The UEFA Champions League group phase continues this week, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Group C matches. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Atletico Madrid (Spa) vs. Qarabag (Aze)
Three-Way: 1: Atletico Madrid -526; X: +950 Draw; 2: Qarabag +4465 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -2.5: Atletico Madrid +129; Qarabag -125
Total +3: Over +117; Under -116
ATLETICO MADRID
Los Colchoneros are not in a good run at the moment as they won just one of the last seven matches, and they must win here in order to stay in the contention for the knockout stage. Atletico collected two points in the first three games, and they are in the 3rd place in the Champions League group C with three points behind Roma and five behind Chelsea. A 0:0 stalemate in Azerbaijan complicated their situation, so the victory here is much needed, and Atletico is a big favorite in the clash with Qarabag.
Atletico Madrid played 14 games so far in the 2017/18, recording five wins, eight draws, and a defeat, with a goal difference of 17:9, which is 1.85 goals per contest on average. However, I consider that irrelevant for this tilt as the Mattresses should score three or four past the sorry Qarabag. When it comes to matches at home, Atletico is without a victory in the previous three, but they scored in all five at Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid.
The Argentinean right-winger Angel Correa is currently the team’s top scorer with four goals to his name, Antoine Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco contributed with three goals apiece, but inefficiency is a big problem for Diego Simeone’s side. Carrasco is the best assist-maker with three dishes at the moment, while Lucas Hernande, Griezmann, and Koke have a couple of assists each. Simeone will be likely without Carrasco (knee) and Koke (hamstring) who missed the last 1-1 tilt against Villarreal in the league and are listed as doubtful for this clash.
QARABAG
The Azerbaijan champions earned a historical point against Atletico in the previous round, and they still have theoretic chances to advance to the Champions League knockout phase, but that’s less likely to happen. After losing in a derby match to Gabala, Qarabag won over Sabail at home, and they are at the top of the league with one point and game in hands ahead of Zira. The Horsemen are relaxed for this fixture, and they know that nobody’s expecting nothing from them, so that can be tricky for the hosts.
Qarabag played 18 games in this season, recording 11 victories, three draws, and four losses, with a goal difference of 26:14, which is 2.22 goals per contest on average. When it comes to away matches, the Horsemen lost three out of the last four outings and failed to score in two of three, so I am not optimistic about their chances to score in Madrid.
The South African forward Dino Ndlovu is the team’s leading scorer with seven goals in 17 appearances, but he cannot help his teammates on this one due to suspension. The left-winger Mahir Madatov with six, and the Spanish midfielder Michel with three are following Ndlovu on a goal-scoring chart. Ndlovu is also the most creative player with four assists thus far, so he will surely be missed in on Tuesday night, while Madatov and Richard added three dishes apiece. Gurban Gurbanov is without BadaviGuseynov (ligament), Pedro Henrique (ligament), and Eltun Turabov (foot), who are all injured and will not feature here, but the Norwegian winger Tarik Elyounoussi could be in the contention as he’s recovering from a knee injury.
Atletico Madrid (Spa) vs. Qarabag (Aze) – Match Prediction
Los Colchoneros are having difficulties in front of the goal, and they need a win in this encounter, so I am backing them to win big and finally end the poor scoring run. Go with the over in this matchup.
MY PICK: Over 3 goals (+117)
AS Roma (Ita) vs. Chelsea (Eng)
Three-Way: 1: AS Roma +175; X: +258 Draw; 2: Chelsea +177 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: AS Roma -104; Chelsea +100
Total +2.5: Over -133; Under +129
AS ROMA
The Yellow and Reds are in a good run of three consecutive wins, and they didn’t concede in any of those, as they are sitting in the 5th position in the Serie A with seven points behind Napoli, but with a match in their hands. Roma displayed a great performance at Stamford Bridge in a 3:3 thriller against Chelsea in the previous Champions League round, and they were close to secure all three points, but Eden Hazard saved the Blues. A win here would send them to the top of the Champions League group C, while the defeat would complicate the situation in the group, so there is a lot at stake in this tilt.
AS Roma played 13 games so far in this campaign, recording nine victories, two draws, and two losses, with a goal difference of 22:9, which is almost 2.40 goals per contest on average. When it comes to home matches, the She-Wolf kept the net intact in the previous two, but that could change when Chelsea comes to the town.
The Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko is the team’s top scorer with ten goals in 13 appearances, but other players are not that efficient as Stephan El Shaarawy, and Aleksandar Kolarov are behind him with three goals each. Kolarov is one of the most influential individuals with five assists to his name, while the midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini recorded three dishes thus far. Eusebio Di Francesco cannot count on the right-back Rick Karsdorp who is out for the season with cruciate ligament rupture, Bruno Peres is sidelined with a strain, but the left-back Emerson could be back as he’s recovering from a cruciate ligament injury. Konstantinos Manolas and Gregoire Defrel are doubtful for this encounter but could make it in time to face Chelsea.
CHELSEA
The Blues are in an excellent form of three straight wins following a 1:0 victory at Bournemouth as Eden Hazard emerged as savior again with a second-half goal. Chelsea is at the top of the Champions League group C with seven points, two more than Roma, but a potential win here would pretty much secure their place in the knockout phase.
Chelsea played 16 games in the 2017/18 so far, recording ten victories, two draws, and four losses, with a goal difference of 37:18, which is near to 3.50 goals per contest on average, so we can witness a goal-glut at Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night. The Blues scored at least a goal in each of the previous six away matches, and I am pretty sure they’ll do it again here.
Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi are the team’s leading scorers with seven goals to their respective names, while Pedro and Eden Hazard are following them with three apiece. Cesc Fabregas, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Hazard are the best assist-makers with four dishes each, while Willian, Morata, Pedro, and Tiemoue Bakayoko added three assists thus far. Antonio Conte is without N’GoloKante (thigh) and Victor Moses (hamstring), but Kante could be back in the next ten days or so.
AS Roma (Ita) vs. Chelsea (Eng) – Match Prediction
After an entertaining game in London when we saw six goals, I think this one could produce at least a goal on each side, so I am opting for goals in this one as well.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-133)
