Champions League Matchday 2 Picks, Predictions, Odds
Oliver Ellison is back for best bets, predictions and picks for Champions League Matchday 2 fixtures that span Tuesday, September 13 and Wednesday, September 14.
Sporting vs. Tottenham
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022
Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
Venue: José Alvalade Stadium
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Best Bet: Both teams to score (-129)
Tottenham have had a fairly comfortable rest weekend due to English soccer being postponed in respect to the death of the Queen. It means Antonio Conte’s men will be fresh when they come up against Sporting in Lisbon on Tuesday.
Indeed, avoiding a gruelling Saturday game against Manchester City at the weekend is a stroke of luck for Spurs. Having pulverised Marseille before finally breaching the French defenses last midweek, there should be more of the same from Harry Kane, Richarlison, et al come Tuesday in Portugal.
Sporting are also in fine form having won each of their last three games to nil. They stuffed Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 away from home last week – and took control of their Portuguese Liga game with Portimonense after just seven minutes on Saturday. With two blistering attacks, we should see goals at both ends.
Bayern vs. Barcelona
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Allianz Arena
Location: Munich, Germany
Best Bet: Bayern Munich Win to Nil (-112)
We’re not used to anyone being odds on to beat Barcelona but the plight of the Spanish side has been well documented over the summer. Granted, they have started the season strong, are undefeated in La Liga and beat Viktoria Plzen 5-1 in their opening UCL group game.
But Bayern are a totally different proposition and at home the German giants should command proceedings on Tuesday night. Yes, Barca have ex-Bayern star Robert Lewandowski, and new men Raphinha and Andreas Christensen in the team. But Bayern were effortlessly slick in their 2-0 win at Inter Milan last midweek.
With Thomas Muller still marshalling the forward line and Sadio Mane now part of that offence, it’s hard to see the hosts not scoring two or more goals here. And that should be enough to get past this Barca side.
FC Porto vs. Club Brugge
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio do Dragao
Location: Porto, Portugal
Best Bet: Draw ML (+400)
Porto bounced back from their 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in mathchday one of the UCL with a 3-0 demolition of Chaves. But Sergio Conceicao’s team could run into problems when trying to overcome Club Brugge on Tuesday evening.
Indeed, Porto will be without striker Mehdi Taremi following his red card last week. Yes, they can still call upon Evanilson, Joao Mario and Mateus Uribe to provide the attacking threat, but they are certainly blunted.
Relative European minnows Brugge, meanwhile, have begun the season in flying form. The Belgian side are on a six-game winning streak that includes the 1-0 result at Bayer Leverkusen in their first UCL group game. Boss Carl Hoefkens has plenty of options from the bench too. This will be a tighter game than one expects and is one of the better outside bets to place, if you’re seeking high odds.
Rangers vs. Napoli
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Ibrox Stadium
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Best Bet: Over 3.5 (+200)
Rangers were at the back end of a hiding from Ajax last week, losing 4-0 in Amsterdam. It was a sobering loss for boss Giovanni van Bronkhorst, and a severe dose of reality upon their return to the Champions League.
Rangers didn’t play over the weekend due to the Queen’s passing, and so they prepare for Naopli’s arrival knowing they need to get at least a point from this game. Anything less and it will be very difficult for Rangers to even finish third in this group.
Napoli beat Liverpool 4-1 last week and were magnificent going forward. They set the trap and Liverpool fell into it time and again. On Wednesday we can expect a similar set-up – a tough defence, a midfield willing to sit deep, and a forward line primed to counter attack. Rangers should score at Ibrox but Napoli will probably grab a couple. The clear wager, then, is to focus on goals.
Chelsea vs. Salzburg
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Location: London, England
Best Bet: Chelsea ML (-250)
The the space of a week Chelsea have sacked their Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel, appointed Brighton boss Graham Potter and his entire backroom staff, avoided having to rush into an EPL game with Fulham at the weekend, and now prepare for what should be a routine UCL home game against Salzburg.
What a difference a week makes. There’s a cliche that clubs enjoy a ‘new manager bounce’ when the boss is replaced, and Potter will certainty hope to get that at Stamford Bridge. He is one of England’s most highly-respected coaches, but then again, Tuchel was one of Germany’s.
It’s hard to know what’s going to happen to Chelsea this season. They could thrive under Potter, just as they did immediately after Tuchel arrived. Or they could capitulate. He has a new-look team, disjointed in many ways, but at least has a relatively easy opponent in Salzburg to face first. Chelsea, based on squad value alone, should win. But it won’t be an easy game.
Manchester City vs. Dortmund
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Location: Manchester, England
Best Bet: Draw ML (+700)
Manchester City have to let up at some point, right? The billionaire club thrashed Sevilla 4-0 in their opening Champions League group game and the team has had the weekend off. Now the focus is on crushing Borussia Dortmund – the side Erling Haaland used to play for.
Haaland seems to be the final piece in Pep Guardiola’s jigsaw. He’s scoring for fun, has oodles of supply from those around him, and is physically at his peak. But Dortmund have their own strengths. They were solid against F.C. Copenhagen last week and, while they lost in the Bundesliga at the weekend, they’re an experienced UCL team that knows how to handle big occasions.
Now, City should win this game. The UCL odds suggest they’ll walk it. But this is soccer and Aston Villa earned a credible tie with City earlier this month. Dortmund can match that, and the odds on a tie are exceptionally high – well worth a risky punt if you’re looking to chase unfancied profit.
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