Killer B’s to Sting Bookies in Champions League

Make a beeline for Barcelona, Benfica and Besiktas in this week’s fourth round of UEFA Champions League group games, with one’s three selections all playing on Tuesday.

Both Barcelona and Manchester City are likely to line up without household names, with Andres Iniesta, Jeremy Mathieu and Gerard Pique probably missing for Barca and the Citizens set to omit Claudio Bravo, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure. The depth of the Barcelona and Manchester City squads are such that their respective managers, Luis Enrique and Guardiola, can deal with most absences but one thinks that Bravo’s suspension is particularly hard for the Citizens boss to handle because of the goalkeeper’s outfield skill.

Apart from the 4-0 defeat two weeks ago, Guardiola also encountered Barcelona in 2015 during his time at the helm of Bayern Munchen. The UEFA Champions League semi-final aggregate score did not make for good reading for him either. Barcelona thrashed Bayern Munchen 3-0 in Spain before leading 2-1 at half time in Germany – Barca eased off and allowed Bayern to win 3-2 at home but lose 3-5 overall.

You can count on the fingers of one hand how many times it is possible to back Barcelona at odds against in a 12-month period. Marathonbet is listing Barcelona at odds of 2.51Bet €100 to win €251151/100Bet £100 to win £251+151Bet $100 to win $2511.51Bet HK$100 to win HK$2511.51Bet Rp100 to win Rp251-0.6623Bet RM100 to win RM251  to win its UEFA Champions League Group C blockbuster against Manchester City and, in view of the probable teams and the record of Pep Guardiola-coached sides versus Barca, one is headlining the favourites in this round of matchdays.

The odds available about Barcelona beating Manchester City are perfectly fair but, if you are searching for a bigger return, consider backing Barca and both teams to score at 4.00Bet €100 to win €4003/1Bet £100 to win £400+300Bet $100 to win $4003.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$4003.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp400-0.3333Bet RM100 to win RM400  with Bet365 because neither side is safe at the back.

The first UEFA Champions League Group B game between Benfica and Dynamo Kyiv produced a 2-0 away victory for the former and one is picking the Portuguese Primeira Liga team to complete a double at odds of 1.62Bet €100 to win €16231/50Bet £100 to win £162-161Bet $100 to win $1620.62Bet HK$100 to win HK$162-1.61Bet Rp100 to win Rp1620.6200Bet RM100 to win RM162  with William Hill.

Dynamo Kyiv flew from Ukraine to Portugal without several key players, including knee injury sufferers Denys Garmash, Danilo Silva and Andriy Yarmolenko. Nullifying Yarmolenko was instrumental to Benfica’s road win two weeks ago and this week the Eagles will not have to concern themselves with him. Benfica has a few people carrying knocks but it has not lost any of its last 14 competitive home matches.

The reports out of Portugal are that Dynamo Kviv coach Serhiy Rebrov is likely to start several relatively young players, including 18-year-old Viktor Tsygankov in place of Yarmolenko. Benfica ought to be too strong on home turf.

Finally, one thinks that Napoli is underpriced to collect three UEFA Champions League Group B points from its away game against Besiktas in Turkey. Besiktas is trading at odds of 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183  with several bookmakers, including 888Sport, Unibet and Coral, to either defeat Napoli or to earn a draw.

Besiktas has not lost any of its 13 competitive matches this season – seven wins and six draws – and Napoli has selection issues because of Arkadiusz Milik’s serious injury that he sustained while representing Poland. Milik ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Napoli is 2-0-3 since Milik hurt himself, including losing 2-3 at home to Besiktas in UEFA Champions League Group B action.

Tips Summary

Barcelona to beat Manchester City
Tuesday 1st November, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 2.51Bet €100 to win €251151/100Bet £100 to win £251+151Bet $100 to win $2511.51Bet HK$100 to win HK$2511.51Bet Rp100 to win Rp251-0.6623Bet RM100 to win RM251

Benfica to beat Dynamo Kyiv
Tuesday 1st November, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 1.62Bet €100 to win €16231/50Bet £100 to win £162-161Bet $100 to win $1620.62Bet HK$100 to win HK$162-1.61Bet Rp100 to win Rp1620.6200Bet RM100 to win RM162

Besiktas or Draw
Tuesday 1st November, 19:45 GMT
Odds: 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183