Week three of the Champions League looks to be the most entertaining yet. Filled with big matchups and interesting storylines, the world’s biggest club tournament is back, and all 32 teams will continue the fight to progress to the knockout stages.
Today, I’ll be analyzing all 16 matchups, giving you my personal thoughts on each one, and I’ll also examine the best betting opportunities of the week, helping you find the best bets for your money. Let’s head right into it!
PSG is looking unbeatable right now. After losing their first Champions League match to Liverpool, they haven’t dropped a single game, going 10 for 10 in the Ligue 1 and battering a helpless Red Star Belgrade side. The Parisians are looking stronger than ever, and this might be their breakout year.
Napoli are not doing too bad for themselves either. The Partenopei have started their domestic campaign off on the right foot, and while they might still trail Juventus, they’ve put themselves in a position to catch the Bianconeri. After a surprise victory against the Reds last match week, Napoli lead Group C.
Despite the overwhelming odds in favor of PSG, this matchup is not nearly as lopsided as the bookmakers might suggest. PSG are looking like the better team, and their attack is firing on all cylinders, but their defense is always prone to mistakes, and with a front three like that of Napoli, mistakes can be costly. The Partenopei are not a weak team by any means, and PSG shouldn’t get too comfortable just yet.
Prediction: PSG 1-1 Napoli
Real Madrid are not looking like the team that won the Champions League three years in a row. They’ve had a poor start to La LIga, currently sitting seventh in the league, and they’ve dropped their last three matches to some weak opponents. Los Blancos are struggling, and they need to get back on track.
Plzen are still doing quite well for themselves in the Czech First League, and while they’ve struggled so far in the Champions League, they are quite an interesting side, and their dominance in the Czech Republic is a testament to their ability.
Real Madrid are heavy favorites for this encounter, and they should be. But soccer is not always a predictable sport; without Ronaldo, Madrid seem lost, and they have yet to find their rhythm. Plzen have a chance to take advantage of their opponent’s struggles, and if they find a way to do so, it could promise a huge payout for bettors.
Prediction: Real Madrid 1-1 Viktoria Plzen
Barcelona have gotten off to a great start in the Champions League, winning both of their first two matches against PSV and Tottenham. They also sit atop La Liga, and with Real Madrid looking lackluster to say the least, there doesn’t seem to be any true competition to the Blaugranes for the domestic trophy.
Inter have also had a solid showing in the Serie A. They beat Milan in a thriller at the San Siro, and their new transfers are finally getting together and showing signs of brilliance. The Nerazzurri looked good in their win against Tottenham, and they’ll be looking for some points here if they wish to get out of the group.
Barcelona are still the favorites for this matchup, but after losing Messi to a right arm injury, it will be interesting to see how the Spanish side reacts. If they struggle early on, Inter will be ready to take advantage, and based on what we’ve seen so far from the Italians, they are more than capable of handling the pressure.
Prediction: Barcelona 1-1 Inter
Manchester United have had a poor start to the Premier League, and after nine games, they’re 10th in the league with a measly 14 points. Mourinho’s side is not looking like their usual selves, and they’ve been unable to get anything going on the offensive side of things.
Juventus, on the other hand, have been dominant as ever. Save for a draw to Genoa, the Bianconeri have been perfect in the Serie A, and if the trend continues, it’s looking like Juventus will earn their eighth consecutive scudetto come May. The Bianconeri are also first in their group after two wins, and if they can beat United at Old Trafford, they’ll all but guarantee topping the group.
Juventus are favorites for this one, and rightfully so. They’ve been incredible thus far this season, and with Ronaldo coming into form, they could quickly become unstoppable, possessing the best defense in club football and one of the best attacks in the world. Can United deal with the Biancoeri’s seemingly endless array of weapons? I don’t think so.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Juventus
If you’re interested in betting on the other matchups, I’ve listed my picks below. These games also offer interesting opportunities, and Benfica could offer sneakily good upside.
After a lackluster start to his Italian campaign, Ronaldo looks to have finally found his form. The Portuguese forward has scored or assisted in his last five games with five goals to his name in the Serie A. This will be his first Champions League game with the Bianconeri after having been rested in their first two matchups, and Ronaldo will have his first chance to show what he can bring to the table for Juventus.
There’s a reason why Ronaldo is the most prolific goalscorer in the history of the tournament, and we’ve seen that he can produce that sort of magic from anywhere on the pitch. Returning to Manchester to face off against his former club, Ronaldo will be hungry to prove himself, and I think he’ll the find the back of the net at least once.
Group F has been one of the most interesting groups of the tournament so far, and this week, Lyon and Hoffenheim will face off in a battle of first against last. Despite this disparity in the standings, these two teams are certainly not too far off matchup-wise, and this is poised to be a very interesting encounter.
Perhaps more interesting has been the teams’ defensive records thus far. Between the two sides, they’ve conceded a total of seven goals and scored seven goals; if everything goes according to plan, this could become a high-scoring affair. Both teams are shaky on the defensive side of the ball, and Lyon’s quick, explosive attack combined with Hoffenheim’s rigid German structure could prove to be quite an intriguing matchup.
After being named the favorites to win the Champions League, Manchester City has not had the greatest of starts, losing their first match to Lyon at home. City was able to rebound last fixture at Hoffeheim, but the English side will need to remain almost perfect if they wish to end the group stage on top.
This week, City will take on Shakhtar Donetsk, and while the Ukrainian team is certainly a formidable opponent, City will be the heavy favorites, and they’ll be looking for a crucial win. We’ve seen just how dominant the English side can be, and coming straight off a 5-0 win over Burnley, City will look to do the same against Shakhtar. Will it be a beatdown? We’ll see.
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