Champions League Betting Preview: 1st October

I’ve just had the misfortune to listen to Adrian Durham on Talksport for the last half hour rambling on about how boring the Champions League is. His argument even made Ian Wright sound intelligent as he tried to make a case for the competition to only include the elite of European football. Durham doesn’t want to see Chelsea take on Cluj or Anorthosis host Panathanaikos, instead he’d rather it was Barcelona v Man United week in week out. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like the anticipation of big European clash of the titans but those games are made all the more special by the fact that teams have earned the right to be there. The same right that means Cluj, as champions of Romania, take on the nouveau-riche Chelsea tonight. And I for one hope they win.

Out for the Count in Romania?

Not just to get it right up Durham but also to land my first pick of the night at a massive 17/2 (Centrebet, VCBet). No matter what league a team is from they shouldn’t be priced that big to win at home in the Champions League. They were even bigger this morning at 19/2 so some folks have had a nibble it seems. With a host of international players, including 8 Portuguese nationals, Cluj have plenty of quality of their own and pulled off a huge shock to beat Roma on Matchday 1. We all know about Chelsea and how powerful they can be but if they don’t give the team from Transyvania their respect then they could come a cropper in this one.

On the Asian Handicap Cluj can be backed with a goal of a start (+1) at 28/25 with Paddy Power and that could be the way to go.

A busy night for the ref on the cards

There’s a big old derby in Cyprus tonight as the country hosts it’s first ever Champions League tie when Anorthosis host Greek rivals Panathanaikos. There’s little love lost between the two countries and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a fiery affair. Dutch referee Eric Braamhaar may want to stamp his authority on the game in what will undoubtedly be a hot atmosphere and I think there’ll be a few bookings in the game. Betfair go 3.1/1 on there being a red card in the game but I prefer Coral’s 5/4 on the card points being over 45. Remember a yellow is worth 10 points and a red 25 – so we’re only looking for 5 bookings or more to land the bet. Looks like a good ‘un to me.

Best of the rest

Elsewhere I expect Sporting Lisbon to see off Basel at 4/7 (Ladbrokes, Totesport). Liverpool should be too strong for PSV and should be added to your accumulator at 4/11 (888 Sport, Blue Sq, Boylesports, Coral, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, Skybet, William Hill) with Torres generously priced at 11/10 with Coral to find the net in the 90. Despite the attractive 4/1 on offer for Shakthar to get the better of Barca I’m going to steer clear of that one. The side from Donetsk have been struggling domestically of late and there’s little to encourage me that they can get the better of Lionel Messi an co. tonight.

Let me know who you fancy tonight and why.

Good luck!

Selectabet Offers:

• Open an account at Bet365 and claim £100 in free bets
• Open an account at Betfair and claim £25 in free bets
• Open an account at Paddy Power and claim £25 in free bets