Guys, hope you don't mind me posting some thoughts from my blog;
The big one is back. This week sees the Champions League kick off in style with some cracking matches coming up in the next few days. After Liverpool, Arsenal, Celtic and Rangers successfully navigated the pre-tournament qualifiers there are an unprecedented 6 British teams in the competition this year. At this stage its hard to say who will be best equipped to go all the way but the bookies seem to fancy Chelsea (7/1
BetFred,
Coral,
Ladbrokes,
skybet and
totesport) and Manchester United (8/1
Coral and
vcbet). Personally, I think Liverpool stand a good chance yet again to keep their recent Champions League form on the go and wouldn’t be surprised to see them reach the final yet again.
But back to this week and Tuesday night sees 3 of the British teams kick off their campaigns. Liverpool are away to a Porto team that has been diminished from last season due to a number of outgoing transfers in the summer. Liverpool on the other hand appear to have strengthened their squad to be capable of battling on both domestic and European fronts this term. Whilst many on Merseyside would say the Premier League is the one they want to land this season, they’ll be going all out in the Champions League to make it 3 finals in 4 years, which would be a remarkable record in modern times. Liverpool will be expecting to get their group off to a flier with an away win, and I think they have the firepower to put Porto to the sword. If pushed I’d be taking the 1/1 at
Canbet for Liverpool on the Asian Handicap (0, -0.5).
For Chelsea, its the perennial whipping boys of Rosenborg tonight. Jose Mourinho made a meal of things at yesterday’s press conference by going off on one about omlettes (what is he on?) but despite a few injury concerns, Chelsea should have too much class and ‘eggs’perience to be troubled at home (sorry!). At 17/100 (William Hill) they are way too short to be backing, but defensively they should be able to keep the door shut at the back so the win to nil at 1/2 with
Paddy Power makes slightly more appeal. Given Chelsea’s apparent drought up front, it might also be worth looking elsewhere for a goalscorer. I don’t condone any type of goalscorer bet but… John Terry might be worth a small investment to score anytime at 11/2 with
BlueSq.
Celtic probably face the most daunting task of the British teams this week as they face Ukrainian league leaders Shakhtar Donetsk away from home. Celtic’s last visit there resulted in a comprehensive 3-0 defeat 3 seasons ago. Both teams have moved on since then and a good game is in prospect but Celtic’s frailties away from home in this competition mean its difficult to make a case for them getting anything out of the game. Shakhtar have spent over £40m in the summer, boosting their squad with the likes of Mexican star, Nery Castillo and Livorno’s Italian striker Lucarelli. They will be keen to turn that investment into a last 16 berth and if they are to realise their ambitions they must start with a home win against the hoops. On the other hand, Celtic go there in fine form, scoring 5 in each of their last 3 SPL matches. That, coupled with the dramatic penalty shoot-out qualification against Spartak Moscow a few weeks ago gives the Bhoys great confidence that they can break their hoodoo and record their first away win in the Champions League. For me this one is a no bet, although it may provide a few pointer for the return match at Celtic Park in the coming weeks.
Of the other Champions League games tonight, Real Madrid should see off a poor Werder Bremen (4/9 at
BetFred) and anything other than a Milan home win (4/11
Ladbrokes &
totesport) would be a major surprise.
Champions League: 18/19th September
TOTW/F/M Award(s): 3.GIF "Thumb(1)")
at The Chief. Aye good on you Chief. Just shows you how much i know aboutr Celtic away in europe. about as much as att 
If you mean me, I never did post much on the Champions League, as I know very little about most of the teams.
