Last week, the UEFA Champions League and Europa League got back underway, and they certainly did not disappoint. We saw Leicester City comfortably win their first ever Champions League match, Barcelona thump Celtic 7-0, Manchester City ease to victory, Tottenham Hotspur open up with a defeat at their Wembley “home” and Arsenal earn a very creditable draw with PSG.
Meanwhile in the Europa League, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United fell to a shock defeat in Rotterdam, whilst Claude Puel’s Southampton picked up their first victory of the season with an easy win at St Mary’s.
During the course of next week, we’re being treated to another mouth-watering fixture list in Europe’s top two competitions. Spurs travel to Russia, whilst City make the trip to Celtic Park. Arsenal host Basel and Leicester welcome Porto. Meanwhile, there are two monster Germany v Spain clashes, as Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid lock horns in Germany, and Atletico Madrid entertain Bayern Munich, among many other standout fixtures. We preview next week’s top eight matches from around Europe in the CL and EL.
- CSKA Moscow v Tottenham Hotspur – Tottenham Hotspur to Win (11/8 at Betfair)
- Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid – Borussia Dortmund to Win and Both Teams to Score (3/1 at Bet365)
- Leicester City v Porto – Leicester City to Win to Nil (5/2 at Coral)
- Arsenal v Basel – Arsenal to Win 3-0 (19/2 at BetVictor)
- Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich – Draw (23/10 at Bet365)
- Celtic v Manchester City – Manchester City to Win (1/3 at Betfred)
- Hapoel Be’er Sheva v Southampton – Southampton to Win (13/10 at Betfred)
- Manchester United v Zorya Luhansk – Manchester United to Win -2 (13/10 at Coral)
Champions League
There were mixed emotions for the British teams in Europe during week one. Celtic crashed to a 7-0 defeat in the Camp Nou and Tottenham lost at Wembley to Ligue 1 outfit Monaco. However, Leicester and Man City secured comfortable victories, and the Gunners managed an excellent 1-1 draw in Paris. As always in Europe’s elite competition, we should be in for another enthralling couple of nights of top action.
CSKA Moscow v Tottenham Hotspur – 27th September
We kick things off in Russia, where Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur have the tough prospect of facing CSKA Moscow in what will no doubt be a hostile atmosphere on Tuesday.
After a very disappointing 2-1 defeat to Monaco last week, Spurs can’t afford another slip up in this one. Tottenham rallied after going two goals down, but the damage had already been done at Wembley. As for Moscow, they drew 2-2 with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany in what looks a very open – and even – Champions League group.
Domestically, Tottenham are in great shape but, as we all know, the Champions League is a completely different animal. Despite being away from home, Spurs are the favourites to win on Tuesday, and we like the look of Betfair’s 11/8 for Pochettino’s men to put three points on the board in Group E.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win – 11/8 at Betfair
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid – 27th September
One of the standout matches of week two is undoubtedly the heavyweight clash between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at the Signal Iduna Park. These two European giants both managed wins in their opening games.
Dortmund smashed Legia Warsaw 6-0 away from home last week. Mario Gotze stole the show by netting twice in Poland. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real to a 2-1 victory against his former club Sporting Lisbon in their opener, although it did take a 94th minute strike from Alvaro Morata to steal the narrow win.
This tasty looking clash really is a tough one to call. However, we can see Dortmund making home advantage count. The standout bet in this one is BVB to win and both teams to score, which is handsomely priced at 3/1 with Bet365. The Germans are starting to look mighty impressive and can land a big scalp here.
Borussia Dortmund to Win and Both Teams to Score – 3/1 at Bet365
Leicester City v Porto – 27th September
Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City began their European journey with a stunning 3-0 win at Club Brugge. An early strike from Marc Albrighton and a Riyad Mahrez brace was enough to secure a comfortable victory in Belgium.
Their first Champions League game at the King Power Stadium comes against European regulars and 2004 CL winners Porto. Nonetheless, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men could only manage a 1-1 home draw with FC Copenhagen in their opener and the Foxes will fancy their chances.
Last Wednesday, Leicester played like a team who had been in Europe for years. In truth, it could and maybe should have been more than just three. We can see the Foxes following up that impressive victory by winning without concerning on home turf on Tuesday. Coral are offering 5/2 for Leicester to win to nil against the Portuguese outfit and that looks generous.
