United Corner- New Season, New Hopes (August 19th 2019)

United Corner- New Season, New Hopes

At the start of the 2019/20 season it feels like the three of the top four places in the Premier League are going to be taken by Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, but Manchester United fans have to believe there have been enough changes at clubs below those three that can give them the edge to earn their way back into the Champions League.

Like the 2016/17 season, Manchester United have two paths back into the Champions League in front of them and I do think a similar approach should be taken to this season as United had under Jose Mourinho to that season. Simply put United have to make sure both avenues through to the Champions League remain alive going into the final couple of months of the season.

Finding the balance between the Premier League and Europa League won't be easy, but it should not be lost on the fans that two of the last three editions of this competition have been won by English clubs. With a battle expected for a top four spot, Manchester United have to make sure they have every opportunity available to them for a return to the Champions League.

The 4-0 win over Chelsea to open the season will definitely have given the whole squad a shot of belief as well as the fans who were not used to seeing clean sheets at Old Trafford, but no one wants to get too carried away about a single game. On another day Chelsea would have got plenty out of that fixture with the way the game was developing up until Anthony Martial scored Manchester United's second goal, and I think most will know United have to be much improved going forward to find the consistency they will need to move back into the top four.

The top four- there was a time when that was a given for Manchester United and the only concerns at the start of a season would have been regarding a title challenge.

Under the current ownership United couldn't be much further away from the last days of Sir Alex Ferguson and it can't be ignored that their finishing positions in the six seasons since he retired have been 7th, 4th, 5th, 6th, 2nd and 6th.

Let's be honest for a second- Sir Alex was extracting every last bit of magic he had to keep United punching way above their weight during a period when there was apparently 'no value in the market'. David Moyes came in and things began to fall apart pretty quickly as a overachieving squad didn't appreciate the new voice in the dressing room who had removed most links to the Ferguson era in terms of his backroom staff, but the focus should not only be on the manager.

Another big change that summer was the departure of David Gill and the incoming Dick 'Ed Woodward who as proved a disaster as far as the footballing side of the club is concerned. For some unknown reason Woodward has not only considered him a master negotiator, despite the clear evidence to the contrary over the last six years, but he always seems to believe he knows more about football than those he is appointing to manage the club.

David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have all come and gone and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the fourth manager of this club in the six seasons that have been completed since Sir Alex retired. The one overarching feature has been Woodward and most owners would have recognised the problem at the club, but the Glazer family are not like most owners.

Manchester United has long been seen as an investment in which they have spent very little of their own money and been able to take out fortunes to the detriment of the Stadium and the playing staff. Twelve months ago the master tactician Woodward didn't want to invest in the playing squad for Jose Mourinho because he didn't believe there were better defenders on the list given to him than those already at the club.

Yet twelve months later he buys the player that Mourinho had requested? It all points back to finding the cheapest way to get into the top four while a title challenge is clearly not something that the club are going to chase, but more hope that is something that may fall into their laps. Otherwise it makes no sense to not back your manager after he has guided the team to 2nd place in the Premier League, but clearly with a significant gap to the Champions Manchester City at the end of the 2017/18 season.

Too often those who don't have a deeper look talk about the money United have spent under the Glazers, but it is only a tiny fraction of what those people have taken out of the club through their debt management or dividends they feel they are entitled to at the end of the season. This off-season a club that finished over 30 points off the top four invested around 70 million pounds when you include the money that came back into the club and only a fool would believe that is designed to get closer to Liverpool and Manchester City rather than trying to close the gap to those chasing the top four places.

We have seen 'Glazers Out' and 'Woodward Out' trending at times on social media, but the former aren't going anywhere until they receive a huge bid and even then the new owners would likely come from backgrounds that won't impress everybody. And Dick 'Ed Woodward is very secure in his role considering he is making the Glazers money hand over fist and ultimately that is all they really care about rather than the level of performances Manchester United are producing week to week. With that in mind, it does point to a tough road to return to the top of English Football unless there is a touch of luck involved.

You would hope the fans will be able to do something about the ownership of the club and the clown that seems to be running the football side, but as I have said above I do feel both are very secure in their positions at the moment. The time came in 2005 when things may have been changed, but it has been too long now and I think we have to accept the way it is.

As a season ticket holder at Old Trafford I am not that impressed by people being critical of those who go to games- my love for United far outweighs my dislike of the Glazers and Woodward and I refuse to let those people force me to do something else with my weekends.

I do want to see United restored to their past glories and at the moment the only thing that can really be done is getting behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and hoping he can find the right formula to start turning the club back around.

I am not going to revise history though, I did not think Solskjaer was the right choice. His managerial career to this point has been below average at best and the only real claim he had to being manager was that he was a former player of the club, but Sir Matt Busby, Tommy Doherty and Sir Alex Ferguson didn't have those connections and all managed to turn United around when they came in during difficult periods.

Ultimately you need to be the right manager so I am hoping more than believing in Solskjaer at the moment, although I would love to be very wrong and will stick behind the manager for as long as he is in charge at Old Trafford. The poor run to end last season has to be a concern and I do think the remainder of August and early September will give us a real indication of what Solskjaer can achieve at the club.

Some will say he needs to be given a couple of years to really put his stamp on the squad, but I do feel Solskjaer will only be given that if Manchester United return to the Champions League at the end of this season. Over the next few weeks trips to Wolves, Southampton and West Ham United will be a real test for the manager and the club, especially considering United earned just a single point from those away games last season.

Home games against Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Arsenal round out the next six weeks and United only managed 5 points from those corresponding fixtures last season so we will learn plenty about the management team United have. Last weekend United did beat Chelsea, who earned a point at Old Trafford back in April, so that is a positive start, but I do feel Solskjaer needs to oversee at least 14 points from those six games coming up to make sure Manchester United remain on track for their ambitions to be achieved this season.

Even if United manage less than that, at this stage of the campaign the fans will stick behind the manager and rightly so. No matter our personal feelings about whether a player or manager is right for the club, I do think it is important to back them as United fans as we have done throughout our history.

There are going to be some obvious frustrations at times, but those should be focused on the board and above, even if ultimately the sword will fall on Solskjaer if things don't go as we would like. He might not have been my choice, but Solskjaer is our manager and I hope in nine months time I will regret ever doubting him.

The next few weeks are going to be very important for all United fans as the League settles down and we can really analyse where the team stands. I wasn't as happy as many that Romelu Lukaku was moved on, but we have to respect the fact that Solskjaer did not see a place for the Belgian in the way he wants his team to play and so it was better for both Lukaku and the club that he was sold.

It is a shame that money was not reinvested into a midfield that has lost Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera in recent months and I do think United look light there. There is going to be a sharp focus on the attackers to score enough goals to help United as I do think the midfield is going to struggle in plenty of games, especially when they come up against clever midfields that the likes of Wolves and Leicester City will employ.

Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will help defensively, but Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof are yet to convince and I am not sure Manchester United are going to be vastly improved at the back. On another day Chelsea score two or three goals last week and games in the next few weeks will tell us a lot about where United stand as I have said a few times now.

I am hopeful that a top four place can be earned- I don't think Arsenal have improved significantly from a defensive point of view and Chelsea's loss of Eden Hazard will hurt. Even if the next few weeks don't go as well as I would hope, I think it will be a season long battle for the top four as all those teams chasing those places have some inconsistent moments and I could even include Tottenham Hotspur in that.

It does mean United will have their chances, but much depends on whether they can score enough goals and I would not get carried away by the capitulation Chelsea had last week. I feel United have been left short of numbers when it comes to attacking areas on the pitch and the midfield- there are some very promising youngsters coming through, but I am not sure they can be relied upon to carry the club just yet.

Comparison to the 'Class of '92' feel wide of the mark as those players came in to play alongside established, proven Premier League winners in Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona and I am not sure the United current squad has those kind of winning personalities. It will make it harder for young players to make the impact they would want and I also think it would be harsh on them to be asked to fill in the obvious gaps in the squad if they are not suited to those positions.

Last week some suggested Mason Greenwood should start on the right of the team- while I agree that is a problem position, asking a 17 year old to play there when he is clearly a centre forward that likes scoring goals is not going to be good for his development.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to be judged on all of these decisions though, I just hope he gets them right.

This is a new season though and over the last couple of months the stench of the poor ending to the 2018/19 campaign has been washed off. Like many fans, I do come into this one with renewed optimism despite a sub-par off-season when United did not come close to making the kind of investment they had been suggesting at the end of last season.

I do think Maguire and Wan-Bissaka will improve the team and Daniel James can learn and develop, but the midfield conundrum continues to be on that the club either can't, or refuse to, address. I am hoping Fred can come good after a season becoming accustomed to the League and Scott McTominay can hopefully kick on, but United look short in there as well as failing to address the right side of the attack.

Deep down I feel it is going to be an inconsistent year in front of Manchester United, but I do think the top four is a fairly open battle and I expect United to be there or thereabouts. The Europa League should offer the club a long run in a major European competition and Chelsea proved you can finish in the top four of the Premier League and win that trophy too.

There will be moments of frustration and there will be ups and downs, but that's part of the journey of being a football fan. Manchester United's road to recovery and bridging the gap to two of their biggest rivals is not going to be a short one, and it will be rocky at times, but the hope is that there is finally a plan in place as to how United will get there.

With the Glazer family and Woodward around, I wouldn't count on it and we can only hope Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can help this squad achieve their full potential.

Midweek Football Picks 2018 (November 6-8)

The international break is fast approaching in November, but there is time for one more round of Champions League and Europa League Group Stage matches. Match Day 4 of both competitions is a time when some teams will begin to earn their places in the Knock Out Rounds while others are on the way out of European competition.

This is already a pressurised situation for teams who may need all the points they can earn to challenge for Knock Out spots and some of the English representatives have been left in difficult spots after the results of Match Day 3.

Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are in comfortable positions, but Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have some work to do if they are going to progress from the Group Stage.

Out of those three teams Tottenham Hotspur look in the most precarious position, but things can quickly change with two Champions League rounds to be played in November and they can get back on track this week.


Crevena Zvezda v Liverpool Pick: We have reached the stage of the Champions League Group Stage where teams can be in a position to move through to the Last 16 of the competition while others begin to realise their European adventure is almost at a close.

That is not entirely the case for this Group which sees two points separate Liverpool at the top of the section and Paris Saint-Germain in 3rd place with Napoli in between. All three teams will feel they are good enough to have an impact in the Champions League and that makes their remaining games against Crvena Zvezda as 'must win' fixtures.

Napoli have already dropped points here, but Liverpool will head to the Serbian capital as a big favourite to beat Crvena Zvezda who have found the step up to the Champions League a gap too far to bridge. Holding Napoli will give Crvena Zvezda some confidence, but the heavy losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool two weeks ago will have dented some of that and the home team will need all the passion coming from the stands to inspire them to a famous result.

In reality Crvena Zvezda were perhaps a little fortunate to even earn the goalless draw with Napoli and it will be very difficult to contain this Liverpool team. Goals have not exactly been flowing for Liverpool away from home, but they have been on a tough run and this Crvena Zvezda team are not up to the level of Chelsea, Napoli or Arsenal.

Last season Arsenal did earn a tough win here and playing in Belgrade is never easy, but Liverpool should be starting a strong team knowing the Champions League Group is still very much in the balance. With the defensive shape Liverpool have shown this season I think they can win this game and contain the Crvena Zvezda attack which will mainly be a threat from set pieces.

I expect Crvena Zvezda to cause some problems with the support they are going to have behind them, but that may not be enough to upset Liverpool. A tough away win looks to be on the cards which makes the Asian Handicap unappealing, but backing Liverpool to win to nil is a decent looking price.

Crvena Zvezda have failed to score in their last couple of home European games and in 4 of their last 8 here. Liverpool can become the latest to keep a clean sheet here as they put up three points to continue to lead this Group.


Inter Milan v Barcelona Pick: The Group has developed in such a way that Barcelona can win on Tuesday and that would not only be enough to make it through to the Last 16 of the Champions League but allow them to do that as Group Winners.

The theory is that it means an 'easier' Second Round tie in the Champions League and that has to be the focus for Barcelona so they can put full focus on the Spanish Primera Division in the weeks ahead.

Lionel Messi's absence has not slowed down Barcelona's attacking threat as shown in their 2-0 win over Inter Milan two weeks ago and in their 2-3 win at Rayo Vallecano in the League this past weekend. The goals conceded are more of a concern for Barcelona fans and this is a team who have looked more vulnerable away from home.

Even in the home win over Inter there were enough chances for the Italian team to be confident of their chances of perhaps producing an upset.

Inter Milan create plenty of chances at home and they don't have a lot to lose by giving this game a real go considering both Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven have a point each in the Group. A win for Inter Milan would put them right on the edge of making it through to the Last 16 and so there has to be a real effort at trying to pick up those points here.

Barcelona have not been the best traveller in recent Champions League years and they have not enjoyed recent visits to Italy. In the last couple of seasons Barcelona have lost Knock Out ties by the same 3-0 scoreline at Juventus and Roma.

This time Barcelona look like they have enough of an attacking threat to challenge Inter Milan and could also have Lionel Messi returning from injury. Inter Milan will feel they can also test a vulnerable Barcelona defence and I think these teams are going to combine for a decent game of football that ends with at least three goals shared out.


Napoli v Paris Saint-Germain Pick: A Group containing Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli looked like one that could see all three teams push each other all the way to Match Day 6 before determining those who will make it through to the Last 16 of the Champions League.

A couple of surprising results involving Napoli have just changed the whole feel of the Group- this is a team who could not win at Crvena Zvezda on Match Day 1, but Napoli have since beaten Liverpool at home and then draw in the French Capital against PSG.

