Champions League preview: Wednesday’s action
Lille vs Borussia Dortmund
Lille held Dortmund to a draw in last week’s opener. And the French side have proved strong at the Stade du Hainaut in this Champions League campaign, winning five of their six home games – including a 1-0 win over Real Madrid. The sole exception was a 1-1 draw against Juventus.
Meanwhile, Niko Kovac’s Dortmund are having a fairly mediocre time of it in the Bundesliga. They sit tenth in the league table, having lost five of their last nine league games. With home advantage, it’s not a stretch to see Lille edging this match. Lille are 17/10 to take the win.
Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven
Poised on a knife edge, this one; Arsenal hold a slender six-goal lead over PSV Eindhoven after the opening match. Will the undaunted Dutch side deliver an electrifying response in north London on Wednesday night?
Excuse us for trying to inject jeopardy into a game that, barring disaster, may prove lacking in drama. After winning the first leg 7-1, we’re going to take a wild punt and suggest the Gunners will progress.
Eindhoven may set out to restore a little pride at the Emirates. But it’s unlikely that Mikel Arteta’s side suffers too much here.
With little at stake, maybe Arsenal can at least keep another clean sheet. They’re yet to concede a Champions League goal at the Emirates in the four games they’ve played so far in this campaign. Arsenal are 13/10 to win to nil.
And following the spectacle of the previous game, with the Gunners presumably content just to see out this match you could take a chance on this one being a less exhilarating affair; under 2.5 goals is an 11/10 shot.
Aston Villa vs Brugge
Villa were perhaps a little fortunate to come away with a 3-1 win in the first leg. But Brugge’s chances of turning things round at Villa Park aren’t great. The Belgian side have lost 12 of the 14 games they’ve played in England in European competition, and have never won on English soil.
The hosts have won four of their last five games in all competitions, and are unbeaten at Villa Park in this CL campaign – winning three of their four games played at home, including an eye-catching 1-0 win against Bayern Munich back in October.
Villa manager Unai Emery is also a renowned coach when it comes to European competition, having won the Europa League four times. It would be hugely unexpected if such an experienced figure were to let this match get away from him.
Back Villa to win and Ollie Watkins to score in a double at 37/20; Watkins scored against Brentford at the weekend and has three goals in his last five appearances at Villa Park.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
Real edged the first leg of this tie 2-1, and the Spanish giants obviously have plenty of pedigree in the Champions League; the reigning champions have won this competition 15 times, more than any other team.
Local rivals Atletico would love to stop them in their quest for a 16th CL trophy, of course. Coach Diego Simeone saw his side lose 2-1 to Getafe in La Liga at the weekend. But his team will be determined to give at least as good as they get here.
In these clubs two league meetings this season both matches ended 1-1. Home advantage could prove a significant factor for the hosts too, with the supporters sure to do their best to turn the Metropolitano Stadium into a cauldron.
Carlo Ancelotti will expect his players to zero in on the task at hand of course, no matter how raucous the atmosphere. Kylian Mbappe scored for Real in the 2-1 win over Real Vallecano on Sunday, but the Frenchman is not guaranteed to figure in Wednesday’s match after picking up a muscle injury.
Whatever the line-up, Atletico may well seek to take any sting out of their opposition, and wait patiently for an opportunity to level the score. That could mean a long night in Madrid, and you can back the match to go to penalties at 13/2. Under 2.5 goals is a 59/50 shot.
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