Champions League: Group Betting (Wed)

On Wednesday evening Groups A-D return to action in the Champions League. We look at who’s poised to progress and examine where the betting value may lie. All odds given are the best available on the market, and are to qualify, unless stated otherwise.

Group A:

The bookies have this one about right with Porto (1/8 BetVictor) looking certainties to make the knockout stages. PSG (1/5 Skybet) may only be level with Kiev (2/1 Ladbrokes) at the moment but when the sides met there was a 4-1 victory for the French big spenders.

Group B:

The battle to finish behind the Gunners isn’t as clear cut as the odds suggest with Schalke having much more left to do than odds of 1/4 (Bet365) would imply. Montpellier are an intriguing option at 7/2 (Skybet) after claiming a last gasp 2-2 draw in Germany with 10 men. If the French can do the business against an ordinary Olympiakos side in the next two fixtures then it’s game on.

Group C:

Malaga, one of the lesser lights of La Liga, is enjoying its Champions League debut greatly having won both games to date 3-0. The Spaniards are evens (Sportingbet) to finish top of the group ahead of the famous faces of AC Milan who are 11/8 (Bluesquare) for first spot. The Italians drew at home to Anderlecht who are still way out at 12/1 (WilliamHill) to qualify.

Group D:

Even in a group of indisputable quality, Real Madrid are amazingly nothing longer than 1/66 (Bet365) shots to progress. Dortmund (4/5 Skybet) have points on the board but over the next fortnight they play Mourinho’s men twice while Man City (10/11 Boylesports) face a double-header against Ajax. Things could look very different by mid-November.