Champions League Tips: Can Aubameyang kick-start Chelsea's campaign?

The Champions League returns this week, with matchday three marking the midway point of the group stage - read on for Greg Lea’s preview of the biggest games on Wednesday.

RB Leipzig v Celtic

Kick-off: 5.45pm Wednesday

Celtic are back in the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2017 and they clearly do not intend to simply make up the numbers. A 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk last time out saw Ange Postecoglou’s side get off the mark after a 3-0 defeat by Real Madrid on matchday one, but they will be in for a tough game at the Red Bull Arena.

RB Leipzig sacked Domenico Tedesco last month, despite the German-Italian leading them to DFB-Pokal glory earlier this year. Marco Rose has won two of his first three Bundesliga matches at the helm, but Leipzig are pointless in the Champions League and cannot afford to lose here.

The German outfit have scored seven goals in Rose’s two home games in charge, while Celtic are averaging 2.9 per match across all competitions. With both sides in need of a win, this promises to be an entertaining affair.

Selection: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 1.99

Benfica v Paris Saint-Germain

Kick-off: 8pm Wednesday

Benfica and PSG both have 100 percent records in Group H, and the winner of this clash will be in a strong position to advance to the knockout phase. The Portuguese side beat Juventus 2-1 last time out to move six points clear of the Bianconeri, who are struggling for form under Max Allegri.

With Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe wreaking havoc against all comers this season, Benfica’s backline will have its hands full. But their side possesses plenty of firepower too, so the hosts should at least be able to find the net here.

Selection: Paris Saint-Germain to win and both teams to score @ 2.72

Chelsea v AC Milan

Kick-off: 8pm Wednesday

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang must have been especially disappointed to learn that Thomas Tuchel had been dismissed as Chelsea boss last month. The Gabon international agreed to join the Blues in part because he wanted to work with his former Borussia Dortmund manager again, but their reunion lasted a matter of days.

Still, Aubameyang was on target as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the weekend, and he is set to start when AC Milan come to town on Wednesday. With one point from a possible six so far, this is a match Chelsea need to win. Aubameyang remains a clinical finisher, and he should get plenty of opportunities to score his first Champions League goal for his new employers.

Selection: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score anytime @ 2.5

Manchester City v Copenhagen

Kick-off: 8pm Wednesday

Manchester City will be confident of extending their perfect start to their Champions League campaign when Copenhagen visit on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola’s side began with a 4-0 thumping of Sevilla in Spain, although they were somewhat fortunate to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 last time out. City struggled to break BVB down for long periods of that match and required two moments of magic late on to emerge victorious.

However, Copenhagen will struggle to frustrate last season’s semi-finalists to the same extent. This feels like a game that Pep Guardiola could rotate his team for, but any XI that City put out will surely prove too strong for their Danish visitors, who lost their previous European away game 3-0 in Dortmund. This is likely to be a one-sided contest.

Selection: Manchester City -3.5 Asian handicap at 2.38

Recommended bets

RB Leipzig v Celtic: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 1.99
Benfica v Paris Saint-Germain: Paris Saint-Germain to win and both teams to score @ 2.72
Chelsea v AC Milan: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score anytime @ 2.5
Manchester City v Copenhagen: Manchester City -3.5 Asian handicap @ 2.38