The last result means a home win for Napoli on Tuesday will put them in a very strong position to make it through to the Last 16. With a home game to come against the Serbian Champions later this month, Napoli will know two home wins are going to be good enough to see them through to the Last 16.

Napoli are a point clear of Paris Saint-Germain having been unbeaten in the Group and a 4 point lead with two games to come would be tough to blow. However they have to feel that Paris Saint-Germain are going to be much better than they were two weeks ago and this becomes a dangerous game that is hard to pick a winner from.

Home advantage is enough of an edge to make Napoli appealing as the underdog, but the Italian side are one that will give up chances to opponents who are willing to take the game to them. The French Champions will do that, but Napoli showed there are some vulnerabilities in the Paris Saint-Germain defence too and I can see another game which features goals developing.

The layers feel the same and they do think there will be at least three goals shared out at odds on. I expect that total to be hit, but I am going to back at least four goals to be shared out as there was when these teams met in Paris two weeks ago.

Napoli are a team who will look to attack with some talented players in the final third while Paris Saint-Germain games continue to produce fireworks and I will look for that to occur on Tuesday.


Porto v Lokomotiv Moscow Pick: There has been a much improved performance coming from Lokomotiv Moscow which has to be respected, but they look like they have dug too big a hole to climb out of in the Champions League.

The Russian Premier League has to be the focus for Lokomotiv Moscow and despite beginning to put the wins together they have still been struggling in the Champions League. Losses to Galatasaray, Schalke and Porto have been difficult to swallow and the fact that two of those have come at home means Lokomotiv Moscow are unlikely to progress out of this Group.

Things do look much better for Porto who have won back to back Champions League games to top the Group. Another win on Tuesday will put Porto on the brink of making it through to the Last 16 and they are a team who have been strong enough at home in Europe to believe they can win this fixture.

Lokomotiv Moscow have lost back to back away games in Europe by the same 3-0 scoreline at Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray. They are in the difficult position of having to attack against a Porto team who will thrive on the counter attack and I do think it is going to be very difficult for the Russian Champions to earn a result here.

They have conceded too many goals in the Champions League and Porto can match the margin of victory secured in the Russian capital. Porto did have a narrow win over Galatasaray at home in the Group, but they should find more spaces to exploit against a Lokomotiv Moscow who have to come forward and I will back the Portuguese leaders to win this game and cover the Asian Handicap in the process.


Tottenham Hotspur v PSV Eindhoven Pick: If Champions League games were played for 85 minutes rather than 90 minutes Tottenham Hotspur would have had two wins under their belt in this Group and be in a strong position to make it through to the Last 16. However that is not the case and Tottenham Hotspur blew a 0-1 lead at Inter Milan to concede twice, while a 1-2 lead at PSV Eindhoven ended in a 2-2 draw.

So instead of being in a strong position, Tottenham Hotspur find themselves 5 points behind Inter Milan in 2nd place in this Group and now have two must win home Champions League games to be played this month. Win both and Tottenham Hotspur will have a chance to make it through to the Last 16 when visiting an already Qualified Barcelona on Match Day 6, but anything less and this will be seen as a really disappointing campaign in the Champions League.

You have to wonder about the state of the playing surface at Wembley Stadium with just eight days since it was used on back to back days. That is going to make it difficult for two teams who do like to pass the ball and play attacking football, but Tottenham Hotspur have run out of excuses having blown games already in the Champions League.

They have to put PSV Eindhoven under pressure from the off and I do think Tottenham Hotspur are capable of doing that. The Premier League club looked much better than PSV Eindhoven for long periods of the game on Match Day 3 and it was only two errors that allowed the Dutch Champions to secure a point.

PSV Eindhoven have to be respected for the way they continue to dominate domestically, but the Dutch League has slipped off the standards it once had. In the Champions League PSV Eindhoven have looked second best in all 3 Group games played and this is a team who have lost 4 of their last 5 away European ties.

I expect Tottenham Hotspur to add to that even through the injury crisis they are suffering in centre midfield. I am a little concerned with the defensive performances of late which has seen Tottenham Hotspur offer chances to opponents, while they have lost 3 of their last 4 at Wembley Stadium.

However those defeats have come against some of the best teams in Europe and I will back Tottenham Hotspur to reinvigorate their Champions League challenge by winning this game by a couple of goals on the day.


CSKA Moscow v Roma Pick: When you factor in Roma's run of 1 win from their last 17 away games in the Champions League it is hard to imagine that they would be as short a price as they are to win in Moscow on Match Day 4.

Roma did crush CSKA Moscow at home a couple of weeks ago but they have shown they are not quite so good on their travels and come into this one on a run of 5 consecutive losses on their travels in the Champions League.

The majority of those defeats have come against some of the best teams in European Football although Roma were beaten in Shakhtar Donetsk last season too. Those results are a concern but even then I do think Roma can win this game with the amount of chances they are likely going to create against this CSKA Moscow team.

On Match Day CSKA Moscow did beat Real Madrid 1-0 here, but the European Champions are out of whack at the moment and even then they were unfortunate to not only avoid a defeat but to win in the Russian capital. Since that win CSKA Moscow have lost back to back home games in the Russian Premier League while they also lost 2 of their 3 home Group games in the Champions League twelve months ago.

Roma have been a little inconsistent this season with some young, talented players being brought in to back up the team that reached the Semi Final of the Champions League last season. They have not been dominant away from home, but Roma do create enough chances to think they can win here and move into a strong position to make it through to the Last 16 of the Champions League.

The first goal will be crucial, but I do think Roma can be backed despite their awful away record in the Champions League.


Valencia v Young Boys Pick: As a Manchester United fan seeing another draw between Valencia and Young Boys would be an ideal result as it could mean a place in the Last 16 could be secured before Match Day 6 is played.

Even a Young Boys win in Spain would not be a bad result for United who would then be a home win over the Swiss side from making it through.

Both Valencia and Young Boys are unconcerned by what Manchester United fans want though and these teams have to be well aware of the importance of winning this fixture to have a chance to progress from this Group. The losing team would almost certainly be missing out on a place in the Last 16 of the Champions League and that pressure can make it difficult for players to perform.

Valencia have really struggled to turn draws into wins all season which does make it hard to trust them to win any game of football. The 0-1 home loss to Girona was a really poor result for Valencia, although they created enough chances to think they are going to turn thing around and start putting the wins on the board.

They will have to respect a Young Boys team who should really have beaten Valencia in Switzerland a couple of weeks ago. However Young Boys have not been as good away from home in European Football in recent years and that may give Valencia enough of an edge to earn what will be a very important win for them on Wednesday.

The draws are a real concern for Valencia backers, but they have been creating chances and I think they can get the better of Young Boys this time. It may not be the result I would want to see but Valencia should also have chances on the counter attack if they are leading as Young Boys try and get back into the Group too.

