Prediction: CSKA Moscow v Roma to draw @ 13/5.
Lyon v Hoffenheim, Wednesday, 20.00
Were you watching when these two teams played each other in the previous Champions League matchday?
If not, it finished 3-3, and was an absolute thriller. These sides love to score, but aren’t exactly tight at the back.
In Hoffenheim’s last ten matches, 36 goals have been scored, during which time they only failed to score once (away at Leipzig) and didn’t keep a single clean sheet. BTTS would have hit on nine out of 10 occasions.
For their part, Lyon’s last ten games have yielded 34 goals, with OL managing two clean sheets and only failing to score once, bringing their ‘BTTS Yes’ rate to seven out of 10.
All things considered, both teams finding the net is a strong probability, and with Lyon the home side, we reckon they might take it in a high-scoring contest. So, we’re going for Lyon to win & BTTS at 2/1.
Prediction: Lyon to win & BTTS @ 2/1.
Juventus v Manchester United, Wednesday, 20.00
Make no mistake about it – this could be the defining night in Manchester United’s Group H campaign. And not just because of Wednesday night’s result in Turin.
United’s 0-0 draw at home to Valencia two games ago could yet come back to haunt Jose Mourinho’s side, especially as the Spaniards home tie with Young Boys will be over by kick-off in Turin.
The Special One will be acutely aware of not making Valencia’s task any easier by gifting Juve an early goal and a likely three points. He desperately needs at least a draw in Turin, if the momentum isn’t to swing in Valencia’s favour.
Given United’s erratic form of late, the 1-0 loss to Juve at Old Trafford , wasn’t a huge shock.
However, United can’t afford to fall out of the traps and concede early goals like they did against Newcastle, Chelsea and Bournemouth in the Premier League – even if they did battle back afterwards to win two and draw the other.
United could also suffer because of the way the fixture list has fallen. Another three points for the Old Lady on Wednesday renders the visit of Valencia to Turin at the end of the month meaningless for the home side.
The Red Devils have still to travel to the Mestalla Stadium in mid-December, for what they hope will at least be a shoot-out for the runner-up spot.
Juve exposed all United’s weaknesses at Old Trafford and they can do so again at home.
The price for a home win is 4/7 but we’re going to bump the odds up a bit by predicting Juve to win and both teams to score at 13/5.
Prediction: Juve to win & BTTS @ 13/5.
FC Bayern v AEK Athens, Wednesday 20.00
So far in the 2018-19 Champions League, AEK Athens have proven themselves to be as leaky as a FIFA computer, shipping eight goals in their three games to this point.
Bayern ‘only’ managed two against them last time out, but the Bavarians were away from home on that occasion, so we reckon they’re a good shout for at least three in Munich.
Despite drawing with Ajax at home, Bayern look destined for the next round and can put themselves in pole position with a decent win on Wednesday. We’d expect them to tear apart the Greeks, so we’re taking FC Hollywood to notch three goals or more at 4/9.
Prediction: Bayern Munich to Score 3 or more goals in the match @ 4/9.
Find the latest Champions League odds over at paddypower.com