CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MD6 TIPS: BIG NIGHTS, BIG NAMES, BIG VALUE
The lights are on and the stakes are high as Europe’s elite take centre stage for another show-stopping week of Champions League action – headlined by Real Madrid vs Manchester City at the Bernabeu.
Let’s get into three tips ahead of Matchday 6.
Tip 1 – Bayern Munich to win, Harry Kane to score & BTTS vs Sporting CP @ 9/4
Arsenal may have beaten them on Matchday 4 in convincing fashion but Bayern Munich haven’t flinched since – sitting top of the Bundesliga with 37 points, eight clear of the chasing pack.
Despite that European setback, Bayern remain in control of their league phase destiny with four wins from five. A home win against Sporting CP at the Allianz Arena would all but confirm their place in the next round.
It won’t be a stroll in the park, though.
Sporting have adapted impressively post-Viktor Gyokeres and, while Vincent Kompany's side will expect to dominate, the Primeira Liga champions aren’t short on attacking threat with Trincao and Alisson Santos finding success on the wings.
It feels like an occasion made for Harry Kane. Five goals in Europe, 28 in all competitions – including a hat-trick off the bench against VfB Stuttgart last weekend.
The Bavarians should boss the game but they’ve only kept one clean sheet in Europe this season. Sporting have scored in every match so far and will more than fancy their chances of sneaking one here.
Tip 2 – Patrik Schick & Nick Woltemade both to score (Golden Combo) @ 13/2
Two strikers, two very different stories… but the same eye for goal.
Patrik Schick remains one of Bayer Leverkusen’s last standing invincibles and continues to show his ability in front of goal when it counts.
The Czech forward has scored in back-to-back Champions League games in red and black; the winner against Benfica and a clinical second to sink Manchester City at the Etihad.
Nick Woltemade may be newer to the spotlight, but what he lacks in experience he more than makes up for in end product.
He’s found the net seven times for Newcastle across all competitions this season while showcasing a borderline unnatural technical ability for someone standing 6ft 6in with no prior experience performing outside of Germany.
Both scored in the 4-3 thriller between Leverkusen and Stuttgart back in March and are 13/2 to run it back on Europe’s grandest stage.
Expect a classic duel between two strikers and two sides desperate to dodge the extra games come February.
Tip 3 – Over 3.5 goals in Real Madrid vs Manchester City @ 6/5
This fixture doesn’t do quiet nights.
Three of the last four meetings at the Bernabeu have seen four goals or more, with 17 goals scored across their last four clashes in total. If you’re betting on entertainment, this is the one to watch.
City have looked a little too generous at the back for Pep Guardiola’s liking – conceding twice to Leeds and four to Fulham in recent weeks – but they’ve made up for it at the other end, largely through the usual suspect: Erling Haaland.
Los Blancos, now under Xabi Alonso, are cut from similar cloth with plenty of attacking intent while leaking goals up the other end.
Kylian Mbappe tops the European Golden Boot race and thrives on nights like this having nearly doubled his haul with four goals in the 4-3 thriller against Olympiakos last time out.
With just two points between them and the group still in the balance, this is set up perfectly for another goal-laden classic.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change.