I will look to back Valencia to win this game and will look for them to cover the Asian Handicap in this one.


Juventus v Manchester United Pick: It was an eye-opening experience for Manchester United fans and players alike as they were convincingly beaten by Juventus at Old Trafford two weeks ago to show how far behind the European elite Manchester United have slipped.

They get a second chance to prove the gap is not as big as it looked at Old Trafford but the test is much bigger when heading to Turin where Juventus have generally been so strong.

Prior to the win over Young Boys Juventus had failed to win any of 3 home Champions League games but those came against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur with the last of those seeing Juventus blow a 2-0 lead.

With recent Manchester United starts to fixtures it is a real concern that they could find themselves in a hole they can't dig out of in this fixture. Manchester United have shown enough to fight back and draw with Chelsea, but Juventus may be a step up from The Blues and this is a team who have made scoring look very, very easy for most of the season.

That is a real concern for Manchester United whose defensive shape has not been at its best and the chances teams are creating against them is a real problem ahead of this fixture and the Manchester derby on Sunday. It makes it very difficult to see a different outcome to this fixture on Match Day 4 as what we saw at Old Trafford, although Juventus are even more clinical in front of their own fans and the suggestion is that this margin of victory is also greater than two weeks ago.

Backing Juventus to win a game featuring two or more goals may be one for non-Manchester United fans out there.


Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk Pick: There are some major leaks coming out about Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, but I don't think there will be a serious impact on the playing side of things as they look to take complete control of their Champions League Group.

Back to back away wins have moved Manchester City to the top of the section, but it is a little strange to think they have lost their last 3 home Champions League games. I would imagine they stop that run on Wednesday when they face Shakhtar Donetsk for the second time in the Group having won 0-3 in the Ukraine two weeks ago.

Last season Manchester City were comfortable 2-0 winners over Shakhtar Donetsk and the feeling is they are going to be fairly comfortable again.

There will likely be some changes to the starting eleven with the Manchester derby in mind, but Pep Guardiola will want his team to keep the momentum going having won 4 in a row at the Etihad Stadium since their 1-2 loss to Lyon in the Champions League.

The attacking threat posed by Manchester City won't be lessened even with the changes they are likely to make. While Shakhtar Donetsk are a talented team who can be a threat going forward themselves, I think they play with a freedom that can be exposed by Manchester City as they were in the home game a couple of weeks ago.

As with any Manchester City home game against supposedly lesser teams they are going to be asked to cover a big handicap for a decent payout. Last season Shakhtar Donetsk lost 2-0 here and were 3-0 losers in Napoli and I do think Manchester City are playing with enough confidence to secure a big win here with the chances they are likely to create after once again dominating the ball against Shakhtar Donetsk.


Dynamo Kiev v Rennes Pick: There was an element of fortune for Dynamo Kiev in winning 1-2 in Rennes on Match Day 3 and they can't take anything for granted in this Europa League Group which looks to be one of the more competitive ones in the tournament.

Another victory would put Dynamo Kiev in a very strong position in the Group, but they have been inconsistent both at home and in Europe which makes it difficult to trust them.

Dynamo Kiev have only won 1 of their last 5 home games in European competition and they have failed to win their last 2 this season against Ajax and Astana. You could make a serious argument that both are superior to a Rennes team who have been struggling at the wrong end of the French top flight, but there may also be a slight lack of belief in the home dressing room which is contributing to some inconsistent results.

On the other hand Rennes may be unbeaten in their last 3 away games since their loss in Astana which has left them in 3rd place in the Group, but they have now lost 4 straight away Europa League ties.

They can create chances which makes them dangerous, but I think Dynamo Kiev will be a little too good for them with home advantage the key. Both teams can score goals, but I like Dynamo Kiev and will back them on the Asian Handicap to get the better of their visitors.


BATE Borisov v Chelsea Pick: It can be difficult to get a read on what a manager will do in the Europa League, especially those that manage in the Premier League but I think this game is pretty easy to read.

The layers seem to be on the same page as me with the Chelsea price looking fairly attractive as most of the starting players will be left at home.

A long trip to Belarus before a home game with Everton is not ideal for Maurizio Sarri, but he has rotated his squad throughout the Europa League Group Stage and it hasn't affected Chelsea at all. They have won all 3 Group games played and Chelsea have been far too good for the other teams in this section and I think they can win in Belarus when they visit on Match Day 4.

Last year BATE Borisov were being hammered by Arsenal in both games played against them in this competition. The 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge looks close, but Chelsea dominated and they should have enough about them in the final third to get the better of their hosts again.

BATE Borisov have lost back to back home games in European competition and conceded at least three goals in both against PSV Eindhoven and PAOK. They will have to be a lot better defensively if they are going to contain Chelsea and I think the visitors will return with a comfortable victory and cover the Asian Handicap.


Lazio v Marseille Pick: You have to question the belief of the Marseille players as they head into Match Day 4 of the Europa League having lost 3 in a row in all competitions and also finding themselves on the brink of exiting the Europa League in which they had reached the Final a few months ago.

There is pressure on Marseille to find a way to win in the Italian capital, but they have a poor away record in the Europa League in recent years and it is hard to see how they turn that around.

As poor as Marseille have been on their travels Lazio have been strong at home and they know another win could see them put the Europa League to the back burner until February. They have been very good at home with 5 wins from their last 6 at the Stadio Olimpico and Lazio have created plenty of chances and scored plenty of goals in those games.

Marseille are better than what they showed in the 1-3 home defeat to Lazio, but following that up with back to back losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier while conceding at least two goals in each game is hard to ignore. They have to attack here too with a point likely not good enough as one more for Lazio from their remaining two games would see them at least finish above Marseille and Eintracht Frankfurt are clear.

With a team likely having to come forward, Lazio can punish Marseille on the counter attack and I will back the home team to win a game featuring two or more goals.


Rapid Vienna v Villarreal Pick: With just 3 points separating the four teams in this Group, a win on Match Day 4 for either Rapid Vienna or Villarreal could be a huge boost in their bid to earn their place in the Last 32 of this competition.

The 5-0 loss in Spain has put Rapid Vienna in a difficult position, but they have two games left to play at home in the Group and winning both should be good enough to move out of the section.

It won't be easy against a Villarreal team who have drawn half of their last 8 games in all competitions, but Rapid Vienna will have chances. Villarreal have not won any of their last 4 away games and they have been conceding plenty of goals in that time which is something that Rapid Vienna will look to exploit.

I expect the home team to create chances, but Villarreal should also be able to create some opportunities. They have scored in their last 6 away games and Villarreal have been able to create plenty of chances of their own while the dominant win over Rapid Vienna will give the players confidence.

These teams met in the Europa League Group Stage three seasons ago and it was Rapid Vienna who edged out Villarreal when they played here. They did share out three goals that day and I think these teams will both score on Match Day 4.

