2011/12 UEFA Champions League

[TomJSports]

I figured I'd go ahead and start a thread on Champions League for upcoming matchups and good plays and the such. Maybe get some good discussion going.

[The Special One]

not much discussion needed for this pick, Arsenal wont win tomorrow...

Dortmund or draw, but not sure yet which one..

also, Man Utd should beat Benfica, they are unstoppable as of late...

and one more, I dont think Chelsea will win by more than 1..

any help?

[TomJSports]

Right now, I like (but am not necessarily playing) the following:

Shahktar and Porto over - both teams score a lot, but are prone to mental mistakes on defense, which can lead to a few goals. I like Porto to win, but maybe not by 2, which make the -1 a tougher play.

Genk and Valencia over - both teams are coming off of 4-3 matches and seem to play a more attacking style to make up for a subpar defensive game. I could see Valencia with a high scoring two goal victory 3-1 or 4-2.

Plzeň and BATE over - in six games in domestics Plzeň has scored twelve and let in ten. And they were involved in some high scoring matches with FCK in qualies. BATE is typically a sturdy defensive unit, but has some offensive firepower. I could see BATE playing spoiler in Plzeň in a 2-1 or 3-2 effort.

Arsenal and BVB under - Dortmund is a defensive squad and Arsenal isn't clicking offensively, yet. After last weekend 2-1 loss to Hertha Berlin, I can see BVB falling in Dortmund to Arsenal something like 1-0 or 2-0, maybe a 1-1 draw.

AC Milan and Barcelona over - this really should be a gimme, but you honestly never know. After putting money on this, I just have a sneaking suspicion it ends 2-0.

[TomJSports]

not much discussion needed for this pick, Arsenal wont win tomorrow...

Dortmund or draw, but not sure yet which one..

also, Man Utd should beat Benfica, they are unstoppable as of late...

and one more, I dont think Chelsea will win by more than 1..

any help?

I actually like Arsenal after BVB's piss-poor performance against a piss-poor 2.Bundesliga Hertha Berlin team. Chelsea winning by two will depend on what Leverkusen squad show up. I, too, think a one goal victory for Chelsea is most likely. ANd you're correct, no way ManU loses to Benifica.

[TomJSports]

The two matches tomorrow, I sincerely cannot develope an opinion on are Olympiakos/Marsielle and APOEL/Zenit. I kind of like the home Croats and Greeks, but don't really know much about any of those four teams except never bet on a Russian team.

[beeps220]

While I like the Arsenal ML number, this is a game where nothing would surprise me. Dortmund looked horrible Saturday but that could change. I'd like to see more out of Arsenal. Winning 1-0 at home to Swansea isn't exactly getting things right. Watching the end of that Swansea had a chance to tie it up. Wenger will be serving a ban for this match as well. All that being said I'm looking forward for this game more than any tomorrow. No play for me though.

[The Special One]

The two matches tomorrow, I sincerely cannot develope an opinion on are Olympiakos/Marsielle and APOEL/Zenit. I kind of like the home Croats and Greeks, but don't really know much about any of those four teams except never bet on a Russian team.

yes russian teams are unpredicatble... but Zenit looks like DRAW... and im thinking between Marseille win or draw..

but Arsenal will not beat Dortmund...

also Bayern looks good Wednesday..

[TomJSports]

Yeah, nothing will surprise me with the Arsenal game. Arsenal should've beaten Swansea big and same with BVB over Hertha and neither happened. Should be an interesting, to say the least, match. I would say BVB should win, but I wouldn't put anything on it.

I like Bayern too over Villarreal. I thought the Yellow Submarine would win last weekend, but played a man down pretty much 2/3 of the match and managed the draw. They're a damn resilient squad, but with the form Bayern has been showing, they should win soundly.

[beeps220]

Just read Robben will be out dot Wednesdays game. Are him and Ribbery ever healthy together?

[The Special One]

Just read Robben will be out dot Wednesdays game. Are him and Ribbery ever healthy together?

no..

when they are though, Bayern is a top 5 team

[TomJSports]

Robben's been out for a bit. The two or so games a year Robben and Ribéry play together a year are pretty though.

[bostonboss]

zenit wins tomorrow......getting some key players back......

[MartR]

Zenit is in the top of the Russian league with 23 matches played. Apoel has played only 2 games and might not be at their best form.

[dxunchuk]

so it seems more plays are doubtful tomorrow, better to choose one team and bet on it, like MU ...

[BetaB]

not like any game in particular. The handicap seem to be about right except Zenit may be. Live bet might be a better option imo.

[borgsta]

Inter to score in both halves @ $2.
Porto vs Shakhtar over 2.5 goals @ $1.80

[Fl6j66]

I took piss-poor performing Dortmund + some overs and i'm very sceptical.

[TomJSports]

Thank you for the laugh, Thiago!

[TomJSports]

I took piss-poor performing Dortmund + some overs and i'm very sceptical.

I'd love Bundesliga to go 3-0. Bayren should beat Villarreal on the road, BVB should win at home, but not holding my breath. Leverkusen over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge? Don't see it happening, but will be rooting for it.

[decado]

news regarding chelsea v leverkusen.

Chelsea set to rest Frank Lampard, John Terry and Nicolas Anelka
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...as-Anelka.html

it that's true, ill be on leverkusen handicap.

my other leans for now:
apoel v zenit 2
genk v valencia over3
chelsea v leverkusen over3
bvb v arsenal 1
barca v milan +1.75

[Puda]

Oyympiakos
Barca
Zenit
Plizen
Chelski
Porto
Dortumund/Gunner - under 2.5

game over.

