The final round of the group stage for this season’s Champions League takes place this week, and a number of teams are still in line to make it to the knock-out stages of the competition scheduled to be played from early next year. All but one of the three groups in action on Tuesday night still have a place in the next stage up for grabs, and with third place in the respective groups gaining teams entry into the latter stages of the Europa League as well, there is much to play for for most teams in action on Tuesday night.
Champions League Odds
|
Game |
1 |
X |
2 |
| Bayern Munich v Manchester City |
4/9 |
4/1 |
13/2 |
| Benfica v PSG |
6/5 |
13/5 |
12/5 |
| Copenhagen v Real Madrid |
7/1 |
17/4 |
2/5 |
| Galatasaray v Juventus |
15/4 |
13/5 |
17/20 |
| Manchester United v Shakhtar Donetsk |
21/20 |
13/5 |
14/5 |
| Olympiakos v Anderlecht |
1/3 |
9/2 |
10/1 |
| Real Sociedad v Bayer Leverkusen |
7/2 |
14/5 |
17/20 |
| Viktoria Plzen v CSKA Moscow |
13/10 |
5/2 |
9/4 |
Manchester United have all but sewn up Group A, with only a heavy defeat at home to second placed Shakhtar Donetsk preventing them from taking top spot. This game holds more importance for the Ukrainians, who sit one point above Leverkusen in the fight for second spot. A win at Old Trafford will make Leverkusen’s away trip to Real Sociedad meaningless, and with David Moyes’ side’s recent poor form at home in the Premier League, anything seems possible. Nonetheless, Leverkusen will need to win their game to make any other permutations necessary.
Group B is the only group in which two direct opponents for second place square off in a knock-out game of sorts. Italian champions Juventus travel to Istanbul to meet Galatasaray, knowing that a draw will be enough to take them through. Galatasaray’s objective is simple: to win the game. At all costs. This may prove to be a blessing in disguise, as Juve will be caught in between playing for the draw and settling the tie by going for the throat and closing off all Turkish hopes immediately. The draw at 13/5 looks decent value. With Real Madrid already comfortably settled in first position in the group, Copenhagen will be hoping to come away from their game with the Spanish giants with something in the hopes that, should the result in Turkey go their way, they continue their European season in the Europa League.
With Olympiakos and Benfica both on seven points heading into the final game, Group C looks to be one of the most finely poised of all eight groups. Benfica host already-qualified PSG, whilst Olympiakos host Anderlecht, who have managed just one point in their first five games. The Greek side will be confident of posting a big enough win against the Belgians to make any possible victory by Benfica over the French giants inconsequential. The 6/5 offered on Benfica looks to be the value bet of the eight games on Tuesday night, as a determined side will leave everything on the field against a PSG side lacking any motivation to compete and most likely fielding a second-string side for the game.
Bayern Munich, defending champions from last season, are the only side to have five wins from five, and they close their group commitments at home against second placed side Manchester City, who still mathematically have a chance of topping their group with a sizeable win in Germany. But with the current form the Germans come into the game, winning 7-0 away at the weekend, it is difficult to see Pellegrini’s side winning Group D. In the group’s other game, CSKA Moscow need to avoid a three-goal defeat against Viktoria Plzen to claim third place and qualification to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Check out the official UEFA Champions League website to keep up with the latest news and results.
Tagged With : Bayern Munich • Benfica • Champions League • Galatasaray • Juventus • Olympiakos • Shakhtar Donetsk • UEFA