With the importance of the three points on the line, I think the teams will take risks to win this game too and I think it is worth backing at least four goals to be shared out between these teams on Thursday.


Vidi v PAOK Pick: This has been a Group that has been dominated by Chelsea and not seen one home win outside of the two the English club have earned in the section.

Vidi were beaten at home by BATE Borisov who have lost at home to PAOK who were last seen losing to Vidi at home which means second place in the Group is wide open.

Both teams will have all to play for on Thursday and I am slightly surprised PAOK are the favourites away from home. It wasn't an undeserved loss at home two weeks ago and so the layers are expecting a lot for things to be turned around that significantly.

However PAOK are far better than what they showed in the game at home and Vidi are a hard team to read. They can certainly make this a very competitive game and I think both teams will have their chances to score which makes the price on seeing both scoring in this fixture look appealing enough.

An early goal could really open the whole game up with the three points being so important for both teams assuming Chelsea beat BATE Borisov in the other game in the Group.


Arsenal v Sporting Pick: The win in Portugal two weeks has put Arsenal on the brink of making it through to the Last 32 of the Europa League and this is clearly a competition that Unai Emery wants to be successful in.

He has won the Europa League as manager multiple times as manager of Sevilla and Emery has admitted he would prefer returning to the Champions League with a trophy rather than simply finishing in the top four of the Premier League.

Arsenal look good in the Premier League despite back to back draws against Crystal Palace and Liverpool and they will want to get back to winning ways ahead of the next international break. Two home games remain before the international break begins and Emery looks to be a manager who will play strong teams in the Europa League so I am not concerned about backing The Gunners.

Two weeks they looked significantly better than Sporting and I expect the home team to frank that form. As solid a start Sporting have made to the new season it is clear they are not the best European travellers with 4 losses from their last 6 away European ties.

Losing key players in the summer has not put Sporting in as difficult a position as was suggested it was going to be, but they are going to need to be a lot better on Match Day 4 than they were when they hosted Arsenal.

All in all it is hard to see anything other than a strong Arsenal win as Emery looks to secure a place in the Last 32. The manager should pick a team to reflect his desire to put the Europa League aside until February prior to the busy festive period in England and I will back Arsenal to cover the Asian Handicap.


Bayer Leverkusen v Zurich Pick: After a 3-2 win for Zurich on Match Day 3 between these teams in Switzerland I am expecting to see another high-scoring game between Bayer Leverkusen and Zurich when they meet for the second time in this Group.

The two teams look certain to be heading into the Last 32 of the Europa League together, but Bayer Leverkusen will want to get back on track in trying to win the Group.

Leverkusen games at home have been full of goals as they have shown a real attacking intent, but the Bundesliga team have not been as strong defensively as they would like. Even a Zurich team coming out of the Switzerland top flight can cause problems for Leverkusen, although I am expecting the German team to have enough going forward to hurt their visitors too.

Zurich really have nothing to lose here and that should see them take part in an entertaining game. A draw would put them in command of the Group, but Zurich will be looking to work the counter attack throughout this fixture and I do think there will be goals in this one.

Backing at least four more to be shared out by Bayer Leverkusen and Zurich after the five shared out in Switzerland is my selection.


Celtic v Leipzig Pick: Both Celtic and Leipzig are coming into Match Day 4 in decent form and I do think this is going to be a much more competitive fixture than when they met in Germany two weeks ago.

On that day Leipzig were far too good for Celtic and the Bundesliga club could have won by a much larger margin than the eventual 2-0 scoreline.

It was a bad day in the office for Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic players, but they should be able to produce a much more all around effort when playing at Celtic Park. They have not been dominant at home, but Celtic have won 5 of their last 6 European games here and they are facing a Leipzig team who are still finding their feet when it comes to travelling for European games.

Leipzig did win at Rosenborg in this Group though which will give them the belief they will need to take into this game.

Overall it looks very difficult to pick a winner, but I would have to expect there will be more chances in front of goal for both teams. They created enough two weeks ago to share out at least three goals and the situation for Celtic is clear that they likely need to win this game which means they could leave spaces for Leipzig to exploit in this one.

Celtic should be able to be a little better in all aspects of their game in this fixture and I think both teams will be able to score in this game. With the situation as it is, I will look for these teams to share out at least three goals on Thursday in what could be one of the more entertaining Europa League games to be played on Match Day 4.

MY PICKS: Liverpool Win to Nil @ 1.85 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Inter Milan-Barcelona Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Napoli-Paris Saint-Germain Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.37 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Porto - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet365 (2 Units)
Tottenham Hotspur - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Roma @ 2.00 Sporting Bet (2 Units)
Valencia - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)
Juventus & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.95 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Manchester City - 2.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Dynamo Kiev - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)
Lazio & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Rapid Vienna-Villarreal Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.62 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Vidi-PAOK Both Teams to Score @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Arsenal - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Bayer Leverkusen-Zurich Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Celtic-Leipzig Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.72 Bet Victor (2 Units)

November: 5-5, - 1.66 Units (20 Units Staked, - 8.30% Yield)

Midweek Football Picks 2018 (October 23-25)

There is still one more international break to come between now and March, but this is a big month for teams in the Champions League and Europa League as they play a pivotal two games that begin to separate those teams chasing Knock Out spots and those who may be heading out of either competition.

Of course the third place team in the Champions League Group Stage will drop down into the Europa League, but that is not the ambition of the clubs in that competition.

All of the English clubs have work to do in the Champions League with none of the four teams involved earning more than four points from their first two Group games. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have double headers against the weakest team in their Group so will be expected to get their Champions League back on track after losing three of the four games they have played combined.

Manchester City will be confident of securing at least four points against Shakhtar Donetsk which will erase the disappointment of losing to Lyon on Match Day 1. Anything less and there will be a lot of work to do for a team whose own manager doesn't believe are ready to win the Champions League, although I do think Pep Guardiola is trying to deflect the pressure from his players.

Their cross town rivals Manchester United have the toughest of the double headers for the English clubs as they face Italian Champions Juventus twice. There is pressure on United having failed to beat Valencia at home on Match Day 2 and anything less than two points over the next two weeks may not be good enough for Manchester United in what has been a tough campaign so far.

The Europa League has bee much more comfortable for the English teams as both Arsenal and Chelsea have won their opening two Group games. Both clubs will be looking to secure their passage through to the Last 32 of the Europa League before the next international break which will give their managers plenty of opportunity to keep players fresh for the hectic period that comes immediately out of the November international break through to the New Year.

Rangers and Celtic are also involved in the Europa League Group Stage and both teams will feel they can get out of their difficult Groups after securing at least three points each from the first two games. Rangers look in the stronger position with four points secured and with a home game to come this week, but things can change quickly.

I have written a short piece about Manchester United which was posted before the positive performance at Stamford Bridge. You can read that here.

AEK Athens v Bayern Munich Pick: It can be hard to back a team like Bayern Munich who have been going through a relative crisis, especially when you know the layers are not going to give anything away with them.