[decado]

Just read Robben will be out dot Wednesdays game. Are him and Ribbery ever healthy together?

when they are together, this happens

[psychofking]

from me - 1 parlay:

Borussia Dortmund - Arsenal 1X (1,25)
KRC Genk - Valencia over 1.5 (1,25)
Barcelona - AC Milan 1 (1,25)
Chelsea - Bayer Leverkusen (0-2)Regular Time 2 (1,50)
@ odds : 2,93

[gangeriver]

guys, keep in mind Turkish league opened so lately because of the chicane investigation. it just opened last friday and this is a disadvantage for Turkish teams on european cups.Especially Beşiktaş looks horrible. In this case Internazionale FC may win by 2. 1-0 or 2-1 is not so possible I think. meanwhile this will be first CL experience for Trabzonspor

Internazionale FC -1,5 (2,17)

also don't take besiktas if it is high juiced fav. I recommend you fade Turkish teams in first weeks

[pavyracer]

I actually like Arsenal after BVB's piss-poor performance against a piss-poor 2.Bundesliga Hertha Berlin team. Chelsea winning by two will depend on what Leverkusen squad show up. I, too, think a one goal victory for Chelsea is most likely. ANd you're correct, no way ManU loses to Benifica.

I don't think you understand how Champions League works. Teams usually field weak squads or rotate players on domestic leagues two days before a CL game. There is millions of dollars involved in CL in terms of bonuses for wins and advancing to next round. I wouldn't pay attention to what Dortmund did with Hertha a couple days ago.

[pavyracer]

Zenit is in the top of the Russian league with 23 matches played. Apoel has played only 2 games and might not be at their best form.

APOEL played 6 matches in CL qualifiers already. They have been training for 3 months now. The domestic league is a joke anyway.

[thetrinity]

leaning to the german squads on the handicaps today leverkusen and dortmund. smaller leans to apoel pk,+.5 and portos over. barca should roll at that price, olympiakos marsielle shoudl be a snoozer and genk valencia not much would surprise me, same for plzen and bate.

[Daveyboy]

While I like the Arsenal ML number, this is a game where nothing would surprise me. Dortmund looked horrible Saturday but that could change. I'd like to see more out of Arsenal. Winning 1-0 at home to Swansea isn't exactly getting things right. Watching the end of that Swansea had a chance to tie it up. Wenger will be serving a ban for this match as well. All that being said I'm looking forward for this game more than any tomorrow. No play for me though.

Dortmund underperformed without Gotze and were tactically outclassed. Arsenal don't do tactics and their two holding midfielders suck in that role. Gotze, Kagawa, Grosskreutz win them this match unless Theo Walcott hurts the Dortmund defence.

[Daveyboy]

news regarding chelsea v leverkusen.

it that's true, ill be on leverkusen handicap.

my other leans for now:
apoel v zenit 2
genk v valencia over3
chelsea v leverkusen over3
bvb v arsenal 1
barca v milan +1.75

Chelsea over 3? Both teams have defended well domestically this season.

I don't like Milan 1.75 either unless you're giving me odds of 4/1+. Barca at their best would beat Milan by at least 2 goals, if not 4. Just depends how hard they will try.

[Daveyboy]

I don't think you understand how Champions League works. Teams usually field weak squads or rotate players on domestic leagues two days before a CL game. There is millions of dollars involved in CL in terms of bonuses for wins and advancing to next round. I wouldn't pay attention to what Dortmund did with Hertha a couple days ago.

Dortmund didn't rotate any players versus Hertha (other than the suspended Gotze).

[The Special One]

Dortmund didn't rotate any players versus Hertha (other than the suspended Gotze).

Dortmund players are much tougher than Arsenal players..

[decado]

Dortmund players are much tougher than Arsenal players..

arsenal youngsters will get scared as shit when they enter the stadium. i can guarantee that.
no stadium can match the atmosphere in dortmund, especially in CL.
the yellow wall is fukkin insane.

[samitarian]

Racing Genk
Starting line-up

L. Köteles
A. Ngongca
Nadson
J. Simaeys
D. Pudil
D. Hubert
D. Tözsér
D. Ndabashinze
T. Buffel
J. Vossen
Kennedy


Valencia CF
Starting line-up

V. Guaita
Miguel
Víctor Ruiz
A. Rami
J. Alba
M. Topal
E. Banega
Pablo
P. Piatti
S. Canales
R. Soldado

That is a very strong line up from Valencia, I can see a spanking here

[samitarian]

Chelsea
Starting line-up

P. Cech
J. Bosingwa
B. Ivanovic
J. Terry
A. Cole
F. Malouda
J. Mata
Raul Meireles
F. Lampard
F. Torres
N. Anelka


Bayer Leverkusen
Starting line-up

B. Leno
G. Castro
S. Reinartz
Ö. Toprak
M. Kadlec
M. Ballack
S. Rolfes
S. Sam
R. Augusto
A. Schürrle
S. Kießling

No sturridge, anelka starts.

[samitarian]

Borussia Dortmund
Starting line-up

R. Weidenfeller
L. Piszczek
N. Subotic
M. Hummels
M. Schmelzer
S. Bender
I. Gündogan
M. Götze
S. Kagawa
I. Perisic
R. Lewandowski


Arsenal
Starting line-up

W. Szczesny
B. Sagna
P. Mertesacker
L. Koscielny
K. Gibbs
A. Song
E. Frimpong
M. Arteta
A. Arshavin
T. Walcott
R. van Persie

Gotze and Kagawa both start, and no gervinho for arsenal which is surprising.