The Champions League returns this week with crucial games for the four English teams in the competition.
A win against Olympiakos will see Jose Mourinho’s Spurs through to the knockout stages and Chelsea need a vital three points as they look to strengthen their qualifying bid against Valencia.
Our football expert previews this week’s action.
Selections
Manchester City to win and over 3.5 goals – 2/1 with Grosvenor Sport’s Double The Odds promotion.
Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City ALL to win – 11/10
Valencia – Chelsea Draw at Full Time – 11/4
Manchester City Vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City have been in cruise control during the group stages only having a wobble while drawing against rock bottom Atalanta. The Citizens host Shakhtar and if they win, they will qualify for the knockout stages.
They have played Shakhtar five times in history and have only lost once. This stat is padded by the fact City have only ever conceded two goals to Shakhtar, a 2-1 defeat in December 2017, but have scored 15 against them.
City head into the tie strong favourites priced at 2/13, with the possibility of over 3.5 goals a short 10/13.
I can only see City breezing past Shakhtar as they look to progress on from the group stages.
Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Olympiakos
New appointment Jose Mourinho got off to a flying start as Tottenham fended off a late comeback from West Ham in Saturday’s victory.
Jose will look to continue winning ways with the Lily Whites hosting Olympiakos in what will be his first home game in charge.
Spurs line up as favourites in the tie at7/25 with Olympiakos at 19/2. The visitors have only conceded one more than Spurs so this may not be the high scoring affair the neutral may wish for. Tottenham to win at 7/25 and under 2.5 goals at 8/13 look good bets.
Valencia Vs. Chelsea
Group H is comfortably the most intense group at this current stage with seven points shared between three teams. Valencia and Chelsea are two of those teams and three points for either side will certainly boost their qualifying hopes.
Frank Lampard’s men narrowly lost to Manchester City at the weekend and will be looking to get back to winning ways.
Valencia and Chelsea are all-square on points and goal difference so this could be tournament defining for both teams. Valencia won the reverse fixture back in September.
Chelsea are narrow favourites at 11/10 however, this tie has every possibility in ending in a draw at 11/4.
Liverpool Vs. Napoli
The defending Champions League winners will qualify with a win however lost the reverse fixture in Naples. Napoli sit undefeated with two wins and two draws but are 2nd in the group behind the Reds.
Liverpool have been in fine form in the league and would want to carry this over. Napoli have struggled in their opening Serie A games and sit in seventh place. With a draw against fellow strugglers AC Milan, Liverpool could only dampen their spirits further on Wednesday evening.
Liverpool are 11/25 to win and if Napoli come into the game with the same attitude, they did in Milan then Liverpool will run riot.
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