Champions League contenders Barcelona and Chelsea continue their quest for the cup on Tuesday. But with Barca losing the best player on the planet and Chelsea still in the midst of a catastrophic run of results, are the two title challengers in danger of getting upset on Matchday 2?
Read on as we preview the relevant information on all eight of Tuesday’s Champions League action, before supplying fearless predictions for each. Also, don’t forget to check out Wednesday’s Champions League update here.
[sc:Soccer ]2015 UEFA Champions League Tuesday Preview
*All matches will kick-off at 2:45 PM ET
Barcelona vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Line: Barcelona -331 vs. Bayer Leverkusen +700, tie +360; total 3.0 – view all Champions League lines
[sc:Soccer240banner ]This is a dangerous time for Barcelona. After getting thumped 4-1 by Celta Vigo, they lost the best player in the world, Leo Messi, to a knee injury. While they still beat lowly Las Palmas, 2-1, Leverkusen will pose a much tougher test.
Leverkusen are fearless in terms of going forward and challenging their opponents, and the absence of Messi should embolden them further. The Germans thrashed BATE 4-1 on Matchday 1, and have won their last two league games without conceding a single goal.
Writer’s Prediction: Leverkusen (+700) pulls off the huge upset against Messi-less Barca with a 2-1 win at the Nou Camp.
BATE Borisov vs. AS Roma
Line: BATE Borisov +346 vs. AS Roma -146, tie +245; total 2.5 – view all Champions League lines
After earning a creditable 1-1 draw with Barcelona on Matchday 1, slumping Roma will enter Matchday 2 significantly shorthanded with the absence of striker Edin Dzeko, midfielder Seydou Keita and talismanic captain Francesco Totti to injuries. This looks like a great opportunity for home side BATE to pick up their first point/s of the campaign. BATE are unbeaten in their last six league games.
Writer’s Prediction: BATE battles hard to force a 1-1 draw (+245) at home against Roma.
Arsenal vs. Olympiakos
Line: Arsenal -300 vs. Olympiakos -580, tie +370; total 3.0 – view all Champions League lines
Arsenal were stunned by Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 in Matchday 1, but it’ll be an absolute miracle if the Gunners go down again at home to Olympiakos. Star striker Alexis Sanchez will continue to lead the line with the suspension of Olivier Giroud, who was sent off against Dinamo Zagreb. Sanchez will be flying high after recording a hat-trick in Arsenal’s 5-2 away win at Leicester, his first three goals of the season.
Writer’s Prediction: Take under 3.0 goals as Arsenal cruise to an easy 2-0 home win.
Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb
Line: Bayern Munich -3,300 vs. Dinamo Zagreb +1,700, tie +1,100; total 3.5 – view all Champions League lines
Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski is just about the hottest player in Europe at the moment. The Polish striker has produced seven goals in his last two games, including his remarkable five-goal performance in nine minutes against Wolfsburg.
He’ll lead the line for a Bayern side that currently have a six-game home winning streak in the Champions League, and will threaten Dinamo Zagreb’s incredible 45-match unbeaten run.
Writer’s Prediction: Bayern end Zagreb’s streak with a 3-0 home win, falling under 3.5 goals.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs. Dynamo Kiev
Line: Maccabi Tel-Aviv +260 vs. Dynamo Kiev -117, tie +240; total 2.0 – view all Champions League lines
In-form Dynamo Kiev will be heavily favored to take all three points away from home against Maccabi Tel-Aviv. The Ukrainians are currently on a 12-match unbeaten run (10 wins and two draws), which include a solid 2-2 home draw against Porto in Matchday 1. Maccabi, meanwhile, have just one win in their last four, and were thrashed 4-0 by a second-string Chelsea team.
Writer’s Prediction: Dynamo Kiev (-117) take all three points with a 1-0 away win.
FC Porto vs. Chelsea
Line: FC Porto +136 vs. Chelsea +171, tie +215, total 2.0 – view all Champions League lines
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho returning to his old club for the first time is the big story heading into the match, but Porto could just steal the Special One’s headlines when it’s all said and done. Mourinho’s Blues are still in a rut, and could fall prey to a dangerous Porto side that is tough to beat at home.
The Portuguese giants went undefeated at home in the Champions League last season (five wins, one draw) and famously beat Bayern Munich, 3-1, in the first leg of the knockout round.
Writer’s Prediction: Porto (+136) spoil Mourinho’s homecoming with a 2-1 win.
Lyon vs. Valencia
Line: Lyon +158 vs. Valencia +150, tie +210; total 2.5 – view all Champions League lines
Both Lyon and Valencia need to get their Champions League campaigns going after disappointing results in Matchday 1. Valencia lost 3-2 at home to Zenit, while Lyon could only draw at Gent despite having a man advantage for most of the game.
Scoring has been a major issue for Valencia. They have just one goal in the last three games. Meanwhile, Lyon will be without Nabil Fekir, who’s the team’s leading scorer with four goals.
Writer’s Prediction: Lyon and Valencia play out a 1-1 tie (+210).
Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Gent
Line: Zenit St. Petersburg -271 vs. Gent +580, tie +330; total 2.5 – view all Champions League lines
Hulk smashed right past Valencia as his two goals led Zenit to a 3-2 away win. With the help of the home support, look for Hulk to overpower an underdog Gent side severely lacking in quality.
Writer’s Prediction: The Hulk-led Zenit roll to an easy 2-0 win to go under 2.5 goals.
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