Chelsea - Shaktar Donetsk 2.06 - 4.00
Both J Mata and D Luiz are expected back for Chelsea and then we will see if J Terry will play or not. I think he will play. Last season Chelsea found themselves in a similar situation like this one. They had lost down in Naples 1-3, but could defeat Napoli 4-1 in the return leg. This game against Shaktar is of course just a group game, but you sense that Chelsea have to win this match, or they can probably forget about advancing to the play offs.
Can they match the Shaktar speed? Not really and there is the big problem, in my opinion.
This fixture can turn out to be one the classical games in Europe. To stop Shaktar from scoring is close to impossible and Chelsea have to score two goals, maybe three, to be the winners here? Will they do it? I have my doubts.
Can they match the Shaktar speed? Not really and there is the big problem, in my opinion.
This fixture can turn out to be one the classical games in Europe. To stop Shaktar from scoring is close to impossible and Chelsea have to score two goals, maybe three, to be the winners here? Will they do it? I have my doubts.
Celtic - Barcelona 11.30 - 1.35
Will the Celtic players be able to play the same kind of disciplined, defensive game at the Celtic Park as they managed at the Camp Nou Stadium? Well, they have to, or they will be punished severely. Barca will miss Adriano and Busquets tomorrow, but G Pique is back in their squad. Dani Alves is also available again.
Celtic hope to have both G Samaras and G Hooper back tomorrow, but their Norwegian T Rogne, Izaguirre and J Forrest are in grave danger of missing this game.
Barcelona are definitely not desperate for points at the moment, but playing a friendly game or not, they usually are scoring their three-four customary goals. So this game will probably end the same way as it usually does, with Barcelona winning it.
Celtic hope to have both G Samaras and G Hooper back tomorrow, but their Norwegian T Rogne, Izaguirre and J Forrest are in grave danger of missing this game.
Barcelona are definitely not desperate for points at the moment, but playing a friendly game or not, they usually are scoring their three-four customary goals. So this game will probably end the same way as it usually does, with Barcelona winning it.
Braga - Manchester Utd 3.50 - 2.31
United have not been in convincing form in Europe this far but facts remain, they are on maximum nine points after three rounds of group football. Coach Ferguson would want to make their qualifying safe as soon as possible, looking for a positive result in Portugal. To win away to Braga Ferguson has to send out his best players, or that is what I think anyway.
Braga were 2-0 up at Old Trafford and they will face this match with a decent amount of confidence. Braga are pretty close to the class of Benfica these days, maybe even Porto.
It looks like the United coach Ferguson may shuffle the pack tomorrow and will we see too many Giggs and Scholes, you know what I mean, then I am prepared to back this Braga side, a Braga side in very good form and with all their best players available. Home win for now.
Braga were 2-0 up at Old Trafford and they will face this match with a decent amount of confidence. Braga are pretty close to the class of Benfica these days, maybe even Porto.
It looks like the United coach Ferguson may shuffle the pack tomorrow and will we see too many Giggs and Scholes, you know what I mean, then I am prepared to back this Braga side, a Braga side in very good form and with all their best players available. Home win for now.
Juventus - Nordsjälland 1.16 - 23.00
The home side will most certainly be able to create enough of scoring chances to grab the three points, but it is not always the easy part for Juventus, to find the net, I mean. They did enough to win the match in Copenhagen, but they were too wasteful on the day.
Vucinic will be rested for Juventus, probably also Giovinco and then it is between Matri, Quagliarella and Bendtner for two starting roles upfront. Pogba will most likely start tomorrow. Nordsjälland will probably be unchanged, or N Stockholm will not be ready. Home winner.
Vucinic will be rested for Juventus, probably also Giovinco and then it is between Matri, Quagliarella and Bendtner for two starting roles upfront. Pogba will most likely start tomorrow. Nordsjälland will probably be unchanged, or N Stockholm will not be ready. Home winner.
Valencia - Bate Borisov 1.29 - 16.01
I waited for Bate to take the lead in the first leg two weeks ago. They were the better side in the first half, but then Valencia were rewarded a late penalty, scored and the match changed for the worse for Bate. They had to chase the game and they too often lost the ball in the middle of the pitch with Valencia deadly dangerous on their speed counter attacks.
I have to say, I love the way that Valencia change the pace of the game. It is done in an instant, very effective and that is modern football, in my opinion. Quite fit Valencia squad only missing J Mathieu. They defeated Atletico Madrid at the weekend and I cannot really see Valencia dropping any points against this Belo Russian side. Bate will miss the suspended Pavlov. Once again, home win, but quite worthless odds.
I have to say, I love the way that Valencia change the pace of the game. It is done in an instant, very effective and that is modern football, in my opinion. Quite fit Valencia squad only missing J Mathieu. They defeated Atletico Madrid at the weekend and I cannot really see Valencia dropping any points against this Belo Russian side. Bate will miss the suspended Pavlov. Once again, home win, but quite worthless odds.
Bayern Munich - Lille 1.20 - 19.40
A good side like Lille on zero points after three rounds in this group. They got off to the worst possible start losing at home to Bate Borisov in their first game. Talk about damage done. Basa, Beria and Debuchy, all early injury doubts, have been cleared to play and Mavuba could start.
Robben was on the bench for Bayern at the weekend when his side defeated Hamburg, with ease one must say. I missed no one in particular in the Bayern squad, M Gomes aside, and you always expect a full strength Bayern side to win their home games in Europe. Robben will start tomorrow and maybe we will see Javi Martinez as well. Home win, but the odds are of course quite useless.
Robben was on the bench for Bayern at the weekend when his side defeated Hamburg, with ease one must say. I missed no one in particular in the Bayern squad, M Gomes aside, and you always expect a full strength Bayern side to win their home games in Europe. Robben will start tomorrow and maybe we will see Javi Martinez as well. Home win, but the odds are of course quite useless.
Benfica - Spartak Moscow 1.65 - 6.40
So far nothing great from Benfica, but they usually are very strong in their European home fixtures. Losing their only home game against Barcelona does not change my opinion.
An own goal from Jardel gifted Spartak the win in Moscow, but at the end of the day Spartak deserved the win. It was cold in Moscow and it was a difficult night for Benfica. Gaitan and Cardozo, will they start this time for Benfica? They were benched in Moscow. Matic will not play due to a suspension.
At least two Spartak players, missing two weeks ago, will return for this match. I am referring to Insaurralde and and De Zeeuw. Mc Geady, Emenike, Welliton and Romulo are among their many injury victims. Advantage Benfica, but what about the odds? Probably OK.
An own goal from Jardel gifted Spartak the win in Moscow, but at the end of the day Spartak deserved the win. It was cold in Moscow and it was a difficult night for Benfica. Gaitan and Cardozo, will they start this time for Benfica? They were benched in Moscow. Matic will not play due to a suspension.
At least two Spartak players, missing two weeks ago, will return for this match. I am referring to Insaurralde and and De Zeeuw. Mc Geady, Emenike, Welliton and Romulo are among their many injury victims. Advantage Benfica, but what about the odds? Probably OK.
Cluj - Galatasaray 2.70 - 2.88
It was a must win game for Galatasaray two weeks ago. The rain poured down when the Turks failed to defeat Cluj (1-1), although Cluj were down the ten men in the second half. F Melo missed a penalty for Galatasaray. J Elmander will not play for Gala, no F Melo either, while the Romanians will be without their suspended midfielder Aguirregaray. I cannot really back up this bet, but I end up supporting the away win.
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