This year is no different and some teams may put themselves in a very strong position to qualify for the next stage- it is also important for some of the bigger teams to get their qualification out of the way as early as possible so they are not having to play their strongest teams during a period when games come quick and fast, particularly for those English sides involved.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City could put themselves in a very strong position once they complete their double-headers over the next couple of weeks, while Chelsea will want to earn at least 4 points from their 6 points available against Schalke.
When you think of the Champions League potential winners this season, you do notice that Borussia Dortmund and Juventus go into their double-header with Arsenal and Real Madrid respectively with some doubts about their chances of moving through to the last-16. Both teams have not picked up as many points as they would have expected by this stage and neither can afford to drop more than 3 points in the coming couple of weeks if they are to avoid having a mountain to climb in their last couple of games in the Group Stage.
CSKA Moscow v Manchester City Pick: There have been a number of complaints about the playing surface from the away side ahead of this game and you can't really blame them as UEFA had forced CSKA Moscow to play their first home game in the competition away from this stadium.
Manuel Pellegrini might not be happy about the state of the pitch, but he will likely have focused his side on trying to keep that out of their minds and earn a result that will put them in the driving seat for qualification along with Bayern Munich.
He will not want to leave qualification resting on the game in Munich to end the Group Stage and I think Manchester City are playing well enough to come here and win.
A lack of goals in the CSKA Moscow team has to be a concern and I don't think we will see a lot of goals on a poor playing surface. However, I do like Manchester City to win here and I think the 'win to nil' looks a big price.
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain Pick: This is a really tough game for Anderlecht as they are playing what looks like the best team in the Group by a country mile. Over the last twelve months, Anderlecht have lost 3 of 4 home games in the Champions League and they have conceded 9 goals in those losses and that kind of form won't get the job done against Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG have been very effective away from home in the competition, while they are coming into this one with plenty of good results behind them. Laurent Blanc will rotate some players, but there is a lot of quality in the away side and I can see them running out comfortable winners.
With the amount of goals Anderlecht have conceded at home in this competition, Paris Saint-Germain to win this by at least 2 goals looks a very big price.
Galatasaray v Copenhagen Pick: There will be pressure on Galatasaray in this game as they will have a real hope of making it through to the last 16 and they will know that anything less than a win would put them in a difficult position to coe through this Group.
Galatasaray haven't been at their best at home in recent Champions League games, but I still feel they will be too strong for a Copenhagen side that may be over-rated because of one performance against Juventus.
The home side might have been given a confidence boost thanks to a win at home over the weekend and I feel Galatasaray are the right side to back, but I will give up the one goal on the Asian Handicap in this one.
Manchester United v Real Sociedad Pick: It has been tense at Old Trafford the last couple of games and there is a feeling that Manchester United are extremely short of confidence at the moment.
Whether Real Sociedad have the belief that they can become the latest side from Spain to visit Old Trafford and earn a victory is another matter as they haven't been in the best form themselves. However, a win at Valencia will certainly have given them a boost, although I have a feeling that Old Trafford still holds a feeling of awe for visiting teams from Europe.
I think Sociedad will come to Old Trafford with attacking intentions and I do think they will score against a United defence that has looked vulnerable at times.
However, I also feel United are due a touch of luck that should lead to a win although it may come without a clean sheet.
Real Madrid v Juventus Pick: This is a big game between two of the most famous names in European football, but it is one that I think Real Madrid will win and give themselves a strong chance of winning the Group.
Real Madrid have been very strong at home in the last couple of years in the Champions League and they have goals in the side, which covers up some of the defensive vulnerabilities that they can show.
I do think Juventus will come here with the intention of getting forward and I wouldn't be surprised if they come here and score. However, they haven't looked at their best defensively with at least 2 goals conceded in each of their last 3 games.
With that in mind, the home win in a game where both teams score looks a nice price.
Paris Saint-Germain - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 2.30 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Galatasaray - 1 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Both Teams to Score and Manchester United to Win @ 3.10 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Both Teams to Score and Real Madrid to Win @ 3.10 Coral (1 Unit)
October Update: 16-10-1, + 15.34 Units (37 Units Staked, + 41.46% Yield)
September Final: 13-12, + 1.24 Units (39 Units Staked, + 3.18% Yield)
August Final: 13-26, - 12.13 Units (54 Units Staked, - 22.46% Yield)
Season 2013/14: 26-38, - 10.89 Units (93 Units Staked, - 11.71% Yield)
Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)
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