All six British clubs are in UEFA Champions League action on Tuesday and Wednesday with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Celtic and Manchester United all away from home. Meanwhile, Manchester City host Napoli on Tuesday, while Chelsea welcome Roma to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. This round of games will give us a very real idea of whether or not any of the British (ok, English!) sides may have what it takes to go all the way this season.
In the UEFA Europa League, the English representatives play on Thursday. Arsenal are in Serbia to face Red Star Belgrade at 6pm. A couple of hours later, Everton entertain Lyon at Goodison Park in a game they need to win.
- Manchester City v Napoli – Manchester City to Win 2-0 (10/1 at Betfair)
- Maribor v Liverpool – Liverpool to Win to Nil (5/6 at Bet365)
- Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur to Win (7/1 at Betfair)
- Bayern Munich v Celtic – Bayern Munich to Win -1 (4/11 at Betfred)
- Benfica v Manchester United – Manchester United to Win by Two Goals (4/1 at Betfair)
- Chelsea v Roma – Chelsea to Win and Both Teams to Score (5/2 at Bet365)
- Red Star Belgrade v Arsenal – Arsenal to Win -1 (23/10 at Coral)
- Everton v Lyon – Draw (12/5 at Ladbrokes)
UEFA Champions League
Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have all taken six points out of six so far. Celtic have picked up three points while Liverpool have two to their name. The likes of Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool have winnable games. However, Spurs, Chelsea and Celtic have very tough fixtures on paper in what is a thrilling midweek of football action.
Manchester City v Napoli – 17th October
Man City have looked unstoppable so far, can they seal yet another victory when they face Italian Serie A high-flyers Napoli at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night? City are the strong favourites to prevail but are the bookies right?
Pep Guardiola’s men have won nine of their 10 games in all competitions this season. They sit top of the Premier League and top of CL Group F. Maurizio Sarri’s side have also made a fine start to their domestic campaign, winning seven out of seven to lead the way in Italy prior to their big weekend clash with Roma.
With City at home, they should have no problems making it nine points out of nine on Tuesday. We like the look of Betfair’s 10/1 for the home team to win 2-0 in this one given how well the Citizens’ defence has been performing this term.
Manchester City to Win 2-0 – 10/1 at Betfair
Maribor v Liverpool – 17th October
After drawing their opening two Champions League games, Liverpool will be targeting all three points when they travel to Slovenia to take on Maribor this Tuesday night.
Disappointing draws with Sevilla and Spartak Moscow have given the Reds work to do in Group E, although they still sit second behind Sevilla. Maribor, meanwhile, have picked up just one point from their opening two matches.
This is a game that Liverpool should be looking to win with ease. We’re backing Jurgen Klopp’s troops to get their campaign up and running with three points on Tuesday. Check out Bet365’s 5/6 for the away side to win to nil – great value against a weak opponent.
Liverpool to Win to Nil – 5/6 at Bet365
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur – 17th October
Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur meet at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday for what promises to be a cracking game of football.
Both sides have taken six points out of six, scored six and conceded one so far. With Borussia Dortmund sitting on zero, these two have given themselves a decent head start. Spurs have looked superb so far, can they shock the holders in the Spanish capital on Tuesday?
Los Blancos have not been at their best this season, especially struggling on home soil, so now seems a great time to play them. The best odds you can get on a Tottenham win are 7/1 with Betfair. With Harry Kane, rumoured to be a Madrid target, firing on all cylinders, have a punt on the Lilywhites to cause an upset in Madrid.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win – 7/1 at Betfair
Bayern Munich v Celtic – 18th October
Bayern Munich have made an uncharacteristically slow start to their season. This Wednesday, the Bavarians will be searching for their first win in four when they welcome Celtic to the Allianz Arena.
Last time out in Europe, Bayern fell to a damaging 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, which signalled the end of Carlo Ancelotti’s time in Munich. As for the Hoops, they sealed a memorable 3-0 away win in Anderlecht.
It may not be quite as straightforward as it would normally be, but the hosts should still have enough to get the job done with ease. Bayern are available at 4/11 (Betfred) to win -1. You can increase those odds significantly by opting for the -2 handicap and that is certainly not something we would advise against if you’re prepared for a little more risk.
Bayern Munich to Win -1 – 4/11 at Betfred
Benfica v Manchester United – 18th October
Jose Mourinho’s Man Utd have shot to two impressive wins in Group A, scoring seven goals and conceding just one along the way. In contrast, Benfica have collected zero points from their opening two.
United are behind Manchester rivals City only on goal difference in the Premier League and they are also flying high in the Champions League. The Red Devils’ last defeat came to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup back in August and they have recorded a number of big wins since.
Despite being on the road, Man Utd should have no problems in this one. Their clash with Liverpool the Saturday prior to this will no doubt take its toll but even so, there is a real gulf in class here. Take a look at Betfair’s 4/1 for Mourinho’s men to win by two goals in Lisbon.
Manchester United to Win by Two Goals – 4/1 at Betfair
Chelsea v Roma – 18th October
Chelsea have beaten Qarabag and Atletico Madrid, the latter away from home, to sit pretty at the top of Group C on six points. Can they make it three wins out of three when they welcome Roma to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday?
Antonio Conte’s side were superb in their 2-1 win in the Wanda Metropolitano last time out in Europe. Michy Batshuayi’s injury-time goal sent the Blues fans home ecstatic.
We believe that they will follow that up with another win in Group C on Wednesday. Roma will be no pushovers, though, so have a punt on Bet365’s 5/2 for Chelsea to win and both teams to score, with 2-1 our correct score prediction here.
Chelsea to Win and Both Teams to Score – 5/2 at Bet365
UEFA Europa League
Arsenal have made a strong start to their Europa League campaign, winning both of their Group H matches with relative ease. In contrast, Everton have picked up just one point from their first two, sitting rock bottom of Group E as a consequence. Can the Toffees seal their first win of the competition in Merseyside on Thursday?
Red Star Belgrade v Arsenal – 19th October
Arsenal travel to Serbia on Thursday to face Red Star Belgrade in Group H. After two wins from two, the Gunners are in first place, two points above Belgrade.
These two will no doubt be battling it out for top spot in the group, so three points for Arsene Wenger’s men on Thursday will do nicely. Arsenal’s fringe and younger players have done a great job so far, easing past Cologne and BATE Borisov.
The Gunners have been in great form since their 4-0 drubbing at Anfield in August. We fancy them to win this one comfortably, with Coral’s 23/10 for the Londoners to win -1 standing out.
Arsenal to Win -1 – 23/10 at Coral
Everton v Lyon – 19th October
Ronald Koeman’s Everton have been in poor form of late, winning just two of their last 10 in all competitions. On Thursday, they face the tough test of Lyon at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have been in a sticky patch of form recently, picking up just a point from their opening two Europa League fixtures. Lyon, meanwhile, have drawn their first two in Group E. Everton simply have to win this clash but they may struggle since they only managed a draw at home against minnows Apollon Limassol.
The French side are a well-drilled outfit these days under Bruno Genesio, and we fancy them to return to France with a draw. The stalemate is very much over-priced at 12/5 with Ladbrokes.
Draw – 12/5 at Ladbrokes