Group C: Rangers (Bettorlogic rank 61) v Man Utd (3) (Weds, 19:45)
Rangers played ultra-defensively in their trip to Old Trafford in their opener, but they will be forced to adopt a different strategy here as they will be knocked out if they gain another goalless draw and Valencia win against struggling-Bursaspor. Gers have won just 4/14 home group matches since 2003/04 with seven HT stalemates. Within that sample they have failed to score in their two games against sides with a Bettorlogic rank of 1-10 and won only 1/7 against top-20 teams. Man Utd have bounced back from the 0-0 draw with three successive wins and they remain unbeaten on the road in group games since 2007/08 with eight wins and three draws. Interestingly they have been goalless at the break in five of their last six such fixtures. The visitors have won all of heir last four trips to teams ranked outside the top-50 with two HT 0-0s.
Recommendation: HT Draw 2.25, Bet365
Group C: Valencia (9) v Bursaspor (112) (Weds, 19:45)
Valencia will qualify for the knockout stages if they win here. The hosts thrashed their opponents 4-0 away from home in their opener and it is difficult seeing anything but a convincing home win. Valencia have won by two clear goals in 3/5 home group games against teams ranked 51+ this century with three W/Ws. Bursaspor, meanwhile, are still searching for their first ever Champions League goal, let alone point. Their best effort so far has been not conceding in the first half of their home match against Man Utd – their three previous games were L/L doubles. Top-10 sides have won 10/12 home matches against Turkish opposition since 2002/03 with seven wins by two clear goals.
Recommendation: No bet
Group D: Rubin Kazan (38) v Copenhagen (35) (Weds, 17:30)
Incredibly, Rubin Kazan have drawn all of their home Champions League group matches since 2009/10. They were also level at HT in four of the games while each of the games have had -2.5 goals (three 0-0s and two 1-1s). Copenhagen gained a credible 1-1 draw at home to Barcelona in their last match which when combined to their two victories over Rubin and Panathinaikos at the start of this campaign has put them in a very strong position to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history. Their 2-0 win in Greece was their first on the road and they have recorded L/Ls in all of their other four games scoring just one goal in the process.
Recommendation: -2.0 goals 2.15, Bet365
Group D: Panathinaikos (43) v Barcelona (1) (Weds, 19:45)
Panathinaikos’ only two points in Group D have come courtesy of back-to-back goalless draws with Rubin Kazan. Worryingly, they have gained just one point in their last eight Champions League games when they have conceded. The hosts do, however, have a decent record at home to strong sides. This century they have gone W2-D5-L2 at home to top-10 ranked teams with five HT draws. Barcelona’s away record is worse than some might expect. Although they are unbeaten in 12 group games on the road they have drawn four of their last five with four HT draws. They have also been tied at the break in 3/4 trips to teams ranked 21-60.
Recommendation: HT Draw 2.60, Unibet