The cream of European football returns to Champions League action this week, and we’ve picked out four tips from Tuesday’s opening night of action not involving English clubs.
BOYLE Sports customers can Back Yourself by adding more selections, but this acca would provide a near-61/1 pay-out.
Real Madrid vs Marseille
Real Madrid to beat Marseille with over 2.5 goals in total @4/5
Real Madrid saw the defence of their 2024 title end in a quarter-final mauling at the hands of Arsenal in April, and the record 15-time European champions will be desperate to make amends.
Madrid, who can be backed at 8/1 to lift the trophy in Budapest next May, have won all four of their LaLiga matches this term but still look to be finding their feet under new boss Xabi Alonso.
However, they should still be too strong at the Bernabeu for a Marseille side who have emphatically won both of their home fixtures in Ligue 1 but also lost both of their away games.
Madrid have been victorious in 11 of their last 12 home matches in the Champions League group/league phase, and we’re backing them to improve that record against Marseille, who have lost all four previous meetings with each of those seeing three or more goals scored.
Los Merengues should also reach two milestones tomorrow night, currently sitting on 199 wins in the Champions League proper and having scored 698 goals - both tournament records.
Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund
Juventus to beat Borussia Dortmund with both teams to score @11/4
Both Juventus and Dortmund are in good form heading into a clash which is a repeat of the 1997 Champions League final, when the German side ran out 3-1 victors in Munich to lift their first, and so far only, title.
Juve continued their perfect winning start to the season on Saturday with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Inter Milan, leaving them joint top of Serie A alongside reigning champions Napoli, and Igor Tudor’s team will feel confident of adding Dortmund’s scalp to their list.
Dortmund are in fine fettle too, however, and would have won all four of their league and cup games but for a late collapse featuring a red card in their 3-3 draw at St Pauli.
Serhou Guirassy has been in rich form again for the 2023 Champions League runners-up, scoring five goals in those four games, and he can be backed at 5/1 to net the opener at Allianz Stadium.
But it is Juve who we think will take the three points, having never lost at home on matchday one of the Champions League.
Benfica vs Qarabeg
Benfica to beat Qarabag with over 3.5 goals in total @8/5
Benfica should be heading into Tuesday’s match with confidence high despite Friday’s disappointing home draw with Santa Clara, who snatched a last-minute equaliser having played the whole second half with only 10 men.
That setback aside, Benfica have been in superb form this season, unbeaten in all eight matches with six wins since they defeated rivals Sporting in the Portuguese Super Cup and having only conceded two goals - both coming in their last two games.
The 1961 and 1962 European champions are also battle-hardened on the continent, seeing off Nice and Fenerbahce en route to the Champions League proper.
Qarabag also came through qualifying, beating Shelbourne, Shkendija and Ferencvaros to reach this point, but have had a mixed start to their domestic league campaign with four points from three games.
This is only the second time the Azerbaijani side will be playing in the Champions League proper, and we’re expecting them to return from Lisbon empty-handed.
PSV vs Union Saint-Gilloise
PSV Eindhoven to beat Union Saint-Gilloise with both teams to score @11/5
Union Saint-Gilloise are playing in the Champions League proper for the first time in their history, and the Belgian side make the short trip to the Netherlands in decent nick, winning five of their opening seven league games while drawing the other two.
However, they will be coming up against a PSV Eindhoven outfit who have started their domestic campaign in similarly dominant form. Peter Bosz’s side have picked up 12 points from a possible 15 so far in the Eredivisie with a total of 25 goals scored in those five games, so we’re not expecting a quiet night at the Phillips Stadion.
PSV are unbeaten in their last 11 home matches in European group stages, winning seven, so we think they will be victorious tomorrow, but Union won both away games against Dutch duo FC Twente and Ajax in last season’s Europa League, so they should not be overawed.
Bet on Football Odds at BOYLE Sports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly
