Group A: Bayern Munich v Bordeaux         Result: 0-2

There are a number of betting opportunities in this game that are likely to have a major effect on the final make-up of Group A. Both the half-time draw and over-goals look strong, however, these two markets do tend to contradict themselves. More favourable to us would be to lay the home win at anything below 1.9 on the exchanges as Bordeaux will be more-than-happy with a draw.

Recommendation: Lay Bayern Munich 1.85, Betfair (2.18 back odds)

Group B: Besiktas v VfL Wolfsburg             Result: 0-3

Wolfsburg’s current form, and that of German teams on the road in Europe, does nothing to justify them being favourites for this game. Winning in Turkey has been a tough task for the best of teams and becomes even harder when we consider Besiktas’ return to form. Long-shot backers can take advantage of a juicy 4.5 available on the W/W but, although likely, +2.5 goals seems a tad short at 1.8 when better opportunities exist elsewhere. We feel that backing Besiktas DNB at 2.0 is one not to be missed.

Recommendation: Besiktas DNB 2.0, Sportingbet/Stan James

Group C: Marseille v FC Zurich                   Result: 6-1

Marseille have won-to-nil in all of their last three games hosting teams ranked 20+ in the Champions League.First-time qualifiers have a poor away record against opponents with a ranking of 20-40- W1-D2-L14 in their 17 matches since 1996/97, with 11 of these matches ending with three goals or more. Furthermore, the away side has failed to score on seven occasions.

Recommendation: Marseille win-to-nil 1.95, Various

Group D: APOEL Nicosia v FC Porto           Result: 0-1 (84th minute goal)

First-time qualifiers have a poor home record against opponents with a ranking of 10-20, W1-D7-L15 in their 23 matches since 2004/05 — 10/23 games have showcased a goal in the first 20 minutes. Porto have won 5/6 home matches since 2006/07 with half of the games seeing the first goal scored before 20 minutes.

Recommendation: Split Stakes: Time of first goal 0-10/11-20 5.0/5.0, Various

Group D: Atletico Madrid v Chelsea            Result: 2-2

Atletico are unbeaten at home in the Champions League since 2008/09 — W2-D3-L0 in which three games have featured +2.5 goals. The Blues have seen their last five matches (in all competitions) end with three goals or more and the same has been tuie in four of their last six Group Stage trips to teams ranked 10-20.

Recommendation: +2.5 goals 2.0, Various

Group E: Fiorentina v Debrechen               Result: 5-2

When Italian teams host sides with a Bettorlogic ranking of 100+, they have a mixed record W4-D3-L2, with seven of the nine games featuring a home clean sheet and six ending with -2.5 goals. First-time qualifiers have a poor away record against opponents with a ranking of 15-30: W2-D4-L10 in their 16 matches since 2000/01. Moreover, the away side failed to score on 10 occasions and nine of the games saw two goals or fewer.

Recommendation: -2.5 goals 2.72, Betfair

Group E: Lyon v Liverpool                          Result: 1-1

Lyon are unbeaten in 11 home Champions League matches against top-10 ranked teams — W3-D8-L0. Since 2001/02, Liverpool have made 10 trips to teams ranked 5-20 and have drawn on six occasions (W2-D6-L2), they conceded first in four of the seven which saw goals and nine of 10 encounters finished with two goals or fewer.

Recommendation: Drawn match 3.5, Betfair

Group F: Dynamo Kiev v Inter Milan          Result: 1-2

The general consensus is that Kiev is a hard place to go to but in the last three seasons they have only won twice in the Champions League and lost almost two-thirds of their 10 games (W2-D2-L6), with both teams scoring eight times. Since 2002/03, Inter have a mixed away record W9-D8-L5 in Group Stage One matches, with 13 of these 22 games featuring goals from both teams.

Recommendation: Both teams to score 1.91, Various

Group G: Sevilla v VfB Stuttgart                 Result: 1-1

Sevilla’s win against Stuttgart marked their eighth consecutive win in Group Stage matches. They have netted at least twice in all of these games and seven of the matches settled the +2.5 goals market. German teams with a Bettorlogic ranking of 21+ have lost six of their eight trips to teams ranked 1-10 this century. Both teams have scored in six of these ties and five match-ups have contained more than a brace of scores.

Recommendation: +2.75 goals 2.04, Betdaq

Group H: Arsenal v AZ Alkmaar                  Result: 4-1

Arsenal have won 14 of their 19 home Group Stage matches sicne 2003/04 and 10 of these games have settled the -2.5 goals market. Dutch teams are winless away to teams with a Bettorlogic ranking of 1-10 since 2003/04 — W0-D4-L10, with nine (64%) losses to nil and 12 (86%) -2.5 goals games.

Recommendation: -3.0 goals 2.08, Bet365

Group H: Standard Liege v Olympiakos     Result: 2-0

Belgian sides have a poor record at home in this competition (W4-D5-L10), however they have been better before the break (HT W4-D12-L3). The home team have kept only two clean sheets in this sample and 13 (68%) encounters have seen both teams net. Since 2003/04, Olympiakos have won just two of their 16 away Group Stage fixtures and 11 of these games have featured both sides scoring.

Recommendation: Both teams to score 1.95, Blue Square/888