The UEFA Champions League group phase goes on this week with the 5th round matches, and in this preview we’ll take a closer look to the Group B games set for Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017, when PSG meets Celtic at Parc des Princes, while Anderlecht hosts Bayern Munich at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.
Down below you will find some fresh tips and betting predictions, so don’t waste your time and join the action here on GetMoreSports.
PSG vs. CELTIC
3-Way: 1: PSG -556; X: +1625 Draw; 2: Celtic +3225 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -2.5: PSG -128; Celtic +125
Total +4: Over -120; Under +118
PSG
The Parisians are marching through the UEFA Champions League Group B, and after the first four rounds, they are at the top of the table with 12 points and a magnificent 17:0 goal difference. In the French Ligue 1, it is the same story, where The Parisians are topping the table with an 11-2-0 record and a 43:9 goal difference, including a convincing 4:1 victory over Nantes at home in the previous round.
PSG possess one of the best attacks in the world, and they have scored at least three goals in every UEFA Champions League match so far. The 30-year old Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani and the 25-year old Brazilian winger Neymar are the team’s leading scorers in the Champions League with four goals each, while the left-back Layvin Kurzawa added three (a tremendous hat-trick against Anderlecht in the fourth round). Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are the best assist-makers with three dishes each so far. The Parisians have a lot of options in the final third with Julian Draxler, Lucas and Angel Di Maria waiting for their chance.
The manager Unai Emery will miss the 35-year old defensive midfielder Thiago Motta due to a meniscus injury, while Neymar (wound) is still doubtful for the clash with Celtic. The Brazilian star played against Nantes on last weekend, so he could be in the starting eleven on Wednesday evening.
CELTIC
The Celts are playing in a pretty good form recently, winning two games in a row in the Scottish Premiership where they are topping the table with the 10-3-0 record and a 30:6 goal difference. Meanwhile, they were beaten by Bayern Munich at home, 2:1, in the previous round of the UEFA Champions League, but they also put on a great performance against the heavyweight Bavarians. The Celts were an equal rival, they had the ball on their feet for 50% of the time, and they took 11 shots on goal, two more than Bayern Munich.
The 28-year old midfielder Scott Sinclair is the team’s top scorer this season with 11 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions, while the 27-year old striker Leigh Griffiths bagged nine goals in 22 matches. These two players are Celtic’s best assist-makers with eight dishes each. The 24-year old midfielder Callum McGregor is another key player with seven goals and three dishes in 21 appearances this season.
The manager Brendan Rodgers doesn’t have serious injury problems among the squad, so he can field his best eleven against mighty PSG on Wednesday evening. The 20-year old midfielder Patrick Roberts is only doubtful player due to a minor wound.
PSG vs. CELTIC – Match Prediction
The Parisians are massive favorites in this one, and they need another victory to stay on the top of the Group B table. The Celts will try to get something from this match to secure the third spot, but it will be almost the impossible mission, even their manager is a great tactician.
MY PICK: PSG AH -2.5 (-128)
ANDERLECHT vs. BAYERN MUNICH
3-Way: 1: Anderlecht +1100; X: +590 Draw; 2: Bayern Munich -263 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +1.5: Anderlecht +116; Bayern Munich -118
Total +3.5: Over +106; Under -111
ANDERLECHT
The 34-time Belgian champions are playing in an on-off form from the start of the season, and after the first 15 rounds of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League they are sitting at the 3rd spot with an 8-4-3 record and a 22:17 goal difference. In the previous round they have beaten Mouscron on the road, 2:1, and it was their third victory in the last four games. On the other hand, they were disastrous in the UEFA Champions League, with a 0-0-4 record and a miserable 0:15 goal difference. Anderlecht still has a chance to finish the group phase in the third spot, but it is going to be a pretty difficult task.
The 20-year old Nigerian winger Henry Onyekuru, who’s loaned from Everton this summer, is the team’s leading scorer with eight goals in 20 appearances this season, while the 26-year old striker Lukasz Teodorczyk and the midfielder Sofiane Hanni both added three goals so far. Hanni is the team’s top assistant with five dishes in 20 appearances.
The manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck is still without one of his best players Andy Najar (hamstring injury), while all other players are healthy and ready to go.
BAYERN MUNICH
Since Jupp Heynckes took the helm, The Bavarians recorded seven victories out of the previous eight matches in all competitions, including a convincing 3:0 win over Augsburg in the German Bundesliga last weekend. They are topping the Bundesliga table with a 9-2-1 record and a 30:8 goal difference, and it seems like they are slowly building the form. In the UEFA Champions League, Bayern Munich is already through with nine points and an 8:4 goal difference after the first four rounds, but they will battle PSG for the first place of the Group B. First, they need to get a win against Anderlecht on the road.
The 29-year old Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is a true scoring machine this season with 17 goals in 18 appearances in all competitions, while the 22-year old versatile midfielder Joshua Kimmich is the team’s best assist-maker with eight dishes in 19 matches so far. The Bavarians have a plenty of talent among the squad, and they are surely one of the candidates to win the Champions League this year.
The manager Jupp Heynckes is still without some important players, as Manuel Neuer (metatarsal fracture), Franck Ribery (torn knee ligament), Thiago Alcantara (knee contusion), and Kingsley Coman (tendon irritation) are all sidelined for the next match against Anderlecht.
ANDERLECHT vs. BAYERN MUNICH – Match Prediction
The Bavarians need three points to stay in the race for the first spot of the Group B table, and I think they are a far better team than Anderlecht. I expect to see an entertaining game with a lot of chances, so this one could be finished in the over. The home side is still goalless after the first four rounds and they will try to find the net in front of the home fans.
MY PICK: Bayern AH +1.5 (-118)
ADDITIONAL PICK: Over 3.5 Goals (+106)
