Champions League Betting Preview: Will Man Utd and Chelsea avoid slip-ups?
Published:
Odds and preview for tonight’s European fixtures
We’re into the second-half of this season’s Champions League group stages, and any slip-up now could potentially be costly with knockout spots up for grabs.
Manchester United will be looking to avenge their defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir when they meet again tonight, while Chelsea will want to beat Rennes to maintain top spot in Group E.
We’ve previewed both of those games, as well as Paris Saint-Germain v RB Leipzig, in our round-up of tonight’s action.
Chelsea will be feeling good ahead of this one, on the back of a five-game winning streak which has seen them score 16 goals and concede just once.
One of those victories was a 3-0 win over Rennes in the reverse fixture – you can get 4/7 on the Blues making it six wins on the bounce, while 19/10 says they win to nil and Edouard Mendy keeps a clean sheet against his former side.
Rennes could be short of confidence, having lost all but one of their last six outings, and Frank Lampard may make some changes ahead of a big London derby against Tottenham this weekend. Thiago Silva should return at the back, while Jorginho, the fit-again Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi could also feature.
Lampard may not want to disturb Timo Werner though, as he’s starting to really find some form. He’s either scored or created a goal in each of his last five appearances for Chelsea. We go 7/2 that he opens the scoring or 23/20 that he nets anytime.
After beating PSG and RB Leipzig, Man Utd looked to be cruising into the last 16. Then came a dismal display away at Istanbul Basaksehir, and they’re not looking quite so secure.
This is a must-win for United, who are level on six points with Leipzig, three ahead of PSG and the Turkish side.
The hosts are 2/7 to get their second home win of the season, having secured a stodgy 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Think Man Utd and Under 1.5 Goals could come in again? It’s going for 15/2.
Edinson Cavani is in line to start here – he leads the goalscoring markets with Bruno Fernandes. Both are 21/20 to get on the scoresheet or 10/3 First Goalscorers.
As for the visitors, they’ll arrive at Old Trafford with nothing to fear after their 2-1 victory in the previous meeting. We make Demba Ba 7/2 to strike again.
With United just about in pole position in Group H, this clash could have a major bearing on the final positions. The pressure will be on PSG here – crashing out at the group stage would be almost unthinkable for last season’s finalists given their resources.
Our traders think their quality will tell, making the hosts 4/7 favourites. Leipzig are at 9/2, with 7/2 for the draw.
Leipzig beat PSG 2-1 in the reverse fixture as a small measure of revenge for their semi-final defeat in August, though the Ligue 1 champions were without Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for that fixture.
Thomas Tuchel welcomes both stars back this time, but Leipzig won’t be overawed. They’ll see a PSG side without the suspended Idrissa Gueye and Presnel Kimpembe, with Marco Verratti and Ander Herrera both doubts too. The German side will fancy their chances of exposing a potentially soft centre with their rapid transitions.
Mbappe and Neymar are 4/5 and Evens respectively to net and open their European accounts for the season. After getting the winner last time, Emil Forsberg is 16/5 to score against PSG again.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
