Champions League Matchday Five Preview

With the new-look league phase of the Champions League having hit the midway point, things should start to heat up with plenty of work still to do to secure a higher placing as possible, or even guarantee a knockout place.

With games set to take place over Tuesday and Wednesday this week, here’s a closer look at four fixtures across the continent that offer value.

Tip 1: AC Milan to win and over 3.5 goals @ 5/4 with bet365

AC Milan made a slow start to this season’s Champions League, losing their opening two games, but have impressed in their last two – notably beating Real Madrid 3-1 at the Bernabeu last time out – to start to climb the table.

The Rossoneri are down in 20th place at the midway point but will have high hopes of a top-eight finish, given their four remaining games.

Next up is Slovan Bratislava, who have struggled badly on the step up in class to this level. They lost all four games by an aggregate score of 2-15 to fall to the foot of the table.

Milan should chalk up a third win on the spin and with plenty of goals to boot, given there have been at least four scored in six of either teams’ eight games combined so far.

Tip 2: Barcelona to win and over 3.5 goals @ 1/1 with bet365

In a similar vein, there should be plenty of goals coming up when Barcelona entertain Brest at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night.

Since a surprise opening 2-1 loss at Monaco, Barcelona have reeled off three straight wins in the Champions League, scoring at least four goals in each of those fixtures which includes a 4-1 home success over Bayern Munich.

Brest have made a fine start to their European adventure, winning three and drawing one of their opening four games, scoring in every match which includes six away goals, to lie a point and two places better off than their hosts in fourth.

However, those away successes have come at Salzburg and Sparta Prague, and they have struggled badly on the road domestically, winning just one and losing five of their six away games in Ligue 1.

Eric Roy’s men have conceded at least three goals in four of their last five away league games and while they may contribute to the goal tally, stepping up a level or two to take on Barca might just see them outgunned once again.

Tip 3: Juventus to beat Aston Villa @ 21/10 with bet365

While Aston Villa made an excellent start to their European campaign, winning their first three games without conceding, their form has dipped in recent weeks and Juventus look good value for the win at Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s men ended a four-game losing run with a 2-2 home draw with Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace but had to come from behind twice in that game, and they may find the Old Lady less forgiving.

Juventus have already won at RB Leipzig and drawn at Lille in the Champions League, while they have kept five clean sheets in six away games in Serie A and look good value to pick up the win that could see them climb into the top eight.

Tip 4: Lille to beat Bologna @ 11/5 with bet365

Lille have been something of a surprise package in the Champions League as after losing their opening game 2-0 at Sporting Lisbon, they have gone unbeaten in three tough fixtures that has seen them beat both Real Madrid (1-0 at home) and Atletico Madrid (3-1 away) as well as pick up a point in a 1-1 home draw with Juventus

.Bologna were a success story in Serie A last season to earn a place in the Champions League but have struggled on the step up, admittedly having lost key players and their manager over the summer.

I Rossoblu were held to a goalless draw at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in their opener before losing their next three games, all without scoring to slip to 31st in the standings.

Given they haven’t scored, it is difficult to see why they may be installed as favourites and Lille look great value to register their third win of the League Phase.