The UEFA Champions League group phase continues this week, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group G matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Monaco (Fra) vs. Besiktas (Tur)
Three-Way: 1: Monaco -143; X: +330 Draw; 2: Besiktas +470
Spread -1: Monaco +112; Besiktas -116
Total +3: Over +116; Under -112
MONACO
The Monegasques are in a poor form of late as they are without a victory in the previous three matches, as their situation in the Champions League is far from perfect. They collected just one point from the first two games, and this clash is a must-win for them if they want to stay in contention for the knockout phase. Monaco lost 2:3 at Lyon and another potential defeat would be devastating for Leonardo Jardim and the fans.
Monaco has played 12 games so far in the 2017/18, recording six wins, two draws, and four losses, with a goal difference of 26:17, which is a bit over 3.5 goals per contest on average. One of those four defeats came at Stade Louis II, and it was in the Champions League against Porto, 0-3, the only match in which Monaco failed to score at home.
Radamel Falcao is the team’s leading scorer with 12 goals to his name, but when he is not on the itch, Monaco has been struggling in front of the goal, as it was the case in Lyon. Falcao received a day off following his long trip back from South America and Colombia’s WC qualification game against Peru, and he was missed, as this summer’s signing Balde Keita was pretty ineffective in El Tigre’s place. Rony Lopes, Jemerson, Kamil Glik, and Djibril Sidibe scored a pair of goals each, while the left-back Jorge is the top assist-maker with four. Gabriel Boschilia is still unavailable as he lacks match fitness; the right-winger Gil Dias is out with leg fracture, while Stevan Jovetic is sidelined with a thigh injury.
BESIKTAS
The Turkish champions are also in not so good form as they didn’t win in the previous two matches in the Super Lig, with the latest setback against Genclerbirligi left Besiktas in the 6th position on the table, eight points behind Galatasaray. However, the Black Eagles have been excellent in the Champions League, where they are at the top of the group G with maximum six points from the first two games and comfortable victories over Porto and RB Leipzig. Still, they are the underdogs here, but Senol Gunes could exploit the fact that Monaco must attack and win so the Turks could be lethal on the counters.
Besiktas played 11 games in the 2017/18 campaign, recording six wins, two draws, and three losses, with a goal difference of 19:12, which is around 2.8 goals per contest on average. They have only two victories away from Vodafone Park, but one came at Porto, and Besiktas also scored at least one goal in each of those visits, so Monaco will have a lot of problems to keep their net intact.
The Dutchman Ryan Babel and Cenk Tosun are currently the team’s leading scorers with five goals each, while the Brazilian Talisca is right behind them with four goals to his name. The left-back Caner Erkin is the most creative individual with five assists, while the Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma has three dishes so far. Orkan Cinar is unavailable with a groin injury; Gokhan Tore is out with a knee injury, Atinc Nukan is sidelined with a cruciate ligament rupture, while Veli Kavlak and Utku Yuvakuran are suspended and will not feature here.
Monaco (Fra) vs. Besiktas (Tur) – Match Prediction
Monaco will play attacking football, and that will create a lot of space for Besiktas’ counters, so I believe we will see plenty of goals in this Champions League matchup. Go with the over.
MY PICK: Over 3 goals (+116)
RB Leipzig (Ger) vs. Porto (Por)
Three-Way: 1: RB Leipzig +120; X: +265 Draw; 2: Porto +295
Spread -0.5: RB Leipzig +106; Porto -111
Total +2.5: Over -101; Under -102
RB LEIPZIG
The German vice-champions are not playing very well in the Champions League, but also can be said about Porto, so this clash is entirely unpredictable. Still, the Red Bulls won two consecutive matches after a 2:0 loss at Besiktas and the most recent one over Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park was particularly pleasing for the fans. Thanks to that 3:2 victory, Leipzig is now only three points behind the Millionaires on the standings and are welcoming Porto in an excellent mood.
Leipzig played 11 games in the 2017/18 season, recording six wins, two draws, and three defeats, with a goal difference of 21:13, which is a bit over three goals per contest on average. The Red Bulls are without a loss at home, but they allowed a goal in each of these matches, while they also scored in all of them, so I expect to see plenty of action in front of Gulacsi and Casillas.
Timo Werner is the team’s leading scorer with six goals thus far, and he was an unused substitution at Dortmund, as Ralph Hasenhuttl decided to keep him fresh and ready for this encounter with Porto. Marcel Sabitzer, Yussuf Poulsen, and Jean-Kevin Augustin scored three goals each, while Poulsen and Sabitzer combined for seven assists as well. The right-back Lukas Klostermann is the only injured player for the hosts as he is out with thigh problems, and his return is unknown.
PORTO
The Dragons are playing excellently in the Primeira Liga as they are at the top of the table with two points clear of Sporting Lisbon and five more than Benfica. Porto secured a big, 6:0 victory in the Portuguese Cup over the minnows Lusitano GC, while their situation in the Champions League is better than Leipzig’s, thanks to a 3:0 win at Monaco. They didn’t allow a goal in the last three outings, but it will be hard to keep a clean sheet against the attacking-minded Red Bulls.
Porto played 11 games so far this season, recording nine wins, a draw, and a defeat, with a goal difference of 29:6, which is almost 3.2 goals per contest on average. When it comes to matches away from Estadio do Dragao, Porto has been nearly perfect as they won five and drew once at Sporting, conceding just one goal in the process.
The Cameroonian forward Vincent Aboubakar has been in a fantastic form this year as he scored ten goals in ten appearances, while Moussa Marega (5), Ivan Marcano (3), and Yacine Brahimi (3) are following Aboubakar on the goal-scoring chart. The midfielder Oliver Torres is the team’s best assist-maker with five dishes to his name; the left-back Alex Telles has four, and Marega has three assists. Tiquinho Soares returned after an injury in a game against Sporting and played the final few minutes, but Sergio Conceicao didn’t want to risk him in a cup tie, so the Brazilian should be ready to face Leipzig in the Champions League clash. The rest of the team is healthy and raring to go with the exception of the reserve keeper Fabiano, who will be back in a couple of weeks as he’s recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture.
RB Leipzig (Ger) vs. Porto (Por) – Match Prediction
Porto has an excellent defense, and they are not allowing goals frequently, but the Germans are a very good team, and I think the hosts will find the way behind Iker Casillas’ back, but I also believe the visitors will score, which is why I will go with Both teams to score.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-120)
