Champions League Predictions: Back Man City to qualify on Tuesday

The Champions League group stage concludes next week, and matchday five could be make or break for several sides. Greg Lea offers his Champions League predictions for four Tuesday encounters.

Red Bull Salzburg v Chelsea

Kick-off: 5.45pm Tuesday

A last-gasp Casemiro header denied Chelsea victory over Manchester United on Saturday, as Graham Potter saw his side’s six-game winning run come to an end. The Blues’ boss at least remains unbeaten since he took charge at Stamford Bridge, and a win on Tuesday would see Chelsea secure their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Red Bull Salzburg will be a tough nut to crack. They drew the reverse fixture 1-1 in West London and are just a point behind Chelsea heading into matchday five, meaning a home win would put them in pole position to win Group E.

Bear in mind that each of Salzburg’s matches to date have featured fewer than 2.5 goals, while Potter will be content to keep things tight given a draw would be a good result for Chelsea.

Prediction: Under 2.5 goals @ 2.02

Benfica v Juventus

Kick-off: 8pm Tuesday

Juventus may have just won back-to-back matches in Serie A, but the jury is still out on Max Allegri. That is partly because the Bianconeri are almost certainly out of the title race already, and somewhat because they have performed so dismally in the Champions League.

Allegri led Juve to two finals in his first spell at the Allianz Stadium, but his methods increasingly look to be out of step with the majority of the world’s top coaches.

Juventus, who suffered an ignominious 2-0 defeat by Maccabi Haifa two weeks ago, must beat Benfica to keep their hopes of progression alive. But given that the Portuguese side have won eight of their last nine home games in all competitions, that is a tough ask.

Prediction: Benfica to win @ 2.02

Borussia Dortmund v Man City

Kick-off: 8pm Tuesday

Borussia Dortmund gave Manchester City one of their toughest games of the campaign to date at the Etihad Stadium. After holding the Premier League champions at arm’s length in the first half, Jude Bellingham gave the German team the lead before City eventually turned the match around with their first two shots on target.

Pep Guardiola’s side will wrap up top spot in Group G with a draw at Signal Iduna Park, but it is not in the City manager’s nature to play for a point. Dortmund have a five-point cushion above Sevilla and Copenhagen, so they do not necessarily need to adopt as cautious an approach as they might if their advantage was more slender. This promises to be an entertaining encounter.

Prediction: Manchester City to win and both teams to score @ 2.62

RB Leipzig v Real Madrid

Kick-off: 8pm Tuesday

Real Madrid are one of five teams that have already secured their spot in the knockout stage of the Champions League, so the pressure is off ahead of their visit to Germany on Tuesday.

RB Leipzig, conversely, still have work to do. Currently second in the Group F standings, they are just one point clear of third-place Shakhtar Donetsk, with whom they will go head-to-head on matchday six.

Madrid are likely to rest players amid a hectic schedule in the run-up to the World Cup, but Leipzig may still struggle to beat the European champions. The draw is perhaps the most attractive pick in this one.

Prediction: Draw @ 3.5

Champions League predictions

Salzburg v Chelsea: Under 2.5 goals @ 2.02
Benfica v Juventus: Benfica to win @ 2.02
Dortmund v Manchester City: Man City to win and both teams to score @ 2.62
Leipzig v Madrid: Draw @ 3.5