The UEFA Champions League enters matchday five with an lefty of high profile matches set to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Inter Milan remain the only teams with a perfect record, winning all four games to lead the log with 12 points. Nine other teams have failed to win even a single match and will have to turn their fortunes around if they are to keep any hope of qualification alive.
AfricaPicks spotlights the top five Tuesday night games that offer punters with exciting odds.
Chelsea vs Barcelona – 11pm
A historic European rivalry will be renewed as 11th place Barca travel to Stamford Bridge. Both sides were held in their last CL matches, Chelsea 2-2 at Qarabag as Barca drew 3-3 with Club Brugge in a thriller of an encounter. Chelsea have enjoyed success against Barcelona at home, avoiding defeat in Barca’s last five visits, winning three times in that period.
Enzo Maresca’s side are on a better run of form ahead of this game, winning four of their last five games. A highly attacking game is expected as both teams are coming off convincing wins in their respective leagues.
Prediction – Both teams to score @ 1.37 odds
Bodo Glimt vs Juventus – 11pm
Two winless sides have the chance to correct that in this potentially explosive test. The hosts are coming off back to back league wins after a slim 1-0 defeat to Monaco in their last CL game.
Juve on the other hand played out to a 1-1 draw against Sporting Lisbon and followed that up with two draws in the Serie A. This will be the first competitive fixture between these two sides who are desperate for a first win.
Prediction – Both sides have shown they can score goals in the competition and this is expected here as well. The best bet is over 2.5 goals @ 1.60 odds
Dortmund vs Villarreal – 11pm
Dortmund are desperate for a win, coming into the game without victory in their last three matches. The Germans were held by Stuttgart in a six-goal thriller over the weekend and a win here will see them into the top eight.
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Villarreal suffered a shock 1-0 CL defeat to minnows Pafos last time out but have gone on to win both La Liga matches since then. However, the visiting Spaniards are without a win in Europe and only have one point, leaving them in 32nd place.
Prediction – Dortmund have the second highest goals in the Champions League (13) and are tipped as favorites to keep up their good European form. Dortmund to win @ 1.83 odds
Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen – 11pm
Pep Guardiola’s side turn their focus to Europe after a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday. Fourth place City are unbeaten in Europe, most recently bagging a dominant 4-1 win against Dortmund.
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Leverkusen on the other hand climbed up to 21st after beating Benfica 1-0 and have a chance to enter the top eight. The Germans were 3-1 winners against Wolfsburg over the weekend but will have a tough test at the Etihad. Prior to this past weekend’s loss, City scored 13 goals in their last four games and are expected to get back on track here and go top of the table.
Prediction – Man City to win @ 1.22 odds
Marseille vs Newcastle United – 11pm
Newcastle are reeling from their 2-1 triumph against Man City, knowing victory here will keep them in the top eight. Marseille have only won once in the Champions League this season, a 4-0 victory over Ajax in September. It won’t be easy to break a Newcastle defense that has conceded just two goals in the CL.
The French side thrashed Nice 5-1 over the weekend and will need to keep up that pace if they are to progress. The last two times these sides met was in the Europa League two decades ago where Marseille won 2-0 on aggregate over two legs.
Prediction – Both teams to score @ 1.65 odds
Total accumulator odds @ 8.04 odds
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