There are a couple more games in the Champions League group stages involving English clubs this evening, starting with Manchester City hosting RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium.
City came close to finally winning the Champions League last season, losing on the final to Chelsea, and that defeat is likely to have raised their motivation for this season’s competition. Leipzig also came close in 2020, losing in the semi-finals, but have since seen the departure of their manager and a number of key players.
Leipzig have lost three of their opening four Bundesliga games, including Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich, and will start as distinct underdogs tonight.
Ferran Torres only featured in six Champions League games last season, but scored in City’s first three group games, opening the scoring twice. He has since established himself in the first team this season, and the enhanced 6/1 available on him scoring first seems a good price.
The second game is a repeat of the classic 2005 Champions League final (and also the less fondly remembered 2007 version), with Liverpool hosting AC Milan at Anfield.
The Reds have started the domestic season strongly, with only Chelsea providing a serious test so far, and and this looks a tall order for Milan to take anything from this game, particularly given their record of one win from 17 trips to England.
Milan have a young team, and have won all of their league games to date, but this same side won only two of eight Europa League matches last season before going out to Manchester United at the quarter-final stage.
We were impressed with Liverpool on Sunday, dispatching Leeds without really breaking sweat. With the Reds keeping three clean sheets in their opening four league games, we’re going to take one of their players to open the scoring, and it was Mo Salah who shone on the weekend, scoring the opening goal and threatening on numerous occasions.
Recommendations:
Man City/RB Leipzig: Torres to score first, 1 pt, at 6/1, SkyBet
Liverpool/AC Milan: Salah to score first, 1 pt, at 7/2, William Hill
