Champions League Matchday 7 Tips: WHY MARSEILLE COULD SPRING SURPRISE
The Champions League returns after the Christmas break as Europe’s best aim to lock up qualification into the knockout rounds.
There are some standout fixtures adding some sparkle to the competition’s return.
Tottenham take on Borussia Dortmund, Arne Slot’s off-colour Liverpool face a tricky tie away to Marseille and managerless Real Madrid face Monaco.
We’ve picked out three best bets for the occasion below…
Tip 1 – Marseille to beat Liverpool 27/10
Arne Slot remains under pressure.
Despite a damaging run of defeats coming to an end in recent weeks, Liverpool are still not securing the results their fans would expect.
The weekend’s 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Burnley – their fourth stalemate in five – has only served to increase the pressure.
Fans are becoming increasingly irate at what they perceive to be stifling and pragmatic football, completely divorced from the cavalier, attacking approach of last year.
Marseille represent dangerous opposition. They are third in Ligue 1, have won their previous two domestic matches while scoring 14 goals in total and have tasted defeat just twice at home in all competitions this term into the bargain.
We can see them upsetting the odds here and bagging a valuable win.
Tip 2 – Over 3.5 goals in Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund @ 2/1
Thomas Frank is facing immense scrutiny – and that could help this selection.
Two of the previous three Borussia Dortmund games have seen five goals or more and the Germans have scored a joint league phase high 19 goals so far this season.
They will back themselves in a basketball-style clash and the pressure is now on Frank to play more attacking football as a result. That may force his hand and play into ours.
Spurs have lost only once in Europe this term – to defending Champions League titlists PSG – and sit just one point behind the top eight and the coveted automatic qualification spots.
Add in the fact all of Dortmund’s last eight European games have produced four or more goals and that six of Tottenham’s eight home European wins have been by a two-goal margin and, at 2/1, over 3.5 goals rates a good bet for this one.
Tip 3 – Real Madrid to score over 3.5 goals vs Monaco @ 41/20
The Xabi Alonso era is over but the pressure remains on Real Madrid to entertain.
Despite the off-the-pitch drama that’s exactly what they’ve been providing to their fans, scoring 13 goals across their previous five games.
The French side’s defensive vulnerabilities are there for all to see though.
They have conceded seven goals in their previous three games; only two other teams have conceded more in Ligue 1 this year than Monaco’s 33 and they are both flirting with relegation.
This could be a restorative victory for the out-of-sorts 15-time winners of Europe’s biggest club competition.
Backing them to find their range is a sensible bet at the attractive price of 41/20.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
