As submitted to thatsagoal.com as in our quick tips column.
Barcelona Vs. Ajax
Barcelona are very short to win the game at a mere 1/6 and welcome the Dutch giants Ajax over, for what could be a goal feast.
Best match odds:
Will there be many takers of the 20/1 upset? We do not think so, but you will not get rich from a 6/1 ON shot.
According to the stats these two teams have never met. It is one of those situations where you think, really? Barcelona should have re-focussed over the summer break and reflect in remaining unbeaten in competition this term. Ajax have suffered a single loss. Barcelona have made at least the semi finals on all of the last six attempts and hold the longest run in Champions League history.
Ajax are not quite the force they once were perceived as and will be aware that Barcelona have not won any of their last four Champions League matches but have a bad run against Spanish sides in European competition losing all of the last eight, and conceding in the last seven Champions League games conceding nineteen goals in the process.
We cannot rely on the Barcelona defence to warrant a win to nil. Barcelona are good at starting games off quickly, so the bet of over 1.5 goals in the first half at 17/20 with Bet365 appeals on the basis of home advantage and clinical play.
Recommendations:
Napoli Vs. Dortmund
If you have read some of the other previews on the Champions League, this is another game, which is a first competitive encounter between the sides. The German runners up make the visit to Italy to Match day one installed as the odds against favourites.
Best match odds:
This is Napoli’s second campaign, making the 2011/12 campaign all the way to the last 16 and in the eight games they have played in Champions League competition have scored in every game. Napoli have won the last two games, with the away side unbeaten since their loss to Bayern Munich 2-1 and will be fancied by some to look towards another lengthy campaign.
Dortmund have an excellent stiker Robert Lewandowski, who was speculated on a transfer out of Germany but remains a relied upon figure in the Dortmund set up. He is assuming he plays 5/1 for first goal scorer, although considering the first and last goalscorer, it always makes most sense from a betting perspective to go with the last goal scorer market. On this occasion the price is the same, and 11/8 to net anytime in 90 minutes. Both teams to score is 4/6, with BetVictor going 5/6 on over 2.5 goals. This is what we are going with, as all of Napoli’s last six in the form guide have gone over this figure and should again!
Recommendations:
Atlectico Madrid Vs. Zenit St Petersburg
We have both Madrid La Liga sides in the Champions League this season making their fourth appearance since 2009-10, and the visitors all the way from Russia are dangerous Zenit St Petersburg.
Best match odds:
The Russian side are overpriced in some respects for this out at 11/2, which will raise some interest. The home side have won an impressive five out of their last six drawing one game in the process. The Russian giants have lost just once in the last six and remain unbeaten in the last five. Again this is the first time the teams have met, with Atlectico Madrid failing to win any of the last nine games with six draws and three defeats.
Zenit are not good on Spanish soil failing to win any of the last five and have won only two of the last ten CL away. Regardless of the form, Madrid are still too short to win the game, but both sides have scored plenty of goals, with the home side netting in all of the last four. Zenit have netted in all of the last five.
Recommendation
Barcelona Vs. Ajax
Barcelona are very short to win the game at a mere 1/6 and welcome the Dutch giants Ajax over, for what could be a goal feast.
Best match odds:
- Barcelona – 1/6 Stan James
- Draw – 8/1 888sport
- Ajax – 20/1 Coral
Will there be many takers of the 20/1 upset? We do not think so, but you will not get rich from a 6/1 ON shot.
According to the stats these two teams have never met. It is one of those situations where you think, really? Barcelona should have re-focussed over the summer break and reflect in remaining unbeaten in competition this term. Ajax have suffered a single loss. Barcelona have made at least the semi finals on all of the last six attempts and hold the longest run in Champions League history.
Ajax are not quite the force they once were perceived as and will be aware that Barcelona have not won any of their last four Champions League matches but have a bad run against Spanish sides in European competition losing all of the last eight, and conceding in the last seven Champions League games conceding nineteen goals in the process.
We cannot rely on the Barcelona defence to warrant a win to nil. Barcelona are good at starting games off quickly, so the bet of over 1.5 goals in the first half at 17/20 with Bet365 appeals on the basis of home advantage and clinical play.
Recommendations:
- Over 1.5 first half goals – 17/20 Bet365
Napoli Vs. Dortmund
If you have read some of the other previews on the Champions League, this is another game, which is a first competitive encounter between the sides. The German runners up make the visit to Italy to Match day one installed as the odds against favourites.
Best match odds:
- Napoli – 2/1 Bet365
- Draw – 12/5 BetVictor
- Dortmund – 13/8 Ladbrokes
This is Napoli’s second campaign, making the 2011/12 campaign all the way to the last 16 and in the eight games they have played in Champions League competition have scored in every game. Napoli have won the last two games, with the away side unbeaten since their loss to Bayern Munich 2-1 and will be fancied by some to look towards another lengthy campaign.
Dortmund have an excellent stiker Robert Lewandowski, who was speculated on a transfer out of Germany but remains a relied upon figure in the Dortmund set up. He is assuming he plays 5/1 for first goal scorer, although considering the first and last goalscorer, it always makes most sense from a betting perspective to go with the last goal scorer market. On this occasion the price is the same, and 11/8 to net anytime in 90 minutes. Both teams to score is 4/6, with BetVictor going 5/6 on over 2.5 goals. This is what we are going with, as all of Napoli’s last six in the form guide have gone over this figure and should again!
Recommendations:
- Over 2.5 goals – 5/6 BetVictor
Atlectico Madrid Vs. Zenit St Petersburg
We have both Madrid La Liga sides in the Champions League this season making their fourth appearance since 2009-10, and the visitors all the way from Russia are dangerous Zenit St Petersburg.
Best match odds:
- Atlectico – 8/13 Coral
- Draw – 16/5 BetVictor
- Zenit – 11/2 Winner
The Russian side are overpriced in some respects for this out at 11/2, which will raise some interest. The home side have won an impressive five out of their last six drawing one game in the process. The Russian giants have lost just once in the last six and remain unbeaten in the last five. Again this is the first time the teams have met, with Atlectico Madrid failing to win any of the last nine games with six draws and three defeats.
Zenit are not good on Spanish soil failing to win any of the last five and have won only two of the last ten CL away. Regardless of the form, Madrid are still too short to win the game, but both sides have scored plenty of goals, with the home side netting in all of the last four. Zenit have netted in all of the last five.
Recommendation
- Both teams to score – 5/6 BetVictor