The final round of UEFA Champions League, Group matches gets underway on Tuesday and we take a look at 3 of the games from a betting angle.
Click here for the latest Outright Betting as well as the Group Winner and Top Goal Scorer Markets
Rangers v Ajax – Click here to bet
These sides are 3rd and 4th in Group A, well behind Napoli and Liverpool at the top of the table. Rangers had come through the qualification stages, but have lost all 5 of their games in the Group Stage including a 4-0 loss to Ajax away in their opening match. Two home games have seen them lose 3-0 to Napoli and 7-1 to Liverpool. They did have a good domestic win on the weekend beating Aberdeen 4-1 at home.
Ajax lost all 4 of their matches after their opening victory against Rangers and their away games have seen them lose 4-2 at Napoli and 2-1 at Liverpool. The 3-0 loss to Liverpool at home last time was the first match in 8 that Ajax haven’t scored and for that matter the first match in 8 that both teams have not found the back of the net in Ajax matches.
Given that there is not much on the game it may seem a strange one to preview, but I have chosen it because I really fancy goals to flow in this game as Ajax are an excellent attacking force, but also tend to leak at the back.
Suggested Bet: Over 3.5 goals at 27/20
Liverpool v Napoli – Click here to bet
Liverpool are 3 points behind Napoli and with Napoli having a superior goal difference it is unlikely that they can overtake them at the top of the table. Since an opening round 4-1 defeat at Napoli, Liverpool have bounced back with 4 successive victories and they beat Ajax 3-0 on the road last time out. Their 2 home games have been a 2-0 win over Rangers and a 2-0 win over Ajax.
Domestically things aren’t looking great for Liverpool and they lost 2-1 at home to Leeds on the weekend.
Napoli have a 100% record and were too strong for Rangers last time winning 3-0 at home. Their 2 away big games have been a 6-1 defeat of Ajax and a 3-0 defeat of Rangers and domestically, they are absolutely on fire and coming off a 4-0 home victory on the weekend, their 13th successive victory in all competitions.
This is a tricky encounter to bet on because with both teams guaranteed to go through to the next round their motivation has to be questionable. That being said I think Napoli will want to keep their winning streak going and against a Liverpool side starting to show cracks I actually think they are value for the 3 points here.
Suggested Bet: Napoli win at 16/5
Olympique Marseilles v Tottenham Hotspur – Click here to bet
These sides are bottom and top of Group D, but the group is so tight that Marseilles could in theory finish top should they beat Tottenham and Sporting and Frankfurt draw in the other game, in other words there is all to play for in this one.
Marseilles are coming off a 2-1 loss away at Eintracht Frankfurt and their two home games this season saw them beat Sporting 4-1, but lose to the same Frankfurt 1-0. In their meeting with Tottenham they went down 2-0 away in their opening round.
Tottenham drew 1-1 at home to Sporting last time out. Their two away games have seen them draw at Eintracht Frankfurt and lose 2-0 at Sporting.
Current odds are Marseilles 19/10, the draw at 5/2 and Tottenham at 14/10. Tottenham will know they cannot afford defeat in this game and I am expecting a fairly good defensive approach and I am going to bet on a goalless first-half.
Suggested Bet: First-half Totals under 0.5 goals at 15/8
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
