The UEFA Champions League group phase continues this week, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group H matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
APOEL (Cyp) vs. Dortmund (Ger)
Three-Way: 1: APOEL +1975; X: +650 Draw; 2: Dortmund -345
Spread +2: APOEL -106; Dortmund +108
Total +3: Over-118; Under +118
APOEL
The Cypriot champions are massive underdogs in this “group of death” alongside Real Madrid, Tottenham, and Dortmund, and it is no surprise they didn’t score a single goal yet. It will be hard to do so on Tuesday night, but APOEL will playing at home, and I wouldn’t exclude a potential surprise. Following the 0:3 defeat to Spurs, APOEL won two consecutive league matches over Alki and Doxa, and they are welcoming the Germans in a quite good mood. Mickael Pote and Igor de Camargo were on the score-sheet against Dox, and the attacking duo will represent the biggest danger to Roman Burki.
APOEL have played 13 games so far in the 2017/18, recording seven victories, two draws, and four losses, with a goal difference of 16:11, which is just a bit over two goals per contest on average. When it comes to matches at GSP Stadium, the Cypriots have four wins, and a pair of defeats, so unconvincing home form is an encouraging sign for the visitors.
The Belgian striker Igor de Camargo is currently the team’s leading scorer with six goals to his name, while Mickael Pote has a couple of goals so far. Lorenzo Ebecilio is APOEL’s most creative player with three assists, while Efstathios Aloneftis and Tommy Oar contributed with two dishes each. The right-winger Georgios Efrem is the only injured player for the hosts; the rest of the team is healthy and ready to go.
DORTMUND
The current Bundesliga leaders must win this game if they want to stay in the contention for playing in the knockout stage of the Champions League. Two defeats to Tottenham and Real Madrid hurt pretty badly, but the Millionaires have the chance to bounce back with a potential victory in Nicosia. The recent 2-3 home loss to RB Leipzig is undoubtedly disappointing as Dortmund allowed Bayern Munich to come to two points behind. Still, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues his fantastic form with a brace, but that wasn’t enough for Borussia to avoid defeat.
Dortmund played 12 games in this campaign, recording seven wins, a draw, and four losses, with a goal difference of 31:14, which is 3.75 goals per contest on average. When it comes to matches away from Signal Iduna Park, Borussia won four out of six games, as the only defeat was at Wembley against Spurs. They allowed just four goals in those six outings, so APOEL is facing a tough task to score on Tuesday night.
Aubameyang is the team’s top scorer with 15 goals in 12 appearances, while Maximilian Philip with four, and Christian Pulisic with three are behind him on the goal-scoring chart. The midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud is at the top of assist table with five dishes to his name; Andrey Yarmolenko added four, and Philipp recorded three assists. The right-back Lukasz Piszczek is out with a ruptured knee ligament; Marcel Schmelzer and Andre Schurrle are unfit, Marco Reus is sidelined until March due to a ruptured knee ligament, while Erik Durm is unavailable with a hip injury. Peter Bosz is happy to have Raphael Guerreiro and Sebastian Rode back to training, and they could play in this Champions League clash, but I don’t believe the Dutch coach will want to risk them.
APOEL (Cyp) vs. Dortmund (Ger) – Match Prediction
It’s a must-win situation for the visitors here, and I don’t think APOEL has enough quality to finish the encounter undefeated, so I am backing the Germans to come away with a convincing victory, topping the over.
MY PICK: Over 3 goals (-118)
Real Madrid (Spa) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (Eng)
Three-Way: 1: Real Madrid -189; X: +420 Draw; 2: Tottenham +683
Spread -1.5: Real Madrid +121; Tottenham -123
Total +3.5: Over +120; Under -123
REAL MADRID
The reigning Champions League title holders are always big favorites to win the elite club competition, and they are in a solid position to qualify for the knockout phase with six points out of the first two matches. This duel with Spurs could likely decide the leader of the Champions League group H, and four consecutive victories are certainly encouraging sign for the Galacticos. Real Madrid secured a 2:1 win at Getafe thanks to Benzema’s and Ronaldo’s goals, with Cristiano’s winning one came in the 85th minute.
Real Madrid played 13 games so far in this campaign, recording ten victories, two draws, and a loss, with a goal difference of 28:10, which is a bit over 2.9 goals per contest on average. That lone defeat came to Betis at Santiago Bernabeu, and it was the only match of the season where Real failed to score, but it is hard to expect them not to score here, even though they are facing fantastic Tottenham’s defense. These rivals met in the 2011/12 edition of the UEFA Champions League when the Spanish champions won 4:0 and 1:0.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the team’s leading scorer with six goals to his name thus far, while Marco Asensio with four, and Isco and Gareth Bale with three are behind the Portuguese on the goal-scoring chart. Bale is the top assist-maker with four dishes, but he is sidelined with a muscle injury and cannot help his teammates against his former team. Dani Carvajal is out with a virus infection, the midfielder Mateo Kovacic is suffering from a patella injury, while the keeper Keylor Navas is doubtful so we could see Kiko Casilla at goal once again.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
The English vice-champions are in a fantastic form of five straight wins and are without a loss in the last nine matches in all competitions. Spurs allowed just two goals in the previous six outings as their defense now looks like the past year’s one, which was the best in the Premier League. Tottenham didn’t impress in a 1:0 victory over Bournemouth, but they did collect three points, and that is the most important thing. Miraculously, Harry Kane wasn’t on a score-sheet, but the Dane Christian Eriksen scored the only goal early in the second-half. They are in the 3rd place in the EPL, five points behind the leaders Man City and three behind Man United.
Tottenham played in 11 games in the 2017/18 so far, recording eight wins, two draws, and a loss, with a goal difference of 22:6, which is just more than 2.5 goals per contest on average. Spurs have been excellent away from home as they won all five matches on the visits, scoring 15 and conceding just a couple of goals. It is going to be hard to keep a clean sheet at Bernabeu when they face Ronaldo and co., but anything is possible.
Harry Kane has been extraordinary in this campaign as he currently has 11 goals in ten appearances, while Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli chipped in with three goals each. The right0back Kieran Trippier is at the top of the assist chart with five dishes to his name; Eriksen has four, and the left-back Ben Davies recorded a pair of assists thus far. Alli will not be available for this Champions League clash as he is serving a suspension, while Victor Wanyama (knee), Danny Rose (knee), and Erik Lamela (hip) are near to returning to the pitch, but will not feature here. Moussa Dembele recovered from an ankle setback and could be in the starting lineup instead of Harry Winks.
Real Madrid (Spa) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (Eng) – Match Prediction
Tottenham has a great team and excellent results of late, but it seems that Real has been playing much better recently comparing it to the start of the season, so I am backing the hosts to win on AH, but I believe Spurs can score one goal, so I am taking the Both teams to score pick as well.
MY PICK: Real Madrid AH -1.5 (+121)
Additional Pick: Both teams to score Yes (-149)
