As we enter week four of Europe’s top two continental competitions, things are certainly starting to heat up. Once again, we’ve got a number of intriguing Champions League and Europa League fixtures to look forward to spread across the course of next week. With games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we have yet another bumper midweek packed with great betting opportunities.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City welcome Luis Enrique’s Barcelona to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, whilst Arsenal travel to Bulgaria to take on Ludogorets Razgrad. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur welcome German outfit Bayer Leverkusen and Leicester City make the trip to FC Copenhagen on Wednesday looking to secure top spot in their group.
In the Europa League, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United head to Turkey to play Fenerbahce, and Claude Puel’s Southampton entertain Italian giants Inter Milan on Thursday evening. All six of the English sides remain in the hunt to qualify for the next round and a win this week would see almost all of them put at least one foot into the next phase.
- Borussia Monchengladbach v Celtic – Borussia Monchengladbach to Win -1 (5/4 at Betfred)
- Ludogorets Razgrad v Arsenal – Arsenal to Win -3 (5/1 at Coral)
- Manchester City v Barcelona – Draw (13/5 at Coral)
- FC Copenhagen v Leicester City – Draw and Both Teams to Score (15/4 at BetVictor)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Bayer Leverkusen – Tottenham Hotspur to Win (evens at Sky Bet)
- Fenerbahce v Manchester United – Manchester United to Win (8/5 at Betfred)
- Southampton v Inter Milan – Southampton to Win to Nil (17/10 at BetVictor)
Champions League
The Champions League is starting to take shape, and we should have a better idea of who’s going to progress to the knockout stages after next week’s fixtures. Barcelona’s big win over Manchester City has put them in a great position to qualify from Group C, leaving City with work to do. Leicester City, who have nine points out of nine, have all but qualified, and Arsenal sit top of Group A. Tottenham Hotspur have taken four points from their first three games, and Celtic have one. For Celtic it looks like the Europa League at best but England’s four sides will be aiming higher.
Borussia Monchengladbach v Celtic – 1st November
We kick things off with Celtic’s trip to Germany to take on Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach. Andre Schubert’s side currently sit a point behind Manchester City in the Group C table.
As for Brendan Rodgers’ men, their 2-0 home loss to Monchengladbach last week has left them bottom of the pile with just one point. Defeat at Borussia-Park will practically end Celtic’s hopes of qualifying to the knockout stages and realistically it will also end their Europa League chances too.
It’s been an uphill task from the get-go for the Bhoys in the Champions League this term, and we can see them having another difficult night on Tuesday. The standout bet in this one is the home team to win -1, which you can get at very solid odds of 5/4 at Betfred.
Borussia Monchengladbach to Win -1 – 5/4 at Betfred
Ludogorets Razgrad v Arsenal – 1st November
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal travel to Sofia knowing that a win would all but take them into the last 32 yet again. As for Ludogorets, nothing short of a victory will do if they have any aspirations of going through.
Last week, the Gunners hit the Bulgarian champions for six at the Emirates Stadium. Mesut Ozil stole the show with a superb hat-trick in a rampant Arsenal performance. The north Londoners have not been defeated in any competition since the opening day of the Premier League season, and we can’t see them losing this one.
We fancy Wenger’s side to follow up their 6-0 win over Ludogorets with another big victory on Tuesday. Therefore, we like the look of Coral’s 5/1 for the Gunners to win -3 at the Vasil Levski National Stadium. Ludogorets have looked poor and Arsenal are on a fine run and we could see this one ending 4-0 to the visitors.
Arsenal to Win -3 – 5/1 at Coral
Manchester City v Barcelona – 1st November
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City welcome Luis Enrique’s Barcelona to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, as they look to get revenge for their 4-0 mauling at the Camp Nou last week.
City were second best for long periods in Catalonia, but they shot themselves in the foot on far too many occasions as well. A Lionel Messi hat-trick and a late goal by Neymar secured the emphatic win for Barca. Guardiola will have been happy with some of his side’s play but they are on a woeful run and need a result here.
Although the Citizens could really do with a win on Tuesday, we’re pretty sure they would take a draw. After playing Barcelona, City travel to Borussia Monchengladbach and entertain Celtic. Therefore, the draw, which is priced at 13/5 with Sky Bet, would not be a disastrous result for Pep and co.
Draw – 13/5 at Coral
FC Copenhagen v Leicester City – 2nd November
After surprising people week after week on their way to the Premier League title last year, Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City are up to their old tricks again, this time in the Champions League.
Ok, things may not be going too well domestically for the Foxes this term, but nobody could argue with their spirit and quality in Europe. Last week’s 1-0 victory over FC Copenhagen put them clear at the top of Group K on nine points out of nine. The East Midlands side are in illustrious company with their 100% record, with only Barca and Atletico Madrid able to boast three wins from three!
Ranieri’s men are more than capable of going to Denmark and bringing home a point. However, we feel Copenhagen will at least score on their own patch. Because of that, we believe backing this one to end all square with both teams finding the net is the way forward. BetVictor are offering 15/4 for the draw and both teams to score and that’s well worth a punt.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 15/4 at BetVictor
Tottenham Hotspur v Bayer Leverkusen – 2nd November
The last of our Champions League previews comes from Wembley Stadium, as Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur entertain Roger Schmidt’s Bayer Leverkusen in a crucial Group E matchup.
Spurs’ 0-0 draw at the BayArena last week kept them above Leverkusen in the table. However, with just three points separating the four clubs, this group is certainly the tightest of the lot and there is everything to play for.
The last time Tottenham played at Wembley, they lost 2-1 to Group E leaders Monaco in September. However, we fancy them to put things right in this one. Pochettino’s men are evens with Sky Bet to get the win, and we feel that’s a price well worth backing as they grow into their temporary home.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win – evens at Sky Bet
Europa League
Moving away from Europe’s elite competition and into the Europa League and Manchester United and Southampton are both in action on Thursday night. United are currently joint top with Feyenoord on six points in Group A, whilst the Saints sit second in Group K on four points. Both English clubs will be looking for vital Europa League victories next week, results that would put them within touching distance of the next round.
Fenerbahce v Manchester United – 3rd November
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, who ran out comfortable 4-1 winners over Fenerbahce last time out in Europe, head to Ulker Stadium on Thursday looking for another victory against the Turkish side. A win would put the Red Devils in a commanding positon in the group.
Man Utd were pretty faultless at Old Trafford against Fenerbahce last week, and they will be hoping for more of the same next Thursday. After losing to Feyenoord in their opening Europa League match, United have hit back with back-to-back wins.
With confidence boosted by an EFL Cup win over Man City, United will travel full of confidence. We fancy Mourinho’s men to put some daylight between themselves and the Turks in this one, and they are priced at 8/5 with Betfred to get the win in Istanbul.
Manchester United to Win – 8/5 at Betfred
Southampton v Inter Milan – 3rd November
Last up, we focus on Southampton’s huge match with Inter Milan at St Mary’s. After last week’s undeserved 1-0 defeat at the San Siro, the Saints will be seeking revenge in this one.
The Premier League outfit dominated at the home of the three-time Champions League winners last week, but ultimately fell to a second half Antonio Candreva strike. In front of their home supporters on Thursday, Claude Puel’s men will be searching for the win to put them back on track in Group K.
We can see Southampton getting the job done against the Italians, and we also think it could turn out to be a comfortable night. BetVictor are offering 17/10 for the Saints to win to nil, and we like the look of those odds. The Saints have conceded just two goals in their last 10 games in all competitions and we can certainly see them shutting out the Italians here.
Southampton to Win to Nil – 17/10 at BetVictor