Some of the more fancied teams in Europe are struggling to win football games and sports betting fans don’t need to tell them that if you don’t win when it matters in this competition, you don’t stay around for long – just ask Carlo Ancelotti.
GROUP STAGE: THURSDAY
Liverpool vs Maribor
Liverpool went on a rampage in Slovenia a fortnight ago with a victory which surprised even the most ardent football predictions and there’s every possibility they could so again as they welcome Maribor to Anfield.
The difference between the minnows and the established giants of the game could not be wider.
This fixtures provides a great chance for Liverpool to take control of Group E.
Sevilla vs Spartak Moscow
Revenge must be in the air in Spain. The gap between the two sides may only be a point but Sevilla’s pride took a hammering when they were thrashed 5-1 in Moscow.
This return needs to kick start Eduardo Berizzo’s men as they try and show their European pedigree can extend to the Champions League after five UEFA Cup/Europa League triumphs in 10 years.
Napoli vs Manchester City
The league leaders of Serie A host the league leaders of the Premier League.
Man City may be on a different stratosphere financially but Napoli gave them a scare at the Etihad Stadium after it seemed they could be blown away initially.
This tie will either be end-to-end attacking or a cautious approach from the home team as they look to counter-attack.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Feyenoord
This match could determine whether the Dutch have European competition to look forward to after Christmas for Feyenoord are seemingly playing for third place in Group F and a Europa League berth.
A home win here could really put pressure on Napoli.
Besiktas vs AS Monaco
A chance for Besiktas to inflict the final blow to Monaco’s qualification chances.
The side which lit up last year’s tournament and reached the semi-finals may have been decimated in the summer with a number of their star players moving on. However, no-one expected them not to get out of this group.
Porto vs RB Leipzig
This is an opportunity for Porto to leapfrog the Germans and gain revenge for a 3-2 defeat on match-day three. The league leaders in the Primeira league really need all three points in this one.
Leipzig have had disciplinary problems of late and will need to keep all 11 men on the pitch to maintain their hopes of progress.
Borussia Dortmund vs APOEL Nicosia
After being held in Cyprus, Dortmund know anything other than victory will all but end their qualification hopes.
That would cap a miserable week for the Germans who also lost the lead at the top of the Bundesliga at the weekend.
Failure to win any of their league matches in October tells its own story.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Real Madrid
After their 1-1 draw in the Bernabeu, Spurs have unofficially been recognised by their peers as ‘arriving’ at Europe’s top table.
What chance a repeat result or, even better, at Wembley?
This should be a cracker with the hosts hoping Harry Kane Kane will be fit to lead the line and Real eager to bounce back from their embarrassing La Liga defeat to Girona.
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