The third round of the UCL League Phase gets underway on Tuesday and we take a look at all nine matches. Liverpool and Manchester City are both in action and the headline game sees PSG host Barcelona.
Fenerbahce vs Slavia Prague
Having come through the qualifiers Fenerbahce started with a 1-1 draw at home to Roma in the opening round of the League Phase but in Round 2 they crashed 6-0 away to Aston Villa, conceding 3 goals in each half.
Slavia Prague were involved in a dramatic late finish to their opening match at home to Lens. Danijel Sturm scored twice, the second to give them a 2-1 lead in the 88th minute but they conceded twice in injury time and went down 3-2. Round 2 saw them go down 2-0 to Baku in Azerbaijan.
The previous round was a disaster for both sides, I take the view Fenerbahce are the more likely to bounce back and win by 2 or more.
Bet: Handicap Fenerbahce -1 goal at 27/20 with Sportingbet
Sabah Baku vs Dortmund
After coming through 4 rounds of qualifying Sabah Baku lost 4-0 to Man United on Matchday 1, conceding 3 first half goals. They bounced back in their first home game last week, seeing off Slavia Prague 2-0 with goals from Parris and Mikkels.
Dortmund beat Villarreal 3-2 in an opening round home fixture with all the goals arriving in the second half. It was a lively game for Serhou Guirassy who scored twice for the Germans but also put through his own net late on. It’s didn’t go to plan in Round 2 however as a visit to Bodo/Glimt ended in a 1-0 defeat.
Dortmund can’t afford another slip and I’m thinking they will work the Baku keeper plenty
Bet: FC Sabah goalkeeper saves 4 or more at 17/20 with Sportingbet
Roma vs Slovan Bratislava
Roma went down 4-3 at home to Real Madrid on Matchday 2. It was only 1-1 at half time with de Roon on target for Roma but Malen scored twice after the break to put Roma 3-1 up. Real scored 3 goals from the 83rd minute onwards to snatch victory. Roma played put a 1-1 draw away to Fenerbahce in their opening match. Bryan Cristante gave them a lead late in the first half but they were pegged back just after the break and there was no further scoring.
Slovan Bratislava came through qualifying and then had the toughest possible start away to PSG in the opening round of matches and they were thrashed 6-1. Suleiman Camara was the man on the scoresheet. Last week their first home game ended in a 3-0 defeat to Stuttgart.
Roma have ground to make up and I expect them to be in the goals, Soule is my anytime pick.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Matias Soule at 27/20 with Sportingbet
FC Porto vs PSV
Porto are still looking to open their points account. They went down 3-2 away to Betis last week after goals from Gabri Veiga and Samu Aghehowa had seen them take a 2-1 lead. Porto found it tough going at home to Man City on Matchday 1 and they rarely threatened in a 2-0 home defeat.
PSV drew their opening match 1-1 at home to Shakhtar with Sergino Dest equalizing early in the second half. Last week they went down 1-0 away to RB Leipzig, missing a penalty through Perisic in the first half and conceding the only goal on 75 minutes.
Both sides could use a win and Porto look the most likely to me. I’m with them to score in both halves.
Bet: Porto to score in both halves ? yes at 11/10 with Hollywoodbets
Liverpool vs Villarreal
Liverpool have 2 wins from 2 after they came away from LASK with a 6-3 victory. They were always in command and Barcola scored a hat trick but they conceded 3 second half goals. After conceding an early goal Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico 2-1 at Anfield in the opening round thanks to goals either side of half time from Szoboszlai and Mac Allister.
Villarreal were 3-1 winners at home to Napoli last week with Mikautadze, Mouriño and Oluwaseyi on target. Villarreal left Dortmund empty handed in the opening round after going down 3-2. All the goals came in the second half and Santiago Mourino scored the Spaniard’s first equalizer before they fell 3-1 behind and an own goal came too late.
Liverpool’s EPL form at Anfield this season is really puzzling although they can usually be relied upon in front of their own supporters in Europe and have already seen off Atletico here. Still, I think there might be a goal on offer for Villarreal and I’m with Mikautadze to grab it.
Bet: Anytime goalscorer Mikautadze at 26/10 with Sportingbet
Man City vs AEK Athens
City made a winning start to the UCL campaign with two second half goals from Haaland gave them a 2-0 win away to Porto but in Round 3 they went down 4-2 at home to SG. They were 3-0 down at half time in that game, Haaland scored another brace in the second half but City came up short.
AEK began their campaign with a 1-0 home win over LASK with Razvan Marin scoring from a set piece in the first half. They took the lead against Shakhtar (in London) next time out through Lovro Majer but eventually went down 3-1.
Semenyo is out and Haland is a doubt for City so their firepower could be significantly reduced but they are still 1 / 7 shots. I’s rather let this one go through to the keeper. No bet.
Napoli vs Bodo/Glimt
Napoli have lost both their matches so far. They went down 1-0 at home to Arsenal first up and although Rrahmani gave them an early lead away to Villarreal last week they went on to lose 3-1.
After reaching the League Phase through the qualifiers Bodo took on German opposition in the first 2 rounds. They crashed to a 5-0 defeat to Bayern in Munich on Matchday 1 but put themselves on the board with a 1-0 home win over Dortmund thanks to a second half goal from Fredrik Sjovold.
Napoli’s Serie A form is hit and miss and although Bodo would be much more backable if at home this is another I will swerve. No bet.
PSG vs Barcelona
PSG have 2 wins from 2 and it’s raining goals. Doué, Dembélé and Vitinha had them 3-0 up away to Man City in Round 2 and although City fought back Akliouche added PSG’s fourth and they ran out winners 4-2. PSG thrashed Slovan Bratislava 6-1 in Paris, Ferran Torres grabbed a hat trick and Dembele scored twice.
Barca are also 2 wins from 2 and firing in the goals, most recently putting Galatasaray away 4-1 in Istanbul with Cancelo, Fermín López, Gordon and Adeyemi on target. Barca began with a 5-1 demolition of Feyenoord in the opening round. They led 2-0 at half time and Raphinha scored twice and Lamine Yamal was also on target.
Many people’s idea of this season’s final and the bookmakers are battling to name a favourite. PSG are struggling to keep clean sheets this season and I’m taking my chances with Barca to score 2-3 although that doesn’t mean to say they will win the game.
Bet: Barcelona multi goal 2-3 at even money with Sportingbet
Stuttgart vs Atletico Madrid
Stuttgart have 2 wins from 2 after a first half goal from Undav and an own goal after the break plus a late one from Demirović gave them a 3-0 win away to Slovan Bratislava last week. Matchday 1 saw Stuttgart open their account with a 3-1 home victory over Viking. Ermedin Demirovic was the hero with a first half hat trick in the space of 12 minutes.
Atletico took an early lead away to Liverpool through Llorente in the opening round but they conceded either side of half time and went down 2-1. They bounced back in last week’s home game against Man United with a 2-0 win after Barrios scored in the first minute and Lookman in the 79th shortly after Man United had been reduced to 10 men.
This should also be a very watchable contest and I see goals for both sides and hopefully a winner.
Bet: Both teams to score and either team to win? Yes at even money with Sportingbet
Note, prices are subject to change