Matchday 6 of the Uefa Champions League gets under way on Tuesday night when our focus is on Atalanta v Chelsea, Inter Milan v Liverpool and Spurs v Slavia Prague
Note, picks will be added to this preview some time on Monday when we have some team news available
Atalanta v Chelsea
Since losing their opening match of the UCL 4-0 at PSG, Atalanta have taken 10 points from thr next 4 matches and come into this round in 10th position. They put themselves on the board with a 2-1 home win over Brugge but then dropped points in a 0-0 draw with Slavia Praue in another home fixture. A 1-0 win at Marseille was followed by a 3-0 win at Frankfurt last time out.
In Serie A Atalanta are just below halfway in the standings with 16 points from 14 games and they have lost 4 of their last 5.
Chelsea also have 10 points to show from their first 5 UCL matches and goal difference has them seventh in the standings. They have also recovered from losing their opening match 3-1 to Bayern in Munich with back to back home wins over Benfica (1-0) and Ajax (5-1). On Matchday 4 they had to settle for a 2-2 draw away to Qarabag but their stand out result came last time out, a 3-0 home win over Barcelona.
In the EPL Chelsea have dropped points in each of their last 3 matches, a 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal, a 3-1 defeat at Leeds and a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth which has seen slip to fourth place, 8 points off top spot.
The Verdict
Atalanta would appear to be below par in Serie A but are in the mix for a decent shot at the UCL knockout rounds and this looks tricky. I'll cop out a bit with 2-3 goals in total.
Bets: Total goals 2-3 at 21/20 with Pokerbet
Note prices quoted are subject to change
Inter Milan v Liverpool
Fourth placed Inter are one of four teams on 12 points, 3 off the pace being set by Arsenal who boast the only 100% record. They went down to an injury time goal in a 2-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid in Matchday 5 but prior to that they reeled off wins at Ajax (2-0) and Union SG (4-0) and at home to Slavia Prague (3-0) and Kairat (2-1)
In Serie A Inter have won 10 and lost 4 of their matches. At the time of writing they top the log but AC Milan, Napoli and Roma were also in touching distance with a game in hand.
Liverpool have won 3 and lost 2 of their UCL matches and finished Round 5 in thirteenth position. A disastrous 4-1 home defeat to PSV in Round 5 leaves them with plenty to do to make the top 8 automatic qualification spots. Although they have beaten both Madrid clubs at Anfield and also won at Frankfurt (5-1) their other defeat came at Galatasaray (1-0) and they can ill afford another loss here.
In the EPL Liverpool have drawn their last 2 league games at home to Sunderland and away at Leeds and Mo Salah has made it clear he is not happy about having been dropped to the bench recently. Although they are only 2 points off a top 4 spot, Liverpool are currently 10 points adrift of Arsenal.
The Verdict
Where to go with this given the situation with Liverpool on and off the pitch. It's probably one to watch rather than punt in mind but against logic I'll take a chance that Isak will find the net for Liverpool.
Bets: Anytime goalscorer Isak at 23/10 with Pokerbet
Note prices quoted are subject to change
Spurs v Slavia Prague
After losing 5-3 away to PSG on Matchday 5 Spurs are in sixteenth position with 8 points. Their wins came at home to Villarreal (1-0) and Copenhagen (4-0) and away from home they drew at Bodo Glimt (2-2) and Marseille (0-0).
In the EPL Spurs were 2-0 winners at home to Brentford at the weekend and prior to that they drew 2-2 at Newcastle. With 22 points they are in mid table although its very congested in that area of the log.
Slavia Prague have a record of 3 draws and 2 defeats and come into the round 31st of the 36 teams. They drew 2-2 at home Bodo in their opening game before a 3-0 loss at Inter. Since then they have drawn 0-0 away to Atalanta and most recently Bilbao either side a 3-0 home defeat to Arsenal.
The Verdict
Spurs have been hard to catch right but Prague stand to gain little from parking the bus and I'll take my chances Spurs will find the net 3 times or more.
Bets: Spurs total goals, over 2.5 at 1.72/1 with Pokerbet
Note prices quoted are subject to change