Champions League: predictions for Wednesday's matches, free tips & TV details

Best bets and predictions for Wednesday's group matches in the Uefa Champions League.

Krasnodar v Rennes

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 5.55pm Wednesday

Best bet

Both teams to score
2pts 4-6 general

Match preview

Rennes qualified for the Champions League for the first time thanks to a rock-solid defence in Ligue 1 but their high standards have slipped this term.

The French side conceded 24 goals in 28 league matches in 2019-20 but goalkeeper Edouard Mendy left for Chelsea and clean sheets have been a rarity recently.

Krasnodar's defence is in even worse shape, contributing to a run of four defeats in five Russian Premier League matches, but they pose a decent attacking threat.

The Russians blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 in Sevilla on matchday three and conceded a late goal in a 2-1 home defeat to the Spanish side last time out.

Krasnodar drew 1-1 in Rennes in their opening group game and both teams should be positive with the winners likely to claim a Europa League spot.

Key stats

• Krasnodar have lost seven of their last eight matches in all competitions
• Both teams have scored in six of Krasnodar's last seven Champions League games
• Rennes have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last ten games

Istanbul Basaksehir v RB Leipzig

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 5.55pm Wednesday

Best bet

Over 1.5 first-half goals
1pt 5-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

Match preview

Leipzig raced into a 2-0 lead over Istanbul Basaksehir in the first 20 minutes of their clash on matchday one and there could be another lively start to the reverse fixture in Turkey.

The Bundesliga side reached the Champions League semi-finals last season but have struggled for consistency in the group stage this term, losing 5-0 at Manchester United before a 2-1 home win over PSG and a 1-0 defeat in Paris last time out.

The same is true of Basaksehir, who shocked United 2-1 in Istanbul before a 4-1 drubbing at Old Trafford where they were 3-0 down after 35 minutes.

Early goals have been a feature of both teams' group games. The opener has been scored in the 16th, 21st, sixth and 11th minutes of Leipzig's four matches and all three goals in Basaksehir's home game against United came in the first half.

Key stats

• Leipzig have scored only once in their last four away matches
• Seven of Istanbul Basaksehir's last eight games have featured over 2.5 goals
• Basaksehir have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last ten outings

Borussia Dortmund v Lazio

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 3, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Dortmund-Dortmund double result
1pt 6-4 Betfred

Match preview

Borussia Dortmund suffered a shock home defeat to lowly Cologne at the weekend and punters can expect a positive response from Lucien Favre's men against Lazio.

Dortmund are also aiming to avenge their 3-1 defeat in Rome on matchday one so it would be no surprise to see them ping the traps to test a wobbly Lazio defence.

While BVB won their three subsequent group matches without conceding a goal against Club Brugge and Zenit, Lazio have let in first-half goals in each of their last three European games.

They still took five points from those three games against Brugge and Zenit but Dortmund will be far harder to peg back if they get an early goal.

The Germans have scored at least twice in seven of their eight matches since the loss at Lazio and they should take charge early on.

Key stats

• Both teams have scored in ten of Lazio's last 12 matches
• Lazio have conceded at least one first-half goal in six of their last seven games
• Dortmund have won their last five home Champions League matches

Club Brugge v Zenit St Petersburg

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 4, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Zenit St Petersburg
1pt 12-5 Betfair

Match preview

Zenit St Petersburg have lost six of their last seven Champions League away games, dating back to a 2015 win at Lyon, but they look a tempting price to take three points at Club Brugge.

A victory is required to keep alive Zenit's hopes of finishing third in Group F and qualifying for the Europa League and their Belgian hosts look too short in the betting after back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Borussia Dortmund.

Brugge won the reverse fixture 2-1 as a 93rd-minute goal from Charles de Ketelaere gave coach Philippe Clement "the most beautiful moment of my career".

Zenit were far from their best that night but it was still a tight contest, with 13 attempts on goal apiece, and the Russians showed their attacking threat by scoring at home and away against Lazio in their last two outings.

Key stats

• Club Brugge have scored only two goals in their last five Champions League home games
• Zenit have failed to score in just two of their last 14 matches
• Club Brugge have won only three of their last ten games

Ferencvaros v Barcelona

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Barcelona to win & both teams to score
1pt 7-4 bet365

Match preview

Barcelona's second string claimed an impressive 4-0 win away to Dynamo Kiev on matchday four and, with qualification from the group assured, they should be in action again at Ferencvaros.

The Hungarians have shown plenty of spirit in a brutal section and came agonisingly close to a coupon-busting draw away to Juventus on matchday four before Alvaro Morata's injury-time winner for the 1-10 shots.

Ferencvaros have scored in all four group games, picking up a point in the 2-2 home draw with Dynamo Kiev, and a Barcelona win with both teams scoring is worth considering at 7-4.

Barca are likely to be missing four senior centre-backs, boosting the underdogs' chances of extending their scoring run in Europe, but the Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele should cause problems for the home defence.

Key stats

• Ferencvaros have won four of their last five matches to nil
• Both teams have scored in seven of Ferencvaros's last eight Champions League games
• Barcelona have scored 18 goals in their last six Champions League matches

Juventus v Dynamo Kiev

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 2, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Dynamo Kiev +1.5 on Asian handicap
1pt 49-50 bet365

Match preview

Juventus needed an injury-time winner to see off Ferencvaros 2-1 in Turin on matchday four and they may not have things all their own way at home to Dynamo Kiev.

Juve have not lived up to their traditionally high defensive standards in the early stages of Andrea Pirlo's tenure and their star-studded attacking unit is not quite clicking either.

A hugely depleted Dynamo side gave Barcelona a great game at Camp Nou, going down 2-1 to the Catalan giants, and they can keep things competitive on their trip to the Italian champions.

Dynamo conceded an injury-time equaliser away to Ferencvaros and won the shot count 11-10 in their 2-0 home defeat to Juve on matchday one.

They are worth backing +1.5 on the Asian handicap, meaning the bet is a winner if they win, draw or suffer a one-goal defeat.

Key stats

• Juventus have kept only one clean sheet in their last eight matches
• Only one of Juventus's last ten home games has produced over 3.5 goals
• Dynamo Kiev have lost only one of their last nine away fixtures

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