Champions League Tipsheet: Manchester United and Real Madrid to come out on top

The second day of the penultimate round of Champions League group matches takes place on Wednesday. Manchester United travel to Istanbul looking to salvage their campaign while Arsenal can confirm their place at the top of their group with victory over RC Lens at the Emirates.

Galatasaray vs Manchester United

5:45pm, TNT Sports 1

This game is crucial for both sides. Galatasaray are languishing behind Copenhagen in Group A but a win here would put them in good stead ahead of their showdown in the final group match. The Turkish side lost their last home match in this competition against Bayern Munich and while this is a difficult one to call, I’m backing another way of victory in this one.

We can get odds of 2.58 for Manchester United to win. Erik Ten Hag’s side have been finding a way to win of late. They are top of the Premier League form table despite the level of performance being not quite what you’d expect from the Red Devils. They’ve won four of their last five away matches in all competitions. Over that period they have kept three clean sheets. Their only loss came when they were reduced to 10 men.

Tip: Manchester United to win at 2.59

Real Madrid vs Napoli

8:00pm, TNT Sports 3

Real Madrid won the reverse fixture in Italy 3-1 making it three consecutive wins over Napoli and they can clinch first place in the group with another win here. Los Blancos are the undisputed kings of the Champions League and they have their sights set on another triumph. Ancelotti’s side have been impeccable at the Bernabeu this season and Rayo Vallecano are the only side to go there and earn a point. Madrid are conceding an average of just 0.38 goals per game across their eight home matches in all competitions.

They are taking on a Napoli side that has failed to reach the heights of last season in the early stages of this campaign. The departure of Luciano Spalletti has had a profound impact and results have been indifferent. Napoli have only won nine of their 17 matches in all competitions so Real are at an appealing price here.

Tip: Real Madrid to win at 1.92

Arsenal vs RC Lens

8:00pm, TNT Sports 2

Arsenal climbed to the top of the Premier League with a late win over Brentford at the weekend. They now have the chance to secure first place in their Champions League group but they will be wary of the threat that Lens pose after losing in France. We are backing Arteta’s men to win by at least a two-goal margin here. This bet has won in their last three home matches in all competitions. In their last Champions League match at the Emirates, Sevilla had just one shot as the Gunners ran out 2-0 victors. 

Lens have been poor on the road this season. They have picked up just two wins in their nine away matches. Those victories came against Clermont Foot and Strasbourg; two sides that are battling near the bottom of Ligue 1. Over the course of those nine away matches, Lens are averaging just 0.89 goals per game.

Tip: Arsenal -1.5 at 1.89

Benfica vs Internazionale

8:00pm, TNT Sports 6

Benfica have been bitterly disappointing in the Champions League this season after reaching the quarter-finals season where they were beaten by Inter last season. The Portuguese side have already been dumped out of this year’s competition and there is nothing for them to play for other than pride here. As a result, I’m banking on Inter getting the job done here.

Internazionale lead the way in Serie A but they are level on points with Real Sociedad in this competition. They are in a great position to qualify for the round of 16 but they will want to secure a favourable draw in the next round. Simone Inzaghi’s side won the reverse fixture 1-0 but the scoreline should have been more emphatic. They had 21 shots and finished the game with an xG of 3.81; 3.5 more than Benfica’s Inter have lost just one of their 17 matches this season and are conceding an average of 0.53 goals per game.

Tip: Internazionale to win at 2.94

Recommended Bets

Back Manchester United to beat Galatasaray @ 2.59
Back Real Madrid to beat Napoli @ 1.92
Back Arsenal -1.5 Asian Handicap v RC Lens @ 1.89
Back Internazionale to beat Benfica @ 2.94