Leicester City to Win to Nil – 5/2 at Coral
Arsenal v Basel – 28th September
On Wednesday, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal welcome Urs Fischer’s Basel to the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners will certainly be looking to put on a show in front of their home fans and take maximum points from this one.
Arsenal conceded in the first minute against Paris Saint-Germain last week, but with the hosts missing a number of chances, the Gunners somehow managed to leave Paris with a 1-1 draw, courtesy of an Alexis Sanchez goal 13 minutes from time.
We can’t see anything other than a comfortable home victory in this one. BetVictor are offering the very tempting odds of 19/2 for Arsenal to win 3-0, and we believe that scoreline is worth a punt. There is a gulf in class between these two and on home soil Wenger’s men can make it count.
Arsenal to Win 3-0 – 19/2 at BetVictor
Atletico Madrid v Bayern Munich – 28th September
Another mouth-watering clash from next weekend’s Champions League fixture list is no doubt Bayern Munich’s trip to Atletico Madrid. These two met at the semi-final stage last year, with the Spanish side prevailing on away goals.
Much may have changed at Bayern Munich in the summer, but the more thijngs change, the more they stay the same. After winning all seven of their competitive matches under their new boss Carlo Ancelotti so far this season, Munich look like their usual dominant selves. However, Wednesday’s trip to the Vicente Calderon will undoubtedly be their toughest challenge yet.
With so much attacking talent on show, as well as two top class managers, we can see these two European giants cancelling each other out in the Spanish capital. Therefore, Bet365’s 23/10 for the draw looks like your safest choice of bet.
Draw – 23/10 at Bet365
Celtic v Manchester City – 28th September
Last up in the Champions League is the all-British tie between Celtic and Manchester City. The Hoops found life extremely tough at Barcelona, and they won’t relish the prospect of facing a Man City side who are in devastating form at present.
City ran out emphatic 4-0 winners over German Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach in their re-arranged CL opener last week. The prolific Sergio Aguero continued his excellent start to the season by netting a hat-trick at the Etihad Stadium, with thee improving Kelechi Iheanacho adding City’s fourth.
We can’t see anything other than a Citizens victory on Wednesday, and Betfred are offering 1/3 for Pep Guardiola’s side to claim a win in Scotland next week. That may look short but this is a banker.
Manchester City to Win – 1/3 at Betfred
Europa League
Moving away from the Champions League and into the Europa, we’re going to focus on the two English teams. Southampton and Manchester United had contrasting opening results last week. The Saints stormed to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sparta Prague, whilst United fell to a surprising 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord. Next week, United host little-known Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk and Puel’s Southampton make the trip to Israel to face Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva v Southampton – 29th September
Southampton opened up their Europa League adventure with a comfortable 3-0 win over Prague at St Mary’s. Charlie Austin took his starting chance by netting a brace, and Jay Rodriguez added a late third. However, next week they make the tough journey to Israel to take on Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Hapoel showed during Champions League qualification, when they beat Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in their home leg, that they are a more than capable outfit. They also pulled off a stunning 2-0 win at the San Siro to get the better of Inter Milan in their Group K opener.
Nevertheless, Southampton look to have finally got their season up and running after a slow start, and we think they will have too much for Barak Bahar’s side on Thursday. We’re going for a Saints victory, which is generously priced at 13/10 with BetVictor.
Southampton to Win – 13/10 at BetVictor
Manchester United v Zorya Luhansk – 29th September
Last up this midweek, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United welcome Ukrainian Premier League side Zorya Luhansk to Old Trafford, as they look to get their first points on the board in Europa League Group A.
After three defeats in a week, United steadied the ship on Wednesday evening when they beat Northampton Town in the EFL Cup. Previously, the Red Devils had lost to Man City and Watford in the Premier League, and were beaten by Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s Feyenoord in their opening match of the Europa League.
However, you would fully expect Man Utd’s quality to shine through against a Zorya side who drew their opener with Turkish giants Fenerbahce last week. Of course, Jose’s boys would take any kind of win in this one, but we’re swaying towards a big United victory on Thursday. Coral’s 13/10 for a United -2 triumph stands out above the rest.
Manchester United to Win -2 – 13/10 at Coral