The reverse fixtures of the traditional double-header that makes up Gameweeks 3 and 4 of the Champions League are essential for any sides with ambitions of reaching the knockout phase of the competition. A decent result here can be the difference between success and failure; for Tottenham in particular, that is abundantly clear.
Leicester City are on easy street though, so surely they won’t crack in Copenhagen? Let’s find out with the pick of Wednesday night’s Champions League betting tips.
FC Copenhagen vs Leicester City (7:45pm)
It has been an outstanding time for Claudio Ranieri and his charges in their first foray into the Champions League, and their historic title win of 2015/16 looks set to be repeated in terms of its magnitude with the Foxes ready to reach the last 16 of the continent’s premier competition for the first time in their history.
Copenhagen are no muds though, and they showed plenty of quality in the reverse fixture to suggest they are going to be a handful here. Indeed, the 1-0 win in Leicester’s favour could have been very different had the Danes’ Andreas Cornelius not missed two golden opportunities to score.
Both sides have something to play for which adds extra intrigue; a point could be enough to see the Foxes through as group winners, while Copenhagen will quietly fancy their chances of finishing second ahead of a lacklustre Porto outfit. As such, it is likely to be a close, cagey affair with Leicester playing on the counter attack; a tactic they utilised so well last term. It could ultimately prove their saviour here.
Recommended Bets
Leicester +0.25 Asian Handicap (19/20, bet365)
Half Time/Full Time: Draw/Draw (19/5, BetVictor)
Tottenham vs Bayer Leverkusen (7:45pm)
It’s fair to say that Tottenham got rather lucky in Germany in the reverse fixture, and would have been delighted with the 0-0 stalemate after their hosts dominated but simply couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. The shots on target count – 6-1 in Leverkusen’s favour – tells the story.
We can expect a different type of match here, but don’t forget that Spurs will be making their second appearance at their temporary Wembley Stadium home, and their first ended in misery at the hands of Monaco. You suspect that the kind of atmosphere they could whip up at White Hart Lane will be sorely missed in the cavernous (and some would say soulless) home of English sport.
The Londoners have one more point than the Germans in Group E which is helpful, and at least defensively they are in a good place at the moment. With Son Heung-Min’s magic powers seemingly fading, it is in attack where their problems lie.
The Germans aren’t in the best of form domestically, but they have raised their game thus far in European competition. They could pose a real threat to Spurs here, even if the bookies – by virtue of their pricing – don’t seem to agree.
Recommended Bets
Beyer Leverkusen Double Chance (20/23, Coral)
Under 2.5 Goals (Evens, Paddy Power)
Juventus vs Lyon (7:45pm)
Lyon are wildly inconsistent – W5 D1 L5 in Ligue 1 this term just about sums them up – and it is away from home where they particularly struggle. A defeat on the road to Lorient, who have won just two matches this term, highlights the size of the task waiting them in Turin.
Juventus haven’t lost at home in more than a year, with a win over Manchester City and a draw with Bayern Munich on home soil indicative of their abilities in this tournament. In Serie A they have won their last 21 consecutive home fixtures, netting 52 goals and conceding just eight in the process. Godspeed, Lyon.
Recommended Bet
Juventus -1 Handicap (20/23, Coral)
