Champions League +, 1 October, 2014

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GROUP STAGE

ZENIT v AS MONACO  

Zenit started very well this edition of Champions League, they beated on road in the first round Benfica with 2-0. Team coached by Andre Villas-Boas is in an excellent shape, because in the League ranks on the first position after nine stages. Zenit was defeated in the current season only once and players such as Rondon or Hulk are in very good form. "The Blues" also scored in the previous five matches played in the Champions League.
The Russian press has been speculated that there would be a conflict between Villas-Boas and Kerzhakov, but the technician hosts refuted the rumors. The striker is ready to perform tonight and is very likely to enter at least a few minutes. 
AS Monaco also debuted with a win in Group C. They won at home against Bayer Leverkusen with the score of 1-0 after goal scored by Moutinho. However, the band coached by Leonardo Jardim didn't shine in the new season. they are ranked only 12th in Ligue 1. French's issues appear in the offensive line, where they lost in the summer transfer period brilliant players like Falcao or James Rodriguez. 
Possible lineups

Zenit(4-2-3-1) : Lodygin - Smolnikov, Garay, Lombaerts, Criscito - Fayzulin, Javi García - Shatov, Danny, Hulk - Rondon

• Doubtful: Tymoshchuk (thigh), Witsel (illness)

Monaco(4-3-3) : Subašić - Fabinho, Raggi, Carvalho, Kurzawa - Toulalan, Moutinho, Silva - Germain, Carrasco, Berbatov.

• Out: Traoré (hamstring), Borja López (knee), Abdennour (thigh)

AS Monaco is a pragmatic team, which is based on a solid defense. The French had problems this season on offense, managing to score quite a few goals. Zenit instead is in a very good shape, but they usually have problems when they are facing strong opponents. Surely the hosts will have problems in creating spaces and I think probably we will not see a goal feast. Probably AS Monaco won't be very dangerous in offense and a logical bet seems to be under 2.5 goals - 1.85 ✓. I expect a tough match, Monaco defending and Zenit looking to score the goal and I think in the second half they will do that : 

• Draw / Zenit - 4.75   | ✖

ATLETICO MADRID v JUVENTUS

  

Atletico Madrid surprisingly lost their debut game against Olympiakos 2-3, just three days after the triumph against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu. The pressure is very high for "los cochoneros" after this failure, because a step wrong with Juve and a victory of Olympiakos with Malmo would complicate very much the qualification equation !

Juventus won at home 2-0 with Malmo and it sitting on the first place in the group. The two goals were signed by Argentine striker Carlos Tevez, who scored again in the Champions League after more than five and a half years! Massimiliano Allegri began perfectly the adventure on bianconeros bench winning all six official matches this season, with no goal received ! Juve is the only Club in Europe that has not got naked in the start of the season, after Barcelona has not been able to keep intact the gate last night against PSG. Italian champion hopes to achieve a positive result for not having emotions further and not repeat the disaster as in last edition, when they didn't qualified from a relatively light group with Real Madrid, Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.

Possible lineups

Atlético(4-4-1-1) : Moyà - Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Ansaldi - Koke, Tiago, Mario Suárez, Arda - Raúl García - Mandžukić.

• Doubtful: Gabi (ankle)

Juventus(3-5-2) : Buffon - Cáceres, Bonucci, Chiellini - Liechtsteiner, Pogba, Marchisio, Vidal, Evra - Tévez, Llorente.

• Out: Pirlo (thigh), Barzagli (ankle), Rômulo (hernia)

This is the most interesting and balanced game of the day. I expect a tough, tacticized, balanced game between the champion of Spain and the champion of Italy. Probably the smartest bet is a draw - 3.30(I'm thinking on a correct score 1-1), but Atletico is in a must-win situation and at home is an incredible strong team, so I will try a bet on hosts : 

• Atletico Madrid to win - 2.30  | ✓

MALMO v OLYMPIAKOS

Possible lineups

Malmö (4-4-2) : Olsen - Tinnerholm, Johansson, Helander, Ricardinho - Kroon, Adu, Halsti, Forsberg - Thelin, Rosenberg.

• Doubtful: Thern (broken fibula), Halsti (groin)

Olympiacos (4-2-3-1) : Roberto - Elabdellaoui, Botía, Abidal, Masuaku - Milivojević, Kasami - Maniatis, Domínguez, Afellay - Mitroglou.

• Out: Siovas (thigh), Fuster (groin), Benítez (thigh), Salino (thigh)

It's a complicated game, I don' trust Olympiakos game on road, I think Malmo has a good chance to achieve points tonight as their coach, Åge Hareide, said : " I think we have a good chance – we had a particularly great home record in qualifying. Olympiacos did well against Atlético [on matchday one], especially in front of goal. Atlético had more of the ball and dominated. Olympiacos are not as strong as Juventus and are more on our level. In their domestic league Olympiacos are used to dominating, but against Atlético they didn't – they won due to good finishing and some not-so-good defending. Teams from Greece are not as good away as they are at home.

When I came here in January, [sporting director] Daniel Andersson told me I could get Markus [Rosenberg]. I wanted to meet him to make sure he was still hungry, but it took only ten seconds. I could see he had the passion and commitment – some people are made for the big games. " 

• Markus Rosenberg to score - 3.25   | ✓

BASEL v LIVERPOOL

Possible lineups

Basel (4-3-3) : Vaclík - Suchý, Schär, Safari, Frei - Elneny, Serey Die, Xhaka - Gashi, Streller, Gonzalez.

• Out: Díaz (suspended), Degen (match fitness), Ivanov (knee)

• Doubtful: Samuel (knee)

Liverpool (4-2-3-1) : Mignolet - Manquillo, Škrtel, Lovren, Moreno - Gerrard, Henderson - Sterling, Lallana, Coutinho - Balotelli.

• Out: Can (ankle), Flanagan (knee), Sakho (thigh), Sturridge (thigh)

• Doubtful: Allen (knee), Johnson (hip)

I am expecting a surprise in the duel between Basel and Liverpool, in condition of cormorans recently weak performances in this season debut, the tough win against Ludogorets being just one example. Basel has an excellent track record against teams from England, and their youth players with verve like Neny, Xhaka or Schar combines perfectly with the experience of Veterans Strelles or Samuel, demonstrated by their results in  recent years. The Swiss champion has lost only twice in the last ten disputes in the Champions League at home and has a good chance against Liverpool, especially as Brendan Rodgers can't count on many notable footballers, and Sturridge's absence cannot be replaced, at least so far, by Mario Balotelli.

• Draw - 3.60  | ✖

LUDOGORETS v REAL MADRID

Possible lineups

Ludogorets (4-2-3-1) : Stoyanov - Caiçara, A Aleksandrov, Moți, Minev - S Dyakov, Anicet - M Aleksandrov, Marcelinho, Abalo - Bezjak.

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1) : Casillas - Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo - Modrić, Kroos - James, Bale, Ronaldo - Benzema.

• Out: Jesé (knee), Khedira (thigh), Coentrão (unspecified)

• Doubtful: Pepe (hamstring)

Huge difference between the newcomers from Bulgaria, Ludogorets Razgrad, and the most lauded team in Champions League history, Real Madrid, the Spanish side has absolutely all the strengths to win this game. Blancos are in a strong return to form, they won the last four games, they have scored 20 times, while Cristiano Ronaldo is going through a period of grace, the Portuguese star breaking record after record in the last period! Real Madrid won 13 of the last 16 Champions League games and has lost only once in that period! Bulgarians are extremely ambitious, will be pushed back by more than 42,000 fans, however, they are too small to deal with a Real in a form of grace ! I expect a game with more goals in second half, because I think bulgarians will be tired... 

