Betdistrict.com
Our Champions League group stage preview continues today with Groups C and D, which are boosting some big names like current champions Bayern Munchen, Manchester City or PSG.
GROUP C: Benfica, PSG, Olympiakos, Anderlecht
Group C is one of the weakest and most unattractive in this Champions League season. Paris Saint Germain is the obvious favorite here. Last years` quarterfinalists are now stronger and more cohesive and should get the first place despite the fact that Benfica was the first seed. Nevertheless, PSG is still adapting to Laurent Blanc`s style of play and punters should take note that the already rugged french league just got tougher this year. The french could have some problems winning the group while playing difficult fixtures in Ligue 1 – especially with a worthy opponent like the portugese side. Benfica finally had one off-season in which they didn’t sell their best players. More so, they signed young serbian superstar Markovic from Partizan. The Lisbon outfit looks really good at the moment and they will give PSG a fight, with a slip-up from the french team meaning the first place for Benfica. Overall, these sides are a lock for the first two places, with PSG a slight favorite to win the group.
Olympiakos and Anderlecht are outsiders here by a big margin and will fight for the 3rd position, which guarantees an Europa League spot. The bookies see the greeks as favorites against the belgian side, but it-s rather a 50-50 battle between them. Olympiakos is weaker than in the past, coming from a league that is eaten alive by financial problems. Anderlecht had a solid 2012-2013 domestic season and they are very strong in the offensive line. Of course, they are barely at Champions League level, similar to the greeks. It would take more than a miracle for one of this two teams to even challenge for the first two spots. They will try to snatch some points at home against Benfica and/or PSG and battle it out in the direct meetings. Anderlecht are value for their money, but the 3rd place could go either way.
Prediction: 1. PSG 2. Benfica 3. Anderlecht 4. Olympiakos
Best bets:
- Benfica to qualify @ 1.36 at Ladbrokes
- Benfica to win the group @ 3.25 at Ladbrokes
GROUP D: Bayern Munchen, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen
Current champions Bayern Munchen still have some questions to answer regarding their ability to keep up the same level of play under Guardiola. Their start of the season was good, but not really impressive. You have to expekt the bavarian side to again be a frontrunner in the trophy race, but until Guardiola proves himself, Bayern should not be backed at the low odds they are getting. They have a tough rival for the first place: Manchester City finally got rid of Mancini and with Pellegrini as a manager they should finally make some noise in the UCL after 2 group exits. City made some great signing in midfield and attack (Navas, Negredo, Jovetic, Fernandinho) and with european experience gained in the last years, the english side is set to have a solid Champions League campaign and challenge Bayern for the first spot.
CSKA Moscow must be devastated getting Manchester City as the third seed and can only realistically hope for the 3rd place in Group D. They should get it in front of a decent, fighting and cohesive Viktoria Plzen side, which despite its qualities obviously lacks class to compete against the top sides in Europe. Winning the Russian Premier league is no easy feat, and CSKA Moscow has every chance to get the third place in front of the czech side.
There should be no surprises in this group regarding the final standings except a possibility that City overtakes Bayern for the first place. Chances are we`ll see a lot of goals, with City and Bayern being devastating in offense, while the english also have questionable quality in the back-line. CSKA is very solid up-front itself, and Plzen`s defense should collapse in almost every game against such attacking quality.
Prediction: 1. Bayern Munchen 2. Manchester City 3. CSKA Moscow 4. Viktoria Plzen
Best bets:
- Man. City to win the group @ 3.20 at Bwin
- Bet on goals
OTHER GROUP PREVIEWS: Groups A and B – Groups E and F – Groups G and H
