Champions League Matchday 3 is upon us, and the 36-team league table is starting to take shape. Six teams have earned a maximum six points, while at the bottom, four are yet to pick up any.
Many of the most highly-rated teams are doing well, which is why you will see several of Europe’s biggest clubs named among my UEFA Champions League best bets.
Lots of games have been won by a margin or two or more goals so far, and I expect this trend to continue across the fixtures to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
UEFA Champions League weekly picks and best bets for Matchday 3
Bayer Leverkusen vs PSG
PSG -0.5 (-172 at Sports Interaction)
PSG have made the perfect start to their Champions League defence, thrashing Atalanta 4-0 on Matchday 1, before producing a stunning performance to defeat Barcelona 2-1 on Matchday 2.
On both occasions it was abundantly clear manager Luis Enrique and his players are determined to do whatever they can to retain the trophy they won in such style when they trounced Inter Milan 5-0.
PSG return to German soil here, and are a good bet to beat Bayer Leverkusen. The hosts drew 2-2 at Copenhagen on Matchday 1 and were involved in another stalemate when they failed to win (1-1) at home to PSV Eindhoven on Matchday 2.
PSG will pose a much greater test than either of the two sides Bayer Leverkusen have faced so far.
- Date: Tuesday, October 21
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
- Where to watch: Paramount+
Gilloise vs Inter Milan
Inter Milan -0.5 (-159 at Sports Interaction)
Inter Milan head into this fixture as one of Europe’s form sides. They're undefeated in UCL play thanks to comfortable 2-0 and 3-0 wins respectively over Ajax and Slavia Prague, and they're on a run of four consecutive Serie A wins — including a 1-0 triumph away to top-four rivals Roma on Saturday.
Union St Gilloise are adapting to life under new manager David Hubert, appointed last week. Under former manager Sebastien Pocognoli (see our Monaco vs Tottenham preview), the Belgian outfit lost 4-0 at home to Newcastle United on Matchday 2.
Their meek performance that night suggests Inter Milan will win this week.
- Date: Tuesday, October 21
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio de la Ceramica, Villareal, Spain
- Where to watch: Paramount+
Bayern Munich vs Club Brugge
Bayern Munich -2.5 (+120 at Sports Interaction)
Bayern have won all nine of their Champions League and Bundesliga games this season, with six of their victories secured by a margin of two or more goals. Their average goal difference per game is a remarkable +3.22.
What are the chances of Club Bruges picking up points here, or restricting Bayern to a one- or two-goal margin of victory? Skinny, at best.
The Belgian club won 4-1 at home to Monaco on Matchday 1, but lost 2-1 at Atalanta on Matchday 2. Bayern — arguably Europe’s most effective team right now — are more likely to win emphatically than narrowly.
- Date: Wednesday, October 22
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Allianz Arena, Munchen, Germany
- Where to watch: Paramount+
Monaco vs Tottenham
Tottenham -0.5 (+120 at Sports Interaction)
Monaco changed their manager during the recent international break. In charge for little more than a week, new boss Sebastien Pocognoli is still getting to know his players, which hands Tottenham Hotspur a distinct advantage.
Recruited from Belgian League champions Union St Gilloise, 38-year-old Pocognoli seems intent on changing Monaco’s tactics (from a back four to a back three).
The tweak may work long term, but the alteration mean that Monaco are a work in progress right now. In Pocognoli's first game, the Principality outfit were underwhelming when drawing 1-1 at struggling Angers in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Tottenham have been more impressive away from home than at home this season. They're 3-2-0 on the road in all competitions, suggesting they're well-equipped to take advantage of the transitional phase the hosts have entered.
- Date: Wednesday, October 22
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Stade Louis-Il, Fontvieille, Monaco
- Where to watch: Paramount+
Chelsea vs Ajax
Chelsea -1.5 (-154 at Sports Interaction)
Ajax produced one of the poorest performances of the last round (Matchday 2) when they lost 4-0 at Marseille. Outplayed from the kick-off, they were an unimpressive second-best throughout. The scoreline fairly reflected the deep limitations they displayed on the night.
Chelsea won 1-0 at home to Benfica in their last Champions League outing, and are a solid 4-2-2 in the Premier League. The Blues have won 11 of their last 15 Champions League home group-phase fixtures.
Given how abject some of Ajax’s defending was against Marseille, I expect the hosts to win by two or more goals.
- Date: Wednesday, October 22
- Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Stamford Bridge, London, England
- Where to watch: Paramount+
Champions League player prop quick hits for Matchday 3
Real Madrid vs Juventus
Kylian Mbappe to score (-137 at Sports Interaction)
Kylian Mbappe has scored in 11 consecutive games for club and country. He's playing so well that his price to find the net should be even shorter than it is.
Juventus will struggle to contain the France striker because they have looked vulnerable defensively for many weeks: the Serie A visitors have conceded 13 goals in their last seven games in all competitions.
Sporting vs Marseille
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score (+200 at Sports Interaction)
The 36-year-old former Arsenal and Barcelona striker scored in Marseille’s 4-0 win over Ajax on Matchday 2. During the recent international break he scored all four goals (and got sent off) in Gabon’s 4-3 World Cup qualifier win over Gambia.
And Amine Gouiri, his rival for a place as the main striker in Marseille's starting line-up, is ruled out by a shoulder injury. Gouiri's absence leaves the route open for in-form ‘Auba’ to play a starring role.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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