Champions League Matchday Six Preview

Champions League league phase leaders Liverpool take the competition’s only 100 per cent record to Girona in one of a glut of excellent ties on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There are a few major clubs – among them holders Real Madrid and PSG – in need of big performances on Matchday Six, and we have picked out four best bets for the midweek action in Europe’s top club competition.

Tip 1: Juventus or Draw double chance v Manchester City @ 5/6

Two of Europe’s superpowers meet in Italy on Wednesday with Juventus and Manchester City still in need of points to bank a place in the next stage.

Juve were on six points after two rounds but have collected only two more since while City, who also have eight points in total, are in the midst of a horror run of just one win in nine matches in all competitions.

Juventus are the stalemate kings having drawn 11 of their last 18 matches, including each of their last four. Their injury situation is improving and they showed plenty of fight to come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Bologna at the weekend.

City also drew 2-2 on Saturday – at Crystal Palace – and they look vulnerable at the back. Juventus should be able to win but a double-chance wager may be smart given their propensity to draw.

Tip 2: PSV to beat Brest @ 1/1

Brest continue to save their best efforts for the Champions League but their luck may well run out at home to free-scoring PSV on Tuesday.

The Breton club have enjoyed a stunning competition debut with wins over Sturm Graz, Salzburg and Sparta Prague helping them to 10 points and touching distance of progression.

Eric Roy’s men could not have complained about the draw but there’s a case for believing their midweek exertions are starting to take a toll.

They have lost four of their last five games, conceding exactly three times in each of those losses, and that has to be music to the ears of PSV.

The Eindhoven giants have won six in a row and scored a barely believable 34 goals in their last eight matches.

Tip 3: Leipzig to beat Aston Villa @ 8/5

Leipzig have got three games to save their Champions League campaign knowing a single slip is now fatal. They have played five and lost five so far, an astonishing state of affairs for such a talented group, but they can finally get on the board at home to Aston Villa.

Leipzig warmed up for the visit of Villa with two excellent wins over the past seven days, beating Frankfurt 3-0 in the cup and then winning 2-1 at Holstein Kiel to stay fourth in the Bundesliga.

Villa are nicely placed on 10 points but Saturday’s modest 1-0 win over Premier League back-markers Southampton was just their second triumph in 10 matches.

Tip 4: Borussia Dortmund v Barcelona – Over 3.5 goals @ 11/10

The competition’s two top scorers meet in Dortmund where thrills, spills and plenty of goals are anticipated.

Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona are on 12 points, so a 0-0 draw would be mutually agreeable.

However, the likelihood of these two gung-ho, attacking sides going through the motions after scoring 34 goals between them so far is extremely slim and another high-scoring contest looks likely.