No matter the form Bayern Munich are going to be favoured in almost every game they play and that can see some poor value being placed on them.

I am not sure that is the case in this Champions League tie though with Bayern Munich looking considerably stronger than AEK Athens who have conceded three goals in losing to both Ajax and Benfica. The 2-3 home loss to Benfica came in a game where their visitors had been reduced to ten men for the entirety of the second half and yet AEK Athens came up short.

And for all the negatives around Bayern Munich it should be remembered that they have won 5 of their last 6 on their travels in all competitions this season. Bayern Munich won 0-2 at Benfica on Match Day 1 and that result has seen them win 5 of their last 6 away games in the Champions League and the side have scored at least twice in each of those wins.

Injuries are affecting the possibility of squad rotation for Bayern Munich who are an ageing team, but they should still be far too good for AEK Athens.

This is a big handicap for Bayern Munich to cover considering the poor recent run they had been on before beating Wolfsburg at the weekend. However I also think AEK Athens are considerably weaker than the usual level of opponent they will come up against and I will back the German Champions to put themselves in a very strong position in this Champions League Group with a big win.

Manchester United v Juventus Pick: This really does feel like the biggest European night at Old Trafford since Manchester United faced Bayern Munich in the Champions League Quarter Final in April 2018. There has been a Europa League Semi Final played at Old Trafford since that Quarter Final, but the big European nights involve the big names and Manchester United versus Juventus does bring back memories of past momentous occasions.

It is almost twenty years since Manchester United beat Juventus on their way to the Treble, but the clubs look to be in different spots these days. While Manchester United are scrambling to get back amongst the elite of European Football, Juventus are one of the favourites to win the Champions League.

Signing Cristiano Ronaldo shows the ambition of Juventus and he will return to Old Trafford for only the second time as an opposition player since leaving Manchester United in 2009.

Ronaldo will form the main danger for Juventus, but there are plenty of other threats carried by the Italian Champions who are favoured to win at Old Trafford. Juventus have scored at least twice in 4 straight away Champions League games and they have managed to do the same in 5 of their last 6 away games in all competitions in the 2018/19 season.

The struggles Manchester United have had defensively is a real concern in this fixture, but Jose Mourinho will be more encouraged by the attacking threat Manchester United have posed in their last couple of games. That includes at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and I do think Manchester United will cause problems for an ageing Juventus defence.

Both teams could play their part in this one and I do think the layers are underestimating the chance of seeing goals in this game on Match Day 3 of the Champions League.

I think Manchester United are better going forward than defending and Juventus have been scoring plenty of goals. The Juventus defence is still a daunting one to break down and they have kept 3 consecutive away clean sheets, but Manchester United should always pose a threat at home and the pace in the forward line should be a concern for Juventus to deal with.

Manchester United as a home underdog is appealing, but Juventus' superb recent away record in the Champions League has to be respected and backing at least three goals to be shared out is the call.

Roma v CSKA Moscow Pick: This Champions League Group has been blown open by CSKA Moscow's 1-0 win over Real Madrid on Match Day 2 which means the Russian side top the section with 4 points over the European Champions and Roma who both have 3 points on the board.

While it is still expected that Real Madrid will do enough to get out of the Group beginning with a couple of wins over Viktoria Plzen, both Roma and CSKA Moscow now get into a big double header against one another.

The team who take the most points over the next couple of weeks are likely going to join Real Madrid in the Last 16 and there is some pressure on Roma considering CSKA Moscow got 'bonus' points with the win over Real Madrid.

The 0-2 home loss to SPAL would have hurt Roma, but they can bounce back this week with their strong home record in the Champions League over the last fifteen months not to be underestimated. Of course CSKA Moscow need to be respected considering their own strong run of away results in Europe, but they were 2-0 down at Viktoria Plzen on Match Day 1 and Roma are a much better side than the Czech team.

Roma do score plenty of goals at home usually and so I won't worry too much about the result against SPAL this past weekend. They should be able to dictate the play in this one and CSKA Moscow will have to ride their luck a little bit if they are going to get a result here.

I backed Roma on Match Day 2 in their home game with Viktoria Plzen and I will go back to the same market here. They have scored enough goals to think they can cover the Asian Handicap against a CSKA Moscow team who were beaten 4-1 at Arsenal in the Europa League a few months ago.

Club Brugge v Monaco Pick: Two clubs who have lost both Champions League games played so far this season will be meeting in this early kick off on Match Day 3 and it does feel they are already competing for third place and a spot in the Europa League.

Thierry Henry will be taking charge of his first match in the Champions League and only his second in charge of Monaco on Wednesday. He has plenty of work to do with a Monaco team who have lost confidence and look like they are very vulnerable at the back.

The first task for Henry is to make the players believe in their ability again, but Monaco might already be considering the importance of domestic matters over European commitments. It could be something that is more obvious in the weeks ahead, but for now Henry has to be looking for any kind of win to give the Monaco players a shot in the arm.

It won't be easy to achieve in Brugge against the Belgian Champions who have been competitive in their two losses in the Champions League. There is a difference in level of quality which has to be bridged, but Club Brugge should be playing with more confidence than their visitors even if their own recent results have not been as good as expected.

Club Brugge do have a poor record in the Champions League which can't be ignored, but they have a team that can get forward and cause problems. Against this Monaco defence I would expect the home team to create chances and score goals, but their own defence should be challenged by a Monaco team who have scored in their last couple of games.

The absence of Radamel Falcao hurts Monaco, but I think both teams can contribute to an attacking game of football and backing at least three goals to be shared out looks the way to go.

PSV Eindhoven v Tottenham Hotspur Pick: Both PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur have lost both Champions League Group Stage games played this season and there is little doubt that they will be chasing two wins from this double header.

Anything less would put both teams in a very difficult position to make the Last 16 of the Champions League and I think there will be regrets at both clubs.

They have both been beaten 2-1 by Inter Milan, but both PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur took the lead against the Italian club. At least Tottenham Hotspur can point to the fact they have to host Inter Milan as they look to get back on track in the Champions League, but that will all be for nought if they can't beat PSV twice.

It won't be easy to win in the Netherlands as PSV Eindhoven will be playing with the confidence that comes from having won all nine Dutch League games. There is a big step up to the Champions League, but Ajax have shown it can be bridged and Tottenham Hotspur are not in dominant form at the moment.

At least there are some key players back for Tottenham Hotspur with both Hugo Lloris and Christian Eriksen set to play in this one after the 0-1 win over West Ham United at the weekend. Spurs could thank Lloris for that victory and they will need their goalkeeper to be at his best in this one as they look for a vital win on the road.

PSV Eindhoven will be a threat going forward, but I am not convinced about them defensively and Tottenham Hotspur should be good enough to expose those vulnerabilities.

