On Match Day 2, European champions Real Madrid travel to Russia while Manchester United host Valencia
There were plenty of surprises on Match Day 1 in the UEFA Champions League, and the second round of group games is set to kick off this coming Tuesday (2 October). Having lost last time out, Manchester City visit Hoffenheim looking for their first points of the campaign, while Real Madrid are also on the road at CSKA and Manchester United will hope to put their domestic woes behind them when they welcome Valencia to Old Trafford.
First things first
Before you go any further, head on over to the Oddsshark website, find your favourite betting agency and get your own account up and running using your credit card. As a new customer and with the Champions League group stages now underway, there should be a wide range of promotions and special offers available to you.
Where should I be investing my money?
First up, Hoffenheim welcome Premier League champions Manchester City to Germany. Hoffenheim re enjoying their first ever foray into the group stages of the Champions League and secured a 2-2 draw away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the first game.
City surprisingly lost 2-1 t home to Lyon in their opener, but are unbeaten in their last five Champions League games against German opposition. And as one of the favourites to win the competition this season, City will be desperate to get some points on the board.
And it is visitors City who come in as the clear favourites to take the points. You can back the English club to pick up a win on the road at just 1.40 while Hoffenheim, despite home advantage, are out at 7.50 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 5.75, according to Oddsshark.
And after a slow start we are expecting City to get back to winning ways here. A comfortable, 2-0 win for Guardiola’s side is priced at 8.50, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$42.50 pay out.
CSKA host defending champions Real
Meanwhile, defending European champions Real Madrid travel to Russia to take on CSKA Moscow. Real’s domestic form has suffered as late but they made an excellent start to continental competition, thrashing Italian outfit AS Roma 3-0.
These two sides last met back in 2012 in the round of 16, with the first leg ending 1-1 in Russia before Real won 4-1 back at the Bernabeu. CSKA drew their opener with Viktoria Plzen 2-2 and could also do with three points on home soil to kick start their European campaign.
However, it is Real who come in as the favourites to maintain their 100 per cent start to the continental tournament. You can back the Spanish club to take all three points at just 1.60, with CSKA out at 6.25 to collect their first Champions League win of the season – a draw comes in at 4.10.
And given Real’s shaky form of late, we think this may well end in a stalemate. A 1-1 draw is priced at 7.50, while you could also more than double your money by backing under 2.5 goals in the game at 2.20 – both teams to score comes in at 1.66.
United look to put Premier League behind them
And finally, Jose Mourinho and Manchester United will be glad to forget their Premier League troubles as they welcome Valencia to Old Trafford. The Red Devils sit 10th in their domestic league, and this past weekend were comfortably beaten 2-1 by West Ham United, as well as suffering elimination from the League Cup at the hands of Derby County.
Valencia have lso made a slow start to life in La Liga, and re down in 14th place with a single win to their name in seven matches. That victory did however come this past weekend, away to Real Sociedad.
Nevertheless, it is United who come in as the favourites to keep up their winning start to the Champions League, having beaten Young Boys 3-0 in their opening game. You can back the English club to take the points at just 1.70, with Valencia out at 5.75 to get their first points on the board – the Spanish side lost 2-0 to Juventus last time out.
We are expecting a close game between two teams struggling for form and confidence, but United should nick it – a 2-1 win for the Red Devils is priced competitively at 8.00. Both teams to score, and over 2.5 goals in the game, are both priced at 1.80.
UEFA Champions League match day 2 fixtures:
Tuesday, 2 October
(1.16) Juventus x Young Boys (21.00); draw (8.50)
(7.50) Hoffenheim x Manchester City (1.40); draw (5.75)
(3.90) AEK x Benfica (2.15); draw (3.30)
(1.20) Bayern Munich x Ajax (15.00); draw (8.00)
(6.25) CSKA x Real Madrid (1.60); draw (4.10)
(1.85) Lyon x Shakhtar Donetsk (4.33); draw (3.90)
(1.70) Manchester United x Valencia (5.75); draw (3.80)
(1.33) Roma x Viktoria Plzen (9.50); draw (5.75)