The UEFA Champions League kicks of this week, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all beginning their European campaigns. Meanwhile, Chelsea and Arsenal are in UEFA Europa League action on Thursday.
All 24 clubs play in the EFL Championship in midweek. Stoke City host Swansea City on Tuesday, while London rivals Queens Park Rangers and Millwall lock horns at Loftus Road on Wednesday night.
UEFA Champions League
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18/09/2018 | 17:55 | Inter v Tottenham | Draw |
| 18/09/2018 | 20:00 | Liverpool v PSG | Liverpool Win |
| 19/09/2018 | 20:00 | Man City v Lyon | Man City HT/FT |
| 19/09/2018 | 20:00 | Young Boys v Man Utd | Man Utd Win |
Real Madrid have dominated Europe in recent years. However, without Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo, will Madrid be the same ferocious force in the Champions League this season? Before a ball has been kicked, Pep Guardiola’s Man City are the 9/2 favourites to lift their first Champions League trophy. Meanwhile, the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real are also among the favourites.
Inter Milan v Tottenham Hotspur
Tuesday 18th September, 17:55, BT Sports
Inter Milan and Tottenham go head-to-head at the San Siro on Tuesday evening. Spurs have lost their last two in the Premier League, but Mauricio Pochettino’s Lilywhites will back themselves to return to winning ways in Milan.
Luciano Spalletti’s Inter have been poor in Serie A at the start of this season, winning one, drawing one and losing two of their opening four games. However, Inter have won their last two home matches against Spurs, scoring four goals in each.
This could be a tight game at the San Siro, and a draw seems a likely outcome in this one. The stalemate is available at 23/10 with Betfair.
Draw – 23/10 at Betfair
Liverpool v Paris Saint-Germain
Tuesday 18th September, 20:00, BT Sport
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Thomas Tuchel’s PSG do battle in a mouth-watering Champions League clash at Anfield on Tuesday night. These two clubs will be expecting to go far in this season’s competition.
Klopp’s Reds will be aiming to bounce back after losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid in Kiev back in May. Liverpool have started their Premier League campaign with five wins from five. Paris, last season’s French champions, also have a 100% record in their domestic league.
This promises to be a real cracker at Anfield, with Liverpool hoping to edge it on home soil. Betfred are offering 13/10 for the hosts to come out on top on Tuesday.
Liverpool Win – 13/10 at Betfred
Manchester City v Lyon
Wednesday 19th September, 20:00, BT Sport
The Champions League favourites Man City begin their European season with a match against Bruno Genesio’s Lyon at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. City should start with a routine win.
Man City have started the defence of their Premier League crown with four wins and a draw from their opening five league games. Lyon, meanwhile, have picked up seven points from a possible 15 in France’s top tier.
The Citizens have the ability to dominate this one from start to finish at the Etihad. Because of that, take a punt on Betfred’s excellent price of evens for the home team to be winning at half time and full time.
Manchester City HT/FT – Evens at Betfair
Young Boys v Manchester United
Wednesday 19th September, 20:00, BT Sport
Jose Mourinho takes his Man United side to the Swiss capital to play Gerardo Seoane’s Young Boys at the Stade de Suisse in Bern on Wednesday night. Ronaldo and Juventus are also in Group H, along with Valencia.
Young Boys, who won the Swiss Super League last season, have won six league games out of six so far. As for United, they have picked up nine points from a possible 15 in the Premier League.
Man United will want to get off to a winning start in a tough group. We’re backing the Red Devils to win in Switzerland’s capital, which Betfair has priced at 3/4.
Manchester United Win – 3/4 at Betfair
UEFA Europa League
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/09/2018 | 17:55 | Saloniki v Chelsea | Chelsea to Win 3-0 |
| 20/09/2018 | 20:00 | Arsenal v Vorskla | Arsenal to Win 2-0 |
Although Chelsea and Arsenal would love to be in the Champions League, both clubs have a real chance to go far in this year’s Europa League. The Blues and the Gunners are amongst the fancied teams to win the competition, while both will be expecting to reach the knockout stages at the very least. With the likes of Sevilla, AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and the two Glasgow clubs in the tournament, the Europa League is certainly worth watching this season.
PAOK Saloniki v Chelsea
Thursday 20th September, 17:55, BT Sport
Having picked up five wins from five in the Premier League, Chelsea will want to kick off their Europa League campaign with three points in Greece. The Blues are expected to beat PAOK Saloniki with ease on Thursday.
Maurizio Sarri’s Blues have looked the real deal in England so far, sitting top of the league with a 100% record. Saloniki, who were runners-up in the Greek Super League last season, have come through a gruelling Champions League qualifying campaign to reach the group stage.
They may be away from home in a new environment, but Chelsea’s XI should be far too strong for their Greek opponents on Thursday. The 3-0 Blues win is generously priced at 17/1 with BetVictor.
Chelsea to Win 3-0 – 17/1 at BetVictor
Arsenal v Vorskla Poltava
Thursday 20th September, 20:00, BT Sport
Unai Emery’s Arsenal go up against Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava in a Europa League Group E game on Thursday. The Gunners go into this one at the Emirates Stadium as the overwhelming favourites.
After a challenging start, Emery is slowly but surely finding his feet at the Emirates, with his new side winning each of their last three in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Vorskla finished third in Ukraine’s top division last season.
This could be a walk in the park for the Londoners, who will want a big win in front of their home supporters on Thursday. Arsenal to win with -2 goal handicap is available to back at odds of 11/10 (Coral).
Arsenal to Win 2-0 – 11/10 at Coral
EFL Championship
| Date | Time | Match | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18/09/2018 | 19:45 | Stoke v Swansea | Draw & BTTS |
| 19/09/2018 | 19:45 | QPR v Millwall | QPR to Win by One Goal |
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are the early leaders of the Championship. The Whites, who play Preston North End at Elland Road on Tuesday, have won four and drawn three of their opening seven. Last season, both Stoke and Swansea were Premier League teams – in midweek, the pair meet in the Championship at the bet365 Stadium. Meanwhile, QPR and Millwall square off in an all-London clash on Wednesday.
Stoke City v Swansea City
Tuesday 18th September, 19:45, Sky Sports
Gary Rowett and Stoke will be looking for their second league win of the season when they entertain Graham Potter’s Swansea at the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday. The bookies are having a tough time splitting these two evenly matched teams.
The Potters, who finished 19th in the Premier League last term, have won just one Championship game so far. In contrast, the Swans have won three, drawn three and lost only one.
This will no doubt be a close affair at the bet365 Stadium, with a draw being a strong possibility. Betfred are offering 4/1 for the draw and both teams to score on Tuesday.
Draw & BTTS – 4/1 at Betfred
Queens Park Rangers v Millwall
Wednesday 19th September, 19:45, Sky Sports
On Wednesday night in the Championship, Steve McClaren’s QPR go head-to-head with Neil Harris’s Millwall at Loftus Road in a London derby. The hosts will be eager to continue their improved form.
After losing their opening four in the Championship, Rangers have taken seven points from their last three. Millwall have picked up just one win, although they nearly beat the league leaders last weekend.
This could be another tight match in the second tier, but QPR could just shade it. The home team to win by a one goal margin is worth having a punt on at odds of 3/1.
Queens Park Rangers to Win by One Goal – 3/1 at bet365