The Champions League returns on Tuesday evening with nine matches featuring some of Europe’s biggest clubs, several intriguing outsiders and a number of teams already facing pressure after the opening two rounds. Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are among those in action, while Borussia Dortmund travel to Azerbaijan and Atlético Madrid face a potentially difficult assignment in Germany.
Two fixtures stand out immediately. PSG welcome Barcelona to the Parc des Princes in a meeting between two of the competition’s most dangerous attacking teams, while Liverpool host Villarreal at Anfield looking to maintain their winning European start. Manchester City will be expected to overcome AEK Athens, although their recent defensive performances suggest that the evening may not be entirely straightforward.
Elsewhere, Napoli are desperate to register their first Champions League points, Porto and PSV Eindhoven are both looking to revive disappointing European campaigns, and Stuttgart have an opportunity to strengthen their position with a third consecutive victory. Fenerbahçe and Borussia Dortmund begin the evening in the two early kickoffs, with both facing opponents capable of making life uncomfortable.
OddsFactory takes a closer look at all nine fixtures, examining recent form, the main talking points and the betting selections that stand out. Each match also includes a link to our full preview and the corresponding betting markets at Coolbet.
Tuesday, 20 October · 17:45 UK · Chobani Stadium
Our considerations
Fenerbahçe need a response after a difficult start to their European campaign, and the opportunity to return to Istanbul should provide encouragement. Their domestic attacking performances have been considerably stronger than their Champions League results, with the team demonstrating the ability to control matches and create opportunities when opponents allow them possession. The challenge is to reproduce that intensity without leaving the defensive spaces that have proved costly against stronger European opposition.
Slavia Praha arrive after a disappointing start of their own, including defeat to Sabah, and will be aware that another setback would leave their campaign in a difficult position. They can be disciplined and dangerous when transitioning forward, however, and Fenerbahçe have not yet established the defensive reliability needed to make a home victory straightforward.
Read our full Fenerbahçe vs Slavia Praha preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
Home advantage and the hosts’ superior attacking momentum favour Fenerbahçe, although the visitors have sufficient quality to take advantage of defensive mistakes. A home win with goals at both ends is the preferred approach. Our tip: Fenerbahçe to win and Both Teams to Score.
Tuesday, 20 October · 17:45 UK · Baku Olympic Stadium
Our considerations
Sabah have already made a significant impression in their first Champions League campaign, most notably by defeating Slavia Praha at home. That victory demonstrated their ability to remain organised and take advantage of opportunities, and they will approach another home fixture with considerably more confidence than many would have expected before the competition began.
Borussia Dortmund possess greater individual quality and experience, but their defeat away to Bodø/Glimt illustrated the dangers of underestimating an ambitious opponent on unfamiliar territory. Dortmund have sufficient attacking options to create chances against almost any defence, although their performances away from home have not always been convincing. Sabah should therefore see opportunities to threaten even if the visitors dominate possession.
Read our full Sabah vs Borussia Dortmund preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
Dortmund should ultimately have enough attacking quality to secure victory, but Sabah’s home form and the visitors’ defensive inconsistency make a goal for each side a credible prospect. Our tip: Borussia Dortmund to win and Both Teams to Score.
Tuesday, 20 October · 20:00 UK · Stadio Olimpico
Our considerations
Roma have the opportunity to get their Champions League campaign moving in the right direction against opponents who have struggled to cope with the competition’s demands. The Italian side have shown enough in domestic football to suggest that their attacking players can impose themselves here, particularly if they establish possession high up the pitch and force Slovan into extended periods of defending.
Slovan Bratislava have experienced a difficult European start, including a heavy home defeat to Stuttgart, but their domestic results demonstrate that they are not without attacking threat. Roma’s own defensive performances have occasionally been unconvincing, so the visitors may find opportunities if they can break quickly or exploit set pieces. The hosts will nevertheless expect to create the greater number of chances.
Read our full Roma vs Slovan Bratislava preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
Roma should have too much quality and experience for Slovan, but a clean sheet is not guaranteed. The visitors’ willingness to attack and Roma’s occasional defensive uncertainty make goals at both ends plausible. Our tip: Roma to win and Both Teams to Score.
Tuesday, 20 October · 20:00 UK · Estádio do Dragão
Our considerations
Porto have been far more convincing domestically than in the Champions League, where defeats against Manchester City and Real Betis have exposed defensive weaknesses. Their Portuguese league performances nevertheless suggest that they possess the attacking resources to recover, and the Estádio do Dragão should provide a demanding environment for a PSV side that has also struggled in Europe.
PSV have scored freely in the Eredivisie but have not translated that form into their Champions League matches. A draw against Shakhtar Donetsk and defeat to RB Leipzig leave the Dutch visitors needing a result. Their attacking quality makes them dangerous, although Porto should be capable of exploiting any gaps that emerge when PSV commit players forward.
