After the third matchday of the Group Stage of the Champions League, every team will have played every other team in its group as part of the first round robin. That will give each club an idea of what it needs to do in its remaining three matches in order to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League. There have already been some surprising results at this year’s competition, and if one of the favorites that have already lost were to lose again, they would be in real trouble.
The Champions League Group Stage will last from September 18 to December 2. There will be eight groups with four teams in each group, and the top two teams in each group will advance to the Round of 16. Check out all the action this week at BookMaker.
UEFA Champions League Group Stage Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Benfica +274
Ajax -104
Draw +254
Over/Under 2.5
Ajax were one of the best teams in the world when Dutch football was en vogue in Europe during the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, the club won four Champions League titles, but they have largely been uncompetitive in the tournament this century. They haven’t made it to the knockout rounds of the competition since the 2005-06 edition, yet Ajax are in great position to advance to the Round of 16 this year.
They kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 win over AEK Athens, but their best result was picking up a draw on the road against group favorites Bayern Munich. The German powerhouse was a heavy favorite to win Group E per the soccer betting odds at the start of the competition, so that point could turn out to be huge.
Like their opponents, Benfica were once considered one of the elite teams in Europe. Benfica won back-to-back Champions League titles in 1961 and 1962, yet they have largely played second fiddle to arch-rivals Porto on the international stage this century.
Coming into this year’s tournament, almost every prognosticator picked Bayern Munich to finish first in Group E with Ajax and Benfica duking it out for second. A win for either side in this one would be huge, but an Ajax win could essentially see the club through. That would also give Ajax a real chance at winning the group ahead of Bayern Munich.
Juventus +118
Manchester United +240
Draw +226
Over/Under 2 and 2.5
This is going to be the most anticipated match of the day. Manchester United are reeling in domestic play, but they are in the position they were expected to be in at the Champions League. The Red Devils have four points through two matches, and although their home draw with Valencia was disappointing, it wasn’t a backbreaker.
Juventus are coming into Manchester with six points through two matches, and the Italian champions are out to put a hammerlock on the group. They have continued to keep up their defensive prowess without Gianluigi Buffon, and Manchester United are likely to have a hard time finding more than a goal.
Of course, the big story ahead of this match is Cristiano Ronaldo’s return. He was in danger of missing Juventus’ clash at Old Trafford after picking up a mystifying red card against Valencia, but UEFA lifted the customary three-game ban in order for him to square off against his former team.
Ronaldo and Juventus are out to win the Champions League after coming up just short twice this decade, and they have a very good chance to do it. They might not get a result on the road in a hostile environment, but a loss is quite unlikely. I see Juventus winning this one by a margin of 2-1 with Ronaldo scoring at least one for the visitors. That is likely to earn him jeers from the crowd, but he has made a habit of shining on this stage.
UEFA Champions League Odds
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