Group E: Roma (Bettorlogic ranking 15) v Basle (73) (Tues, 19:45)

Roma bounced back from their opening day loss to Bayern to beat Cluj 2-1 in the second group game. The hosts have now won 6/8 home group stage matches with three W/Ws and they have also gained full points from their two such home games against teams with a Bettorlogic rank of 51-100 this century. More generally, Italian teams have won 9/10 home group stage fixtures against similarly ranked opposition with five W/Ws. Basle have gained just one point from their last eight Champions League fixtures. Furthermore since 2002/03, they have lost 6/10 away group stage matches with five L/L double results.

Recommendation: W/W 2.60, Bwin

Group E: Bayern Munich (7) v CFR Cluj (168) (Tues, 19:45)

Bayern Munich top Group E having gained six points from their opening two group fixtures. Unsurprisingly, last year’s beaten finalists have a strong record at this stage of the tournament. Since 2005/06, they have won 8/13 home games and seven of the victories have been to nil. Interestingly, they have been goalless at the break in eight of their last 11 such matches. Over the same period, they have hosted teams ranked 51-100 on two occasions and both matches ended 1-0. Cluj followed up their win over Basle with a 2-1 loss at Rome’s Olympic Stadium after being tied 0-0 at the interval. The Romanian champions have been level at the break in three of their four Champions League away matches.

Recommendation: HT Draw 2.70, Unibet

Group F: Spartak Moscow (63) v Chelsea (3) (Tues, 17:30)

Both of these sides have picked up maximum points from their two Champions League openers. While most Spartak fans would have expected to beat minnows Zilina at home, only the most ardent would have predicted a 1-0 win at Marseille. Interestingly, their 3-0 win over Zilina was their first at home in 12 such group matches which has included four successive defeats against top-10 ranked opposition. The hosts also conceded at least three goals in all four of the matches. This is Chelsea’s eighth consecutive Champions League campaign and in this spell they have won 12/20 away group stage fixtures with eight W/Ws and seven victories by two clear goals.

Recommendation: Chelsea Win 2.25, Unibet

Group F: Marseille (28) v MSK Zilina (146) (Tues, 19:45)

This is a must-win match for Marseille if they are to progress to the knockout stages. The French side would have expected to finish second in Group F when the Champions League draw was made but after two games they sit six points behind both Chelsea and Spartak Moscow. Marseille have lost 5/10 home group stage matches since 2007/08, but it should be noted they have never faced such lowly-ranked opposition previously; they have won two of their previous three such matches against teams ranked outside the top-80. Zilina have lost by exactly three goals in both of the Champions League openers and it looks as if this competition might be a step too far for the Slovakians who appear to have continued their country’s poor record in Europe’s elite club competition. Since 1997/98, the three sides – FC Kosice, Artmedia and now Zilina – have won just one and picked up only six points from 14 group stage fixtures with eight L/Ls and eight defeats by at least two goals.

Recommendation: No bet