With two matchdays remaining in the group stage, the Sports Gambling Podcast Network previews this week’s slate with our Champions League Matchday 5 best bets.
The Group of Death highlights Tuesday’s action, with AC Milan hosting Dortmund and Newcastle traveling to Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester City and Barcelona are both at home on the same day.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Real Madrid are all in action on Wednesday. Manchester United and Inter Milan have tricky road trips to round on the day.
This should be another entertaining week of fixtures, and we’ve picked out our two favorite plays for our Champions League Matchday 5 best bets.
Champions League Matchday 5 – Best Bets
Galatasaray vs Manchester United – Galatasaray Team Total Over 1.5 (+100) Bet365
Yes, we’re going to continue to go against Manchester United. However, I’m choosing to fade the defense with this play against a solid Galatasaray attack.
In this group stage, the Turkish team has averaged 1.775 expected goals and four big scoring chances per 90 minutes, according to fbref.com. This is the same side that scored three goals in the last meeting between the two clubs at Old Trafford.
As for the Red Devils’ defense, United is allowing 2.225 xG per game in the UCL. Opponents have also topped this same total in three of four matches, including both road fixtures.
You then have to take into account the absentees for manager Erik ten Hag. He will be without Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martínez and Johnny Evans.
With Marcus Rashford also suspended, I really like Galatasaray to pick up a result with multiple goals in this one.
Bayern Munich vs Copenhagen – Bayern ML & Both Teams to Score (+140) Bet365
I’m sticking in Group A to close out my Champions League Matchday 5 best bets where I see goals in a home win here. This is a bet that has cashed in every Bayern match in this tournament so far.
In the four UCL games, the German giant has given up 1.5 expected goals and 3.5 big chances per game. Bayern has also failed to keep a clean sheet in 63 percent of matches in all competitions this season.
For the visitors, Copenhagen has shown that it can create and score in this tournament. The Danish club has found the back of the net in three of four group-stage fixtures and in five of six qualifying matches.
There have been multiple matches where Bayern has decided just to outscore opponents, and I think this is another spot where that should happen.
