Champions League Betting Tips: Back Arsenal to return to winning ways

The Champions League is back on our screens this week, and Matthew O’Regan has his five best bets from this week’s slate, including all five British sides.

Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Tuesday 22 October
Kick Off: 20:00
Live on Amazon Prime

Arsenal have started their Champions League campaign in good form, drawing 0-0 away at Atalanta, as well as beating PSG 2-0 at the Emirates. At home against a struggling Shakhtar Donetsk side, Arsenal will look to continue their unbeaten run. 

Mikel Arteta’s side lost their first game of the season, falling victim to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth. Despite starting the season conceding just one goal in their first five games, The Gunners have kept just one clean sheet in their last six. 

Shakhtar have struggled in the Ukrainian Premier League and currently sit fourth. Marino Pusic’s side have also been poor in the Champions League, drawing 0-0 at Bologna before losing 0-3 at home to Atalanta after being 0-2 down at halftime. 

Arsenal should dominate from minute one, with the visitors failing to lay a glove on their North London opponents.

Prediction: Half Time/Full Time Arsenal & Both Teams To Score No @ 1.89

Aston Villa vs Bologna

Tuesday 22 October
Kick Off: 20:00
Live on TNT Sports 1

Aston Villa opened with a 0-3 win in Switzerland over Young Boys before shocking 32-time German champions Bayern Munich 1-0 at a boisterous Villa Park.

In the league, Unai Emery’s side have continued where they left off last year and currently sit fourth, keeping pace with the three title favourites. 

Of the Villans eight league games, six have seen at least three goals – the highest total in the league. 

The visitors on Tuesday are Bologna, who defied the odds by finishing fifth in Serie A last season. As a result, manager Thiago Motta, as well as Riccardo Calafiori, Joshua Zirkzee and Marco Arnautovic, were snapped up by bigger teams, meaning I Rossoblu had a mini rebuild in the summer. 

While at home, their games have been low-scoring; all four of their away games have seen over 2.5 goals. Vincenzo Italiano sets his side up to play on the counterattack, with players like Dan Ndoye excelling in transition. In the last Champions League game, Bologna travelled to Anfield to face Liverpool and were unlucky not to score from their 12 shots. 

This game has the potential to be an engulfing clash, with both teams believing they have a chance of victory.

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.80

Atalanta vs Celtic 

Wednesday 23 October
Live on TNT Sports 4
Kick Off: 17:45

Gian Piero Gasperini won plaudits for his management of Atalanta, which led them to success in the Europa League last season. 

This year, they sit sixth in Serie A, scoring 18 goals and conceding 13, with their games averaging 3.88 goals. Games at the Gewiss Stadium have been filled with entertainment, with a 2-3 loss to Como sandwiched in between 3-2 and 5-1 wins against Fiorentina and Genoa. 

Celtic sit joint top of the SPFL with seven wins and one draw - coming against fellow leaders Aberdeen. Their Champions League campaign has started entertainingly, beating Slovan Bratislava 5-1 before being demolished 7-1 at Borussia Dortmund. 

In the league, six out of eight of their matches have seen over 2.5 goals. Brendan Rodgers’ side have scored in 24 straight competitive games, so they will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet. However, the Bhoys lost all three away games in the Champions League last season, so they may struggle to leave Bergamo with any points. 

Prediction: Atalanta win and over 2.5 goals @ 1.93

Manchester City vs Sparta Prague

Wednesday 23 October
Live on TNT Sports 2
Kick Off: 20:00

Reigning four-time Premier League champions Manchester City host Sparta Prague in the Champions League after drawing 0-0 at home to Inter Milan and defeating Slovan Bratislava 0-4 away from home in their previous two games. 

Pep Guardiola will be frustrated at his side’s inability to keep clean sheets, conceding in eight of their 11 games. However, the Citizens have also won eight games with ‘win and BTTS’ landing six times. 

Sparta Prague are the first-time visitors to the Etihad Stadium and are priced at a mammoth 38.00 to win. Lars Friis' side are second in the 1. Liga, six points behind bitter rivals Slavia Prague. 

‘Rudi have now scored in 24 straight games, including a 3-0 win over Salzburg and a 1-1 draw away at Stuttgart in the Champions League. 

With City expected to run away with the game, it would not be a surprise to see Prague on the scoresheet if Guardiola’s side take their foot off the gas.

Prediction: Manchester City to win & Both Teams To Score @ 3.35

RB Leipzig vs Liverpool

Wednesday 23 October
Live on TNT Sports 1
Kick Off: 20:00

RB Leipzig are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga, sitting level on points with Bayern Munich, having won five games and drawn two. Marco Rose’s side have conceded just twice in the league, keeping a clean sheet in all three home games. Leipzig Bundesliga games are averaging just 1.88 goals. Of their seven league matches, five have seen under 3.5 goals. 

Under Arne Slot, Liverpool have been defensively resolute, conceding just three goals in eight games. With seven wins from eight league games, Liverpool sit one point clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. 

With 15 goals scored and just three conceded, their games are averaging just 2.25. All eight of their games have seen under 3.5 goals.

Dominik Szobszlai is a key cog in the Arne Slot system, starting all 7/8 league games and both Champions League games. The Hungarian is averaging 1.21 fouls per 90 and has committed a foul in all bar one start. A centre midfielder has made a foul against Leipzig in all except one game. 

Prediction: Under 3.5 goals and Dominik Szoboszlai to make over 0.5 fouls @ 1.96

Recommended Bets: 

Back Arsenal Half Time/Full Time Result and Both Teams To Score No @ 1.89
Back Over 2.5 goals in Aston Villa vs Bologna @ 1.80
Back Atalanta win and over 2.5 goals against Celtic @ 1.93
Back Manchester City To Win and Both Teams To Score @ 3.35
Back Under 3.5 goals and Dominik Szoboszlai over 0.5 fouls in RB Leipzig vs Liverpool @ 1.96