• more goals in 2nd half - 1.95  | ✖
• How many yellow cards will receive Ludogorets ? - over 2.5 - 2.00(Bwin)  | ✓
• Real Madrid to score a penalty - 4.33   | ✓

LEVERKUSEN v BENFICA

Possible lineups

Leverkusen (4-2-3-1) : Leno - Hilbert, Toprak, Spahić, Wendell - Reinartz, Bender - Bellarabi, Çalhanoğlu, Son - Kiessling.

• Out: Papadopoulos (shoulder), Rolfes (ankle), Brandt (ankle), Castro (muscular problems)

• Doubtful: Boenisch (heel)

Benfica (4-1-4-1) : Júlio César - Maxi Pereira, Luisão, Jardel, Eliseu - Samaris - Salvio, Pérez, Gaitán, Talisca - Lima.

• Out: Artur (suspended), Sílvio (leg)

• Doubtful: Paulo Lopes (right leg)

I anticipate a very balanced game with two teams that do not allow to lose today. The pressure is huge after the  negative results of the first stage and both sides are afraid of defeat. That is why I rely on a game with few goals, the two managers will be concerned not to get naked first, because any mistake in defense may "hang" in the equation of qualification . We have technical teams at the front, who like to keep the ball and we can see more of a tactical duel in midfield for possession. No one will assume the additional risk and they will wait for the opponent's mistake, at least in the early part of the match when the teams will study.

• Draw - 3.80  | ✖

ANDERLECHT v DORTMUND

Possible lineups

Anderlecht(4-4-2) : Proto - Deschacht, Nuytinck, Mbemba, Najar - Praet, Tielemans, Defour, Conté - Mitrović, Suárez.

• Out: N'Sakala (knee)

• Doubtful: Praet (calf), Vanden Borre (calf), Nuytinck (toe)

Dortmund (4-2-3-1) : Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Hummels, Papastathopoulos, Durm - Bender, Jojić - Aubameyang, Kagawa, Grosskreutz - Immobile.

• Out: Kirch (thigh), Nuri Şahin (knee), Reus (ankle), Błaszczykowski (muscle tear), Mkhitaryan (right foot)

• Doubtful: Gündoğan (muscular problems), Kehl (foot)

I rely on a more balanced game than the odds suggest and I anticipate at least a goal from home team by I will try a surprise too.. Belgians are in a great shape and confidence of the players is high. Their play is based on the offensive game, where Suarez and Mitrovic are scoring with regularity. Anderlecht scored in each of the last four Champions League games and can do today, especially that in Istanbul showed maturity and experience through this competition. I rely on the dreamy defence of Borussia too, which receives very easy goals in this season's debut.

• Mitrovic to score - 3.25  | ✖

ARSENAL v GALATASARAY 

Possible lineups

Arsenal (4-5-1) : Szczęsny - Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs - Flamini, Santi Cazorla, Özil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sánchez - Welbeck.

• Out: Ramsey (hamstring), Arteta (calf), Giroud (ankle), Monreal (back), Debuchy (ankle), Sanogo (hamstring), Walcott (knee), Gnabry (knee)

• Doubtful: Wilshere (ankle)

Galatasaray (3-5-2) : Muslera - Semih, Melo, Chedjou - Tarık, Selçuk, Sneijder, Dzemaili, Alex Telles - Burak, Olcan.

Two teams in a very poor shape, firstly, Arsenal with one victory in the last six games, while official team of Prandelii, on the other hand, have only two successes in the last seven games! None has impressed in his debut in this group, and a defeat would seriously diminish their chances of qualification for each of the warring, so I expect a rather cautious and tacticized battle ! 12 of last 14 matches played Arsenal in the Champions League were under 2.5 goals, as 5 of the last 6 of the Turkish side in this competition! "The Gunners" have big problems, particularly offensively, Welbeck or Ozil being in poor form, hence the weak results from the start of the season.

• under 2.5 goals - 2.15  | ✖