The UEFA Champions League action continues Wednesday night, and we take a look at three fixtures from a betting angle.
Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting, where Arsenal are top of the boards at 4.50, with Bayern Munich trading at 5.50 and Manchester City despite their shock loss on Tuesday are at 8.00. PSG and Barcelona remain firmly in the mix, while you can get double figures and better the balance.
Click here for the Outright Betting Markets.
CHELSEA vs PAFOS
Chelsea come into this match sitting 14th on the table with 10 points from six games after recording three wins, one draw and two defeats. They have been impressive in attack, scoring 13 goals while conceding just 8, and have looked particularly strong at Stamford Bridge.
Their most recent Champions League outing saw them go down 2-1 away to Atalanta, following a dominant 3-0 home win over Barcelona which underlined their ability to raise their performance level against quality opposition.
Pafos currently sit 29th with just 6 points from six matches. They have found goals hard to come by, scoring only 4 times while conceding 9 and have struggled when stepping up against top sides.
Their latest result was a 2-0 away defeat against Juventus, which followed a hard-fought 2-2 home draw with Monaco. They have been in poor form on the road and are yet to get into the winning column.
Head-to-Head
There have been no previous competitive meetings between the sides.
Betting – Click here to bet
Chelsea 1.14
Draw 8.50
Pafos 18.00
Verdict
Chelsea’s superior quality and home advantage should prove decisive against a Pafos side that has struggled away from home. I am expecting the Blues to dominate possession and create enough chances to secure a comfortable win.
BET: Asian Handicap, Chelsea -2.5 goals at 1.93
NEWCASTLE UNITED vs PSV
Newcastle sit 13th on the table with 10 points after six matches, having won three, drawn one and lost two. They have been strong defensively, conceding just six goals, while their attack has been efficient with 13 goals scored.
Their most recent result was a 2-2 away draw with Bayer Leverkusen, following a narrow 2-1 defeat at Marseille which ended their three game win streak.
PSV are 21st on the log with 8 points from six games after winning two, drawing two and losing two. They have been involved in high-scoring encounters, scoring 15 goals but also conceding 11, which reflects their attacking intent but defensive vulnerability.
Their latest outing saw them lose 3-2 at home to Atletico Madrid, after a solid 4-1 away win over Liverpool.
Head-to-Head
The last time these sides played was in a club friendly during 2010 where the fixture was competitive throughout and ended 2-2.
Betting – Click here to bet
Newcastle 1.40
Draw 5.50
PSV 6.50
Verdict
Newcastle’s home form and defensive solidity give them a clear edge, but PSV’s attacking threat suggests this will not be straightforward. I am backing a Newcastle win but with both teams to score.
BET: Newcastle win and Both Teams to Score, YES, at 2.50
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MARSEILLE vs LIVERPOOL
Marseille come into this fixture sitting 16th with 9 points from six games after winning three and losing three. They have been competitive in most matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding 8, and remain a tough side to face on home soil.
Their most recent encounter was a 3-2 away win over Royale Union SG, which followed a 2-1 home victory against Newcastle and will have boosted their confidence ahead of this clash.
Liverpool occupy 11th spot on the leaderboard with 12 points after winning four and losing two of their matches. They have looked dangerous going forward with 11 goals scored, while their defence has generally held firm in key moments.
Their latest outing was an impressive 1-0 away win over Inter Milan, which came after a shocking 4-1 home defeat to PSV, showing that inconsistency has crept into their campaign.
Head-to-Head
Their most recent clashes came in 2008 where they went head-to-head in the Champions League and Liverpool won both games with scorelines of 2-1 and 1-0.
Betting – Click here to bet
Marseille 3.65
Draw 3.75
Liverpool 1.95
Verdict
Liverpool’s greater experience at this level and attacking quality should give them the upper hand, but Marseille are capable of making this a difficult assignment at home. I am backing the visitors to take all three points with both sides finding the back of the net.
BET: Result and Both Teams to Score – Liverpool and YES at 3.50
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