The first goal should be critical in this fixture even if both teams have blown leads in the Champions League already this season. Tottenham Hotspur have scored enough away goals in the competition to deserve favouritism and I do think they can win here as they should have done in Milan on Match Day 1.

At odds against Tottenham Hotspur can be chanced to secure a vital three points in Eindhoven.

Liverpool v Crvena Zvezda Pick: There have been reports that a high Ranking official at Crvena Zvezda placed a huge bet on his team losing by exactly five goals at Paris Saint-Germain which is being investigated at the moment.

That investigation will play out, but I am not of the belief that something fishy went on in that game as Paris Saint-Germain were just a lot stronger than Crvena Zvezda.

Some will say it would look that way if their visitors were not trying, but the little I saw that day didn't suggest a team wasn't giving it their all, but simply Crvena Zvezda were being outclassed in a game they were expected to struggle in.

That could be the case again on Wednesday as they face a Liverpool team that look like they are not far away from really hammering someone. The 0-1 win at Huddersfield Town was a close one for Liverpool, but they had chances to seal that game emphatically if producing better in the final third.

With both Roberto Firmino and potentially Sadio Mane back in the starting line up Liverpool could more clinical with the chances that come their way. Last season Liverpool destroyed Spartak Moscow at home and they also recorded a comfortable win over Maribor in the Group Stage, although this Asian Handicap is a big one to cover.

It's that much bigger when you think of Liverpool's recent struggles in front of goal over the last month, but the quality of opponent has to be factored in. Take away Huddersfield Town and Liverpool have faced teams of a much higher level than Crvena Zvezda during their poor run of form and it is no surprise they haven't blown away the likes of Chelsea, Napoli and Manchester City.

Crvena Zvezda will try and frustrate Liverpool as long as possible, but I am not sure they will be able to contain their hosts. If they concede inside the first 20 minutes it could be a very long day for the Serbian Champions and I will back Liverpool to win this one big.

Paris Saint-Germain v Napoli Pick: With Liverpool expected to move onto 9 points after their double header with Crvena Zvezda over the next couple of weeks, the pressure is on Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli.

They go into their double header with 3 points and 4 points respectively and these two matches could be key in determining who is able to move through to the Champions League Second Round. If one of these teams are able to win both games on Match Day 3 and 4 I would expect them to move through to the Last 16 and leave the losing team needing a lot of help.

One win each would likely keep them in touch with Liverpool but I don't think either manager is going to settle for that in what should be two very good games to watch.

Home advantage is going to be very important in both Group games and it is Paris Saint-Germain who have that edge on Match Day 3. This is a team who have scored at least three goals in 6 of their last 8 home Champions League games and Paris Saint-Germain have had some big wins over elite teams like Barcelona and Carlo Ancelotti's Bayern Munich.

That match fourteen months ago turned out to be the last one Ancelotti managed Bayern Munich so he will be looking for revenge. However his Napoli team have regularly found themselves coming up short in away games in Europe and I expect that to be the case on Wednesday when the visit the French capital.

It is rare to see Napoli beaten easily though and all 3 away Group defeats last season came by the same 2-1 scoreline. Earlier this season Napoli were beaten 3-1 at Juventus though and this Paris Saint-Germain team can be frightening going forward when they are at their best.

In 2018/19 they have tended to be at their best at home and I think Paris Saint-Germain win this one while covering the Asian Handicap.


Leipzig v Celtic Pick: The last couple of years have seen Celtic negotiate the tough Champions League Qualifying Rounds to make it through to the Group Stage of that competition, but this year they are going to find it difficult to reach the Knock Out Rounds in the Europa League.

As soon as the draw was made it was clear Celtic were in for a real challenge to get out of a section containing Salzburg and Leipzig who both impressed in the Europa League Knock Out Rounds last season.

Celtic play with commitment and the tactics used by Brendan Rodgers means they will want to get on the front foot and cause problems for their hosts in this Group game. They have shown they can score goals even at the very best teams having done that in Paris against PSG last season and also leading at Salzburg in this Group.

However it is going to be very difficult to contain a team like Leipzig who have scored at least two goals in each of their last 4 home games and have unsurprisingly won 3 of those. Leipzig had also won 5 straight home games in Europe before losing 2-3 to Salzburg on Match Day 1 and this is a team with a lot more experience of playing in European competition compared with twelve months ago.

If you take away the Qualifying Rounds, Celtic have conceded three times in 4 of their last 5 European away games under Rodgers and that makes it tough to win games. I think Leipzig are going to prove to have too much firepower for the Scottish Champions in this fixture at home and I am going to back the Bundesliga club to cover the Asian Handicap.


Sporting v Arsenal Pick: The hard work may already have been done by Arsenal as they bid to make it through to the Last 32 of the Europa League, but Unai Emery will want to wrap up a spot as soon as possible. That could be important with a very busy fixture list in the Premier League to come and so getting additional rest for key players is what Arsenal will be looking for.

Winning games against Vorskla and Qarabag are decent enough results for Arsenal but a trip to Sporting was looking like the toughest test in the Group as soon as the draw was made.

The form shown by Arsenal has been impressive and has to be the main reason they are such a short price to win in the Portuguese capital. However this is a fixture coming at a difficult time for The Gunners and it would not be a big surprise if a number of key players are rested for the Premier League game against Crystal Palace which is played on Sunday.

That will make Sporting an appealing price, but I also think the home team are being underestimated in this one. They have won 14 of their last 16 home games in all competitions and Sporting have also won 5 of their last 7 home Europa League games including beating Atletico Madrid here in the Quarter Final last season.

Arsenal have been scoring plenty of goals which makes them dangerous, but I think this is a very tough game for them if they are resting some of their key players. A draw would likely be a result that Unai Emery would accept right now knowing a home win against Sporting in two weeks time will see them control the Group, but I also think Sporting can cause plenty of problems for their visitors too.

Backing the home team to avoid a defeat looks tempting enough here.


Zenit St Petersburg v Bordeaux Pick: In all of the European Groups being played this week it is clear that home form is going to be very important and determine which teams are going to make it through to the Knock Out Rounds and which could miss out.

Over recent years Zenit St Petersburg have really taken that to heart and they have been very good in front of their own fans.

On Thursday Zenit St Petersburg could move into a very strong position in this Group if they can see off Bordeaux, but you do have to consider how much stock the club are putting into the Europa League. After eleven games in the Russian Premier League Zenit St Petersburg are leading the table by 6 points and winning the title is clearly the biggest ambition they will have this season.

Zenit St Petersburg can put the Europa League to the back of their mind if they can take 4 points from Bordeaux over the next couple of weeks though and I think the players will know that.

They are facing a team who have lost both games in this Group, albeit narrowly, and who have not travelled well in Europe outside of the early Qualifying Rounds. Bordeaux have been inconsistent domestically and have lost 3 of their last 5 away games in all competitions including a 2-0 defeat at Montpellier last weekend.

