Champions League Tips – 19th & 20th September

Both these teams have had a long wait for Champions League football once again, Milan achieving it a couple of years ago, but not really showing what they are capable of in the competition thus far. However, they have started the season well, with three wins in their opening three games.

Newcastle started with a fantastic 5-1 win over Aston Villa but since then defeats to Manchester City, Brighton and Liverpool have seen them drop down the table and put a little pressure on manager Eddie Howe, who would lose a fourth straight game if his team were to fall to defeat here.

The Newcastle boss has already had a big stroke of misfortune being drawn in this group along with Milan, PSG and Dortmund. And it is going to be tough for them to go through and key to that will be any points that they can take on the road in game such as this one.

Milan at the San Siro have been beatable in recent times in this competition, but whether Newcastle are in the right frame of mind to do so remains to be seen. I am not sure how this one will go results wise, hence I am going to look at the first goalscorer market and a player I think is hugely influential for the home side.

Both these teams will feel that they have a chance in this group, especially if Lazio or Atletico Madrid slip up. So the games between Feyenoord and Celtic are going to be key. The Dutch side had a slow start to the season, drawing their opening two league games, but they have won their last two game 6-1 and 5-1 ahead of the weekend and this game with Celtic.

Celtic have 10 points so far from their four SPL matches but they have a win over Rangers in the bag and they will also come into this game with confidence, even if their recent record in this competition of late hasn’t been great.

Interestingly, reaction in Holland to this game has been somewhat blasé to say the least with a number of critics reckoning that Celtic will be no match for Feyenoord and that they could be on the end of a heavy defeat as Rangers were by PSV Eindhoven a few weeks back.

I don’t see that to be honest because Brendan Rodgers will have this Celtic team in good shape for this game and the importance of it will not be lost on the former Liverpool and Leicester boss. I can see Celtic pushing the home side hard here but even so, I think that Feyenoord may just do enough to claim the win here.

One of the biggest clashes in any Champions League campaign sees a repeat of the 1999 Final and Bayern Munich and Manchester United clashing for the 12th time in their history. The German side have started their campaign this season well and with Harry Kane now firing goals in up front they do look a genuine title threat.

In contrast, Manchester United have had a mixed start to the campaign with two away defeats partnered with two home wins and Erik Ten Hag has had issues with Jaden Sancho to deal with too. So this game is probably one that even the most ardent of Manchester United fans may well feel they will do well to get something from.

Both these two European giants should qualify from this group but it will likely be the results of the two games between them that decides who wins the group and gets a potentially easier route through to the latter stages pf the competition.

These teams do tend to score goals against each other which makes the both teams to score market appealing, but I think Bayern’s extra quality and more consistent start to the season will see them run out winners by a 3-1 scoreline.

Arsenal will be hoping that their return to the biggest European scene will result in progress into the latter stages of this tournament. Mikel Arteta’s team play Everton at the weekend, which will be a tough build up for this game on Wednesday night.

PSV have already eliminated one British team in Rangers as they made their way into the Champions League group stages and they will prove to be stubborn opponents here. They have won four of their last five games and they do not have too bad a record against the Gunners over the years.

PSV also have some excellent players capable of causing Arsenal a few problems but the way the Gunners have been playing this season and for the vast majority of last season, it is unlikely that the home side will hit a bump in the road and drop points here.

I am backing Arsenal to win and I think that PSV will probably get a goal, but I think the Gunners will score two or three to ensure that they get off to a winning start in this year’s Champions League.