champs.leagueMatchday 5 of the Uefa Champions League gets underway on Tuesday 26th November and we take a look at selected matches in Groups A to D.

 

 

 

 

 

A number of teams in action on Tuesday are either already assured of a place in the knockout rounds and looking to seal top spot in their group or didding to seal their own place in the last 16. Remember a third place finish and qualification for the Europa League is also a factor so right now there are no dead rubbers. Let's start with a look at Tuesday's coupon.

 

UCL26Nov19

 

Note, prices are subject to change

 

Group A

 

Real Madrid are in second spot in this group with 7 points, 5 behind PSG. The French side have already qualified for the Round of 16 and need to avoid defeat in Madrid to guarantee they win this group. PSG have been foot perfect so far, scoring 10 goals in winning all 4 matches and they have yet to concede. When the teams met in Paris on Matchday 1 PSG won 3-0.

One of the early kick offs on Tuesday offers Club Brugge the opportunity to put pressure on Real if they can win at Galatasaray. Brugge drew their first 2 matches, 0-0 at home to Gala and 2-2 away to Real. Galatasaray have just the 1 point to show for their efforts so far and they have yet to register a goal in this group. If Brugge win and Real fail to beat PSG then it will be all to play for on Matchday 6. Although Gala cannot qualify for the last 16, they could still pip Brugge to third place and then take their chances in the Europa League.

 

Bets: I prefer the other groups for a betting interest on Tuesday but I can see at least 1 draw from these 2 matches.

 

Group B

 

With 4 wins from 4 Bayern Munich are already through to the last 16 and they now bid to seal top spot in this quartet away to Red Star. The Belgrade side have 3 points and in theory could still catch Spurs for second place but it would take a most unlikely set of results and their more realistic target is holding on to third spot.

Victory for Spurs at home to Olympiacos will move them from 7 points to 10 and secure their place in the knockout rounds. It's a first home game in charge for Jose Mourinho who made a winning start at West Ham in the Premier League at the weekend whilst the Greeks only point in this group came from a 2-2 draw at home to Spurs on Matchday 1.

 

Bets: Spurs goals, over 2.5 at 1.05/1

I can see Spurs winning this with daylight with the new coach keen to make a positive impression and seal qualification before they go to Munich on Matchday 6.

 

 

Group C

 

Manchester City have a 5 point lead at the top of this group and a win will see them finish top. They are 5 points better off than Shakhtar whom they beat 3-0 away from home on Matchday 1. The teams also met in the group stage last season when City also won 3-0 away and 6-0 in Manchester.

Atalanta are bottom of Group C with their only point so far coming from a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City who played a chunk of the game with 10 men and a full back playing in goal. The Italian side need a win here to stay in contention but they were beaten 4-0 by this opponent in Zagreb first time out. Dinamo have 5 points, the same number as Shakhtar and they will feel a positive result here should send themn into Matchday 6 with their last 16 chances in their own hands.

 

Bets: Double Chance, Draw/Dinamo at 1.23/1

Dinamo are poor travellers in Europe but they come up against an Atalanta side who are not in the best of shape and who have been shipping goals in this group. I fancy the visitors to avoid defeat.

 

Group D

 

Lokomotiv and Leverkusen both have 3 points and both need a win here. Lokomotiv won 2-1 in Germany on Matchday 1 but lost their next 3 matches whilst Leverkusen had to wait until Matchday 4 to open their points account with a 2-1 home win over Atletico.

Elsewhere in this group Juventus are already through but need a win to rubber stamp top spot and the only points they have dropped in the group so far came in a 2-2 draw in Madrid on Matchday 1. Atletico can also guarantee a last 16 place if they win in Turin.

 

Bets: Lokomotiv v Leverkusen, over 2.5 goals at 17/20

The circumstances of how the group stands leads me to an overs call in the above match whilst the Juve v Atletico game is swerved.