This is a long journey for a team from Western Europe to be making and I think it will be a forlorn one for Bordeaux. The home price is not exactly going to get the pulse racing, but Zenit St Petersburg should be too strong for Bordeaux and can pick up the three points here.


Zurich v Leverkusen Pick: Both Zurich and Bayer Leverkusen have won their opening two Europa League Group games which has put them in a very strong position in this section before of a double header against one another.

They have done it in contrasting fashion with Zurich winning both games 1-0, while Leverkusen have scored at least three times in their wins.

I can see this one developing into an attacking game with neither team having much to lose. Zurich will look to be defensively resolute but they are facing a higher quality opponent who are going to get forward and try and score goals. That may mean Zurich have some opportunities on the counter attack in this one, but it will be difficult to contain Leverkusen too and so goals looks to be the order of the day.

This past weekend Zurich drew 3-3 at home with Young Boys so Bayer Leverkusen will believe they can score goals here and I do think they share out at least three on the night.


Besiktas v Genk Pick: With a Group containing all four teams locked on three points the double headers on Match Day 3 and Match Day 4 are going to be huge to begin separating the four teams.

That is certainly what Besiktas and Genk will feel with both teams looking to secure four points from the two games against each other to put themselves in a strong position in the section.

Home advantage should be a key factor in both of the games coming up over the next two weeks and this week it is Besiktas who have that edge.

I think that will be all important with Besiktas winning 8 of their last 11 home European games and I do think they will do enough to edge out a tough Genk outfit. Genk have to be respected having just a strong run of 20 wins from their last 23 games in all competitions, but they were beaten in Norway last time out against an out of form Sarpsborg team and this is a big step up against a club who reached the Last 16 of the Champions League a few months ago.

Backing the home team on the Asian Handicap looks the best play with half the stake returned in the event of a draw and that is down to the respect that is offered to Genk. 


Chelsea v BATE Borisov Pick: The Europa League has not always been a competition Maurizio Sarri has taken really seriously, but he has seen his Napoli team have some success in it. There is an increased expectation on him at Chelsea as he looks to restore the club to the Champions League and early team selections in this Group suggests the Italian is keen to keep a second avenue into the Champions League alive.

Back to back wins to open the Group Stage has put Chelsea in a very strong position to make it through to the Last 32. Maurizio Sarri will be keen to wrap up that place over the next two weeks which means he can really pick weakened teams for the final two games in the Group and keep key players rested for the busy festive period to come in the Premier League.

Chelsea have not been dominant winners in either game they have played as far as the scoreboard has been concerned, but they have missed a host of chances.

On Thursday it is a chance for players to stake their claim in Sarri's plans for the months ahead as he will look to rotate his squad. Those players have yet to really impress as the manager would have liked, but Chelsea could prove to be far too strong for BATE Borisov if they can take the chances they are creating.

BATE Borisov remain the best team coming out of Belarus but they have struggled to compete with the stronger teams they tend to face in the Champions League or Europa League. The 1-4 home loss to PAOK on Match Day 2 has underlined that point and over the last twelve months BATE Borisov have lost heavily at FC Koln, Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven in European away games.

This is a big handicap for Chelsea to cover when you think of the chances they have missed in their previous two Europa League games which have both ended 1-0 to The Blues. However BATE Borisov have conceded at least three goals in each of the four games mentioned above and lost all of those games by at least three goal margins.

Chelsea can become the latest to record a big win over BATE Borisov and I think they will be able to do that on Thursday at Stamford Bridge. Eden Hazard won't be available by all accounts, but that should not matter for Chelsea this weekend and I think they cover the big Asian Handicap.


Eintracht Frankfurt v Apollon Pick: When the draw was this Europa League Group was made you would have thought Marseille and Lazio, two teams who reached at least the Quarter Final of the competition last season, would have been leading the way through to the Last 32.

Instead it is Eintracht Frankfurt who have won both games against those much fancied sides and now have a double header against the outsiders in the Group, Apollon.

The Cypriot side need to be respected having come from 0-2 down to earn a draw with Marseille on Match Day 2, but that was played at home and it is a real challenge for them when they visit Frankfurt.

Eintracht Frankfurt are just outside the elite teams in the Bundesliga, but they have scored plenty of goals in recent weeks and that makes them dangerous. The last three home games have all ended in wins and Eintracht Frankfurt have scored 15 goals in those games with at least four scored in each one including in the 4-1 win over Lazio on Match Day 2.

There should be too much firepower for the home team again in this Europa League game and they will want to keep the momentum behind them having won 4 in a row in all competitions.

Apollon have lost 6 of their last 7 away Europa League games, although only two of those have come by two or more goals. However they needed an injury time goal to prevent that happening at Lazio on Match Day 1 and I think they struggle to contain their hosts here so backing Eintracht Frankfurt for a big win has to be the call.


Rangers v Spartak Moscow Pick: When the draw was made for the Europa League Group Stage it did look like a section in which Rangers would find it very difficult to move on to the Knock Out Rounds.

Steven Gerrard had already surpassed some expectations by taking Rangers through four Qualifying Rounds to make the Group, but the start made to the section will have the fans believing their European adventure is far from over.

Rangers have earned an important point in Spain against Villarreal and then came from behind to deservedly beat Rapid Vienna at Ibrox on Match Day 2. That means they come into this double header with Spartak Moscow on top of the Group and I do think they can continue the positive momentum with another win at home.

In recent games Rangers have been dominant at Ibrox Stadium with their last 5 wins coming during a period in which they have scored at least three goals in each victory. That is the kind of pressure that could crack Spartak Moscow, although the Russian club have a lot more experience in European Football in recent years compared with their hosts.

Spartak Moscow have underachieved in this Group so far and their continued struggles away from home in European competition cannot be ignored. Losing games at PAOK and Rapid Vienna should be a big disappointment for Spartak Moscow and they have won just 1 of their last 13 away European games.

One Russian club has already lost in this part of Glasgow and I think Rangers can win this fixture as long as they not distracted by the upcoming League Cup Semi Final to be played on Sunday. I don't think Steven Gerrard will be allowing that to happen and I do think Rangers current home form makes it hard to make a case against them continuing their positive run.

Of course their hosts are more experienced, but Spartak Moscow have conceded plenty of away goals in recent games and especially in European competition. Backing Rangers on the Asian Handicap will at least return half the stake in the event of a draw and I will back the home team in that market.

MY PICKS: Bayern Munich - 1.75 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Manchester United-Juventus Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.30 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Roma - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Club Brugge-Monaco Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Tottenham Hotspur @ 2.05 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Liverpool - 3 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Paris Saint-Germain - 1.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Leipzig - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Sporting + 0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)
Zenit St Petersburg @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Zurich-Bayer Leverkusen Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Besiktas - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Chelsea - 2.25 Asian Handicap @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Eintracht Frankfurt - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Rangers - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)

October Update: 18-19-1, - 0.28 Units (74 Units Staked, - 0% Yield)