Tuesday Champions League games: free football tips, best bets and predictions

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Tuesday's Champions League games, including Barcelona v Slavia Prague, Zenit St Petersburg v RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund v Inter Milan, Lyon v Benfica, Napoli v Salzburg & Valencia v Lille.

Barcelona v Slavia Prague

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 5.55pm Tuesday

Best bet

Barcelona-Barcelona double result
2pts 8-11 Coral
Back this tip with Coral

Team news

Barcelona
Luis Suarez (calf) is ruled out after going off before half-time in Saturday's 3-1 loss at Levante. Samuel Umtiti (knee) is unlikely to feature.

Slavia Prague
Ibrahim Traore has recovered from an ankle injury but David Hovorka (knee) is out long-term.

Match preview

Barcelona had to withstand a barrage of attacks to clinch a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to Slavia Prague on matchday three but they are likely to be more comfortable when facing the Czech champions on home soil.

The Catalans are unbeaten in 33 Champions League home games, winning 30 of them, and showed cool heads to come from behind and defeat Inter 2-1 on matchday two.

Slavia have played well in all three games but have taken just one point because they lack a clinical touch in front of goal.

Defensively, they have looked reasonably solid but that may change without key central defender David Hovorka, who has suffered a serious knee injury.

Hovorka has impressed throughout the campaign and his absence could be a bigger blow to Slavia than Luis Suarez's calf strain is to Barcelona.

Key stat

Barcelona have won 26 of their last 28 Champions League home games.

Zenit St-Petersburg v RB Leipzig

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 5.55pm Tuesday

Best bet

A Dzyuba first scorer
1pt 5-1 Betfair, Betway, Paddy Power
Back this tip with Paddy Power

Team news

Zenit St-Petersburg
Malcom (thigh) and Emanuel Mammana (knee) are long-term absentees.

RB Leipzig
Kevin Kampl has recovered from illness but Willi Orban (knee) is a doubt and Ademola Lookman (back), Patrick Schick, Hannes Wolf (both ankle), Ibrahima Konate (hip) and Tyler Adams (foot) are out.

Match preview

Group G was always expected to be tight but leaders Leipzig have the chance to take a huge step towards qualification when visiting second-placed Zenit St Petersburg.

The Bundesliga side recovered from a half-time deficit to defeat Zenit 2-1 on matchday three and can make the trip to Russia full of confidence after two stunning results last week – winning 6-1 at Wolfsburg in the German Cup and 8-0 at home to Mainz in the league.

However, they lost 2-1 to Freiburg in their last Bundesliga away game and face another tough match against Zenit, who are three points clear in the Russian standings.

Playing at home should mean Zenit have more possession and more opportunities to get crosses into the box. That could suit towering striker Artem Dzyuba, who has contributed nine goals and nine assists in the Russian top flight.

Key stat

Artem Dzyuba has scored the first goal in three of his last five home appearances.

Borussia Dortmund v Inter Milan

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Draw
1pt 13-5 Betfair, Hills, Sky Bet
Back this tip with William Hill

Team news

Borussia Dortmund
Roman Burki has recovered from illness and Paco Alcacer (Achilles) is back in contention but Marco Reus (muscle problems) is a doubt and Marcel Schmelzer (hip) is out.

Inter Milan
Alexis Sanchez (ankle) and Daniel D'Ambrosio (broken toe) are out but Matias Vecino and Stefano Sensi (both thigh) are available.

Match preview

Borussia Dortmund and Inter are scrapping it out for second place in Group F and the advantage lies with the Italians after their 2-0 success at the San Siro.

Lucian Favre paid respect to Inter by setting up Dortmund in an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation but the gamble backfired as his team struggled to create chances.

Dortmund are likely to commit more to their usual attacking style at the Westfalenstadion but key player Marco Reus has been struggling with a muscle injury and his absence would be a massive blow.

Inter can play a patient game, knowing that a draw would keep them ahead of Dortmund by virtue of a better head-to-head record.

They have lost just once on their travels this season - 2-1 to Barcelona - and can pick up a precious point.

Key stat

Inter have lost just two of their last 13 away matches.

Lyon v Benfica

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 4, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Lyon
1pt Evs Betfair
Back this tip with Coral

Team news

Lyon
Fernando Marcal (thigh) has not featured for the last two weeks.

Benfica
German Conti and Chiquinho (both thigh) are available but Rafa Silva (thigh), Raul De Tomas (ankle) are sidelined.

Match preview

Portuguese league leaders Benfica have been more impressive in domestic matches than in the Champions League and their hopes of reaching the last 16 could be left hanging by a thread by an away defeat to Lyon.

Benfica picked up their first points of the campaign when defeating Lyon 2-1 at the Stadium of Light but it was a fortunate success.

Lyon had the better of the second half and looked the likelier winners until goalkeeper Anthony Lopes made a dreadful error by throwing the ball to Luis Pizzi, who swiftly put it in the net.

It was a decent performance from Lyon and they have backed it up with league wins at home to Metz (2-0) and away to Toulouse (3-2).

Expect them to register a third successive victory.

Key stat

Benfica have lost six of their last seven away fixtures in the Champions League group stage.

Napoli v Salzburg

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 2, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Napoli
1pt 17-20 general
Back this tip with bet365

Team news

Napoli
Kostas Manolas (rib) and Elseid Hysaj (chest) are back in contention but Faouzi Ghoulam (thigh) and Allan (knee) are set to miss out and Kevin Malcuit (knee) is out long-term.

Salzburg
Alexander Walke (foot) could make the squad but Cican Stankovic (thigh), Patrick Farkas (circulation problems), Antoine Bernede (shin) are out and Smail Prevljak (neck) is a doubt.

Match preview

Salzburg have been the great entertainers with their three matches generating 20 goals - the most in the competition - but they have come up short in their jousts with the big beasts in Group E and the pattern may continue when they take on Napoli at Stadio San Paolo.

There is little competition for Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga which they continue to dominate, taking 35 points from a possible 39.

But their defence has been found wanting at the highest level and they have problems between the posts with first-choice keeper Cican Stankovic ruled out.

Napoli have been inconsistent in Serie A, winning five of their 11 games, but kept their heads to defeat Salzburg 3-2 in Austria and they look attractively priced to do the double and cement their position at the top of the section.

Key stat

Napoli have won four of their last five Champions League home games.

Valencia v Lille

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 3, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Lille or draw double chance
2pts Evs BoyleSports
Back this tip with William Hill

Team news

Valencia
Mouctar Diakhaby serves a one-match ban after his red card on matchday three. Kevin Gameiro (hamstring), Goncalo Guedes (ankle) and Cristiano Piccini (knee) are sidelined.

Lille
Timothy Weah (leg) and Renato Sanches (hamstring) have been ruled out.

Match preview

Valencia have struggled since winning 1-0 at Chelsea and their chances of qualification could suffer a massive blow with a failure to defeat fourth-placed Lille at the Mestalla.

Finishing in the top two looks a tall order for Lille, who have taken just one point from three games.

But the French side might not be too fearful of Valencia, who they dominated for long periods during the matchday three 1-1 draw at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Lille know that a victory would lift them into third place and they carry a clear threat with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen looking to add to his seasonal goal tally of eight.

Valencia lack options in attack without injured pair Goncalo Guedes and Kevin Gameiro and look worth opposing. Midfielder Dani Parejo is their top scorer with six goals, five of them penalties.

Key stat

Valencia have won only one of their last five home matches.

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