Tuesday Champions League predictions: Another dose of Bayern pain for Barcelona

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Tuesday's group matches in the Uefa Champions League.

Barcelona v Bayern Munich

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm

Best bet

Bayern Munich
2pts Evs Betfair, Betfred, Hills

Preview

Barcelona are preparing for life in the Champions League without Lionel Messi but even when the six-time Ballon d'Or winner was in their ranks, they were decimated 8-2 in their last meeting with Bayern Munich in the competition.

And the Bavarians should once again take the spoils when the sides reconvene at Camp Nou.

While two wins and a draw represents a solid start in La Liga, there is still plenty of unrest off the pitch at Barca and they are short in attack with Sergio Aguero, Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati and Martin Braithwaite all unavailable.

Bayern could be missing Serge Gnabry but that should not slow down the German juggernauts given they have won their last five matches, scoring at least three times in each of them.

The most recent was a 4-1 thrashing of Julian Nagelsmann's former club Leipzig and they are unlikely to take their foot off the pedal in their opening Champions League group game.

Key stats

• Bayern Munich have won four of their last five meetings with Barcelona
• Barcelona conceded in five of their eight Champions League games in 2020-21
• Bayern have scored at least three times in each of their last five competitive fixtures

Dynamo Kiev v Benfica

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 4, 8pm

Best bet

Benfica
1pt 13-10 bet365, Betfair

Preview

Dynamo Kiev and Benfica are flying domestically but will also recognise the importance of getting points on the board early in a Champions League group which features Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

Kiev were in a similarly tough section last year and lost four of their six matches, enhancing appeal about backing visitors Benfica.

Benfica accounted for strong Spartak Moscow and PSV teams in qualifying for this season's competition and have started their new campaign in the Portuguese Primeira Liga - which is rated six places above Ukraine in the Uefa rankings - with five straight wins.

Kiev are also hampered by an injury crisis in attack with Eric Ramirez, Artem Besedin, Vladyslav Kulach and Ibrahim Kargbo all expected to miss this one.

Benfica failed to qualify for last term's Champions League but are worth backing to open this season's competition with maximum points.

Key stats

• Dynamo Kiev lost four of their six Champions League group games last season
• Benfica have won all five of their Portuguese league fixtures this term
• Both teams have scored in only one of Benfica's last four matches

Malmo v Juventus

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 8pm

Best bet

Both teams to score
1pt 20-23 Betfair, PaddyPower

Preview

Juventus left it until the final day of the 2020-21 Serie A campaign to book their spot in this season's Champions League and the Turin club are unlikely to hit the ground running in the competition's group stage.

It has been a difficult summer for the Old Lady with Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United and the club have lost two and drawn one of their first three league fixtures this season.

And with their confidence so low following their latest loss to Napoli, it is worth swerving odds-on quotes about them defeating Swedis outfit Malmo in their first group game.

Malmo impressed to overcome Ludogorets, Rangers, HJK and Riga in qualifying and six of those eight legs saw both teams find the net.

The match-result market looks trappy so backing both teams to score could be the best bet in this clash at the Eleda Stadion.

Key stats

• Both teams scored in 24 of Juve's 38 league contests last season
• Three of Malmo's last four games have featured over 2.5 goals
• Juventus are winless from their first three Serie A games this campaign

Villarreal v Atalanta

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 2, 8pm

Best bet

Villarreal draw no bet
1pt 4-5 Betfred, Hills

Preview

Villarreal defied expectations to win last season's Europa League and begin the new Champions League campaign at home to plucky Atalanta.

Both sides know what it takes to upset the odds but neither have started their domestic campaigns well. Villarreal have opened with a trio of draws and Atalanta claiming a win, draw and loss from their three assignments.

But the Yellow Submarine go into this encounter with more rest behind them after their weekend fixture with Alaves was postponed due to the unavailability of players involved in South American World Cup qualifiers.

And they also looked good in their most recent La Liga contest against Atletico Madrid, having led until the 95th minute before drawing 2-2.

Atalanta could be without one of their prime attacking threats in Luis Muriel and they struggled to make the most of their chances in defeat to Fiorentina last time out. They are worth opposing in the draw-no-bet market.

Key stats

• Villarreal won all seven of their home fixtures in last season's Europa League
• Atalanta have won only once in their opening three Serie A games this term
• Four of Atalanta's eight Champions League matches last term featured over 3.5 goals

Lille v Wolfsburg

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 3, 8pm

Best bet

Wolfsburg
2pts 7-4 bet365, Betfred, Hills

Preview

Wolfsburg are the team to beat in Germany's Bundesliga right now, having won each of their opening four contests, and they are worth chancing to win at Lille in the Champions League.

Under Mark van Bommel, Wolfsburg have already beaten Bochum, Hertha Berlin, Leipzig and Greuther Furth this term and are in high spirits.

The same cannot, however, be said for Lille, who have fallen apart since manager Christophe Galtier departed for Nice over the summer.

Friday's loss to Lorient now means the club have managed only one win in their first five games and hopes of a Ligue 1 title defence are fading fast.

Lille were hopeless in their previous Champions League campaign, losing five of their six group games in 2019-20, and with key midfielders Renato Sanches and Jonathan Bamba likely to miss this one, they could be out of their depth.

Key stats

• Wolfsburg have won all four of their Bundesliga matches this season
• Lille took only one point from their last Champions League group stage campaign
• Both teams have scored in three of Lille's four Ligue 1 contests this term

Sevilla v Salzburg

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 5.45pm

Best bet

Youssef En-Nesyri to score first
1pt 3-1 bet365

Preview

Sevilla are favourites to win a pretty open Champions League section in Group G and are 4-6 to start with a win over Austrian Bundesliga side Salzburg.

And although that price makes plenty of appeal given the Spanish club have won two of their first three La Liga games this season, the better bet could be to back their star forward Youssef En-Nesyri to break the deadlock.

When Sevilla prevail En-Nesyri usually has something to do with it, and he has scored 18 league goals last term and six in eight European fixtures.

He is already off the mark with two goals and an assist in three La Liga matches in 2021-22 and could draw first blood at home to Salzburg, who conceded at least two goals in seven of their eight matches in last season's Champions League.

Salzburg lostof Patson Daka to Leicester this summer so En-Nesyri faces even less competition in the first-goalscorer market.

Key stats

• Youssef En-Nesyri has scored twice in three league fixtures already this season
• Salzburg conceded 21 goals in eight Champions League matches last term
• Sevilla have collected seven points from three La Liga fixtures in 2021-22

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