Read our full Porto vs PSV Eindhoven preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
Both clubs need a European improvement, but Porto’s recent domestic form and home advantage give them a narrow edge. Their greater familiarity with difficult European nights at the Dragão could be decisive. Our tip: Porto to win.
Tuesday, 20 October · 20:00 UK · Anfield
Our considerations
Liverpool have won their opening two Champions League matches and enter this fixture with an opportunity to strengthen their position considerably. Their European attacking performances have been impressive, including a six-goal display away to LASK Linz, but conceding three goals in that encounter highlighted the defensive risks associated with their adventurous approach.
Villarreal have already beaten Napoli and scored twice against Borussia Dortmund, demonstrating that they can create chances against strong opposition. Their defensive record is less reassuring, however, and Anfield is an especially difficult venue when Liverpool establish an attacking rhythm. The visitors will need to remain organised while taking advantage of the spaces Liverpool sometimes leave when pressing forward.
Read our full Liverpool vs Villarreal preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
Liverpool’s attacking depth and home advantage should be enough to extend their winning start, although Villarreal have sufficient quality to exploit defensive openings. Goals at both ends look likely. Our tip: Liverpool to win and Both Teams to Score.
Tuesday, 20 October · 20:00 UK · Etihad Stadium
Our considerations
Manchester City will expect to respond to their defeat against Paris Saint-Germain with a convincing performance at the Etihad. Their attacking quality remains formidable, and the ability to create chances through several different combinations should make life extremely difficult for AEK Athens. Recent results have nevertheless demonstrated that City can be vulnerable defensively when opponents break quickly into the space behind their advanced players.
AEK’s opening European victory offered encouragement, but defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk showed the challenges they face against teams able to attack with greater speed and precision. The Greek side have enough attacking ambition to attempt to exploit City’s defensive weaknesses, although sustaining possession and preventing repeated waves of pressure will be considerably harder in Manchester.
Read our full Manchester City vs AEK Athens preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
City should dominate territory and create enough opportunities for a comfortable victory. Given the hosts’ attacking strength, a home win accompanied by at least three goals in the match is the preferred selection. Our tip: Manchester City to win and Over 2.5 Goals.
Tuesday, 20 October · 20:00 UK · Parc des Princes
Our considerations
Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have both made excellent starts to the Champions League campaign, and their meeting in Paris is the standout fixture of the evening. PSG have already scored freely against Slovan Bratislava and Manchester City, demonstrating that they can create opportunities against very different defensive approaches. Their attacking confidence should be high, although the visitors will provide a demanding test of their organisation without the ball.
Barcelona have been similarly impressive in Europe, including a convincing victory away to Galatasaray. Their movement and technical quality allow them to control long periods of matches, but PSG have the pace and precision to punish any spaces left behind the visitors’ attacking players. With both sides comfortable taking risks in possession, the game could develop into an open contest rather than a cautious tactical stalemate.
Read our full Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
There is little to separate two outstanding attacking teams, and a draw is a realistic outcome. Rather than relying on either side to win, the stronger betting argument is that both teams will score. Our tip: Both Teams to Score.
Tuesday, 20 October · 20:00 UK · Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Our considerations
Napoli have lost their opening two Champions League matches and need a positive result to restore confidence. Their domestic form has also been uneven, with defensive lapses and difficulties turning possession into clear chances contributing to an uncertain start. Playing at home should give them an opportunity to dictate the tempo, but the pressure to win could become a factor if they fail to establish an early advantage.
Bodø/Glimt have already demonstrated their ability to trouble more established European opponents by defeating Borussia Dortmund. The Norwegian champions approach matches with attacking ambition and are unlikely to abandon that identity simply because they are playing in Naples. Their willingness to commit players forward can expose them defensively, however, and Napoli should have opportunities to exploit those spaces.
Read our full Napoli vs Bodø/Glimt preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
Napoli’s greater individual quality and home advantage make them favourites to win, but Bodø/Glimt have sufficient attacking threat to score. Both teams finding the net is the preferred betting selection. Our tip: Both Teams to Score.
Tuesday, 20 October · 20:00 UK · MHP Arena
Our considerations
Stuttgart have started their Champions League campaign with two victories and have looked particularly assured in European competition. Their attacking efficiency and defensive organisation have been encouraging, and home advantage gives them a genuine opportunity to extend that run against one of Spain’s most experienced continental sides. Their domestic results have been less consistent, but the confidence gained from their European performances should be significant.
Atlético Madrid possess greater experience and have already shown their quality with victory over Manchester United. However, their away results have not always matched their home performances, and Stuttgart should be able to create opportunities if they maintain the intensity that has characterised their strongest displays. Atlético also have enough attacking talent to punish mistakes, making a clean sheet for either side difficult to assume.
Read our full Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid preview for more detailed analysis.
Verdict
Stuttgart’s excellent European start and home advantage make them an attractive selection despite Atlético’s pedigree. The hosts can win an open contest in which both sides contribute to the scoring. Our tip: Stuttgart to win and Both Teams to Score.