Wednesday's Champions League predictions: Barca's troubles are set to continue

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

Benfica v Barcelona

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Benfica draw no bet
1pt 11-10 Betfred

Preview

Barcelona are a club in crisis and their decline may be evident on their trip to Primeira Liga leaders Benfica.

Injuries are not helping Barca’s cause and Ronald Koeman is having to manage without Sergio Aguero, Ousmane Dembele, Martin Braithwaite, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba and Pedri.

The Catalan giants recorded a 3-0 win at home to Levante on Sunday, which helped relieve some pressure on their Dutch manager, but it would be too soon to suggest they have turned a corner.

Prior to that much-needed win, Barca were held to La Liga draws by Granada and Cadiz while they offered little resistance in a 3-0 reverse at home to Bayern on matchday one, failing to register a shot on target.

Benfica, who are a perfect seven from seven in Portugal, look more stable under Jorge Jesus and really ought to fancy their chances against a vulnerable Barca.

Wolfsburg v Sevilla

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 3, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Sevilla
1pt 8-5 Betfair

Preview

Group G looks wide-open with each of the quartet 4-1 or shorter to claim top honours, but Sevilla can stamp their authority on the section with victory at Wolfsburg.

The Spanish side have a rich European pedigree while Wolfsburg are featuring in the Champions League for the first time in five years, and that may be evident at the Volkswagen Arena.

Both sides drew their opening match but Wolfsburg, who had centre-back John Brooks sent off just after the hour mark, lost the shot count 17-2 in their 0-0 game at Lille.

Since then, Mark van Bommel’s men have drawn 1-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt and lost 3-1 at Hoffenheim and must raise their level against an in-form Sevilla.

Julen Lopetegui’s visitors are without suspended striker Youssef En Nesyri but they are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and have shipped just three goals, so are worth backing to overcome that absence.

Salzburg v Lille

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 4, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Salzburg
2pts Evs general

Preview

Lille are a long way off the team who were crowned Ligue 1 champions last season and they are worth opposing on their trip to runaway Austrian leaders Salzburg.

The French visitors have won only three of their eight league games this season and with 14 goals conceded boast the seventh worst defence in the division.

Not only did manager Christophe Galtier depart for Nice after winning the title, but they have lost a number of key personnel which leaves them more than a shade vulnerable.

And their defensive frailties may be exposed at Salzburg, who may have unearthed another potential star striker in the form of German teenager Karim Adeyemi.

Salzburg have won all eight league games this season and they are well worth their opening 1-1 draw at Sevilla, where they won the shots-on-target count 8-2 and missed two penalties.

Bayern Munich v Dynamo Kiev

Where to watch

BT Sport Extra 2, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Bayern -2 goals on handicap
2pts 8-11 bet365

Preview

Bayern Munich made light work of Barcelona in a 3-0 rout in their Group E opener and the Bavarians should readily outclass Ukrainian visitors Dynamo Kiev too.

Kiev clung on for a point in a goalless draw at home to Benfica in their opening game, but keeping out a brilliant Bayern attack spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski is a completely different task.

The German giants have already fired 23 goals in just six games of their Bundesliga title defence and in last season’s group stage they scored 18 times in six outings.

Bayern are ruthless and not the sort of team to relent, which may spell trouble for the Ukrainians.

Mircea Lucescu’s men lost 3-0 at Juventus and 4-0 to Barcelona during last season’s Champions League campaign and another heavy defeat looks likely at the Allianz Arena, where Bayern have scored at least twice in their last nine European matches.

Atalanta v Young Boys

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 5.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

Over 3.5 goals
1pt 5-4 Betfair

Preview

Atalanta shared the spoils in a four-goal thriller with Villarreal on matchday one and the entertainment should continue when they welcome Manchester United’s conquerors Young Boys to their Bergamo base.

Scoring goals is rarely a concern for Atalanta but keeping them out has proved problematic and last season they shipped eight goals in just six group-stage matches.

The Goddess were also held to a 2-2 draw with Inter at the San Siro on Saturday, which was the fifth time from seven fixtures across all competitions this term in which the net has bulged at both ends.

And another free-scoring encounter looks likely against Young Boys, who showed they boast great attacking quality of their own in a 2-1 home win over United a fortnight ago.

The Swiss visitors have racked up 17 goals in just seven league games and their seven Champions League fixtures - which include six qualifiers - have featured 24 goals.

Zenit St Petersburg v Malmo

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 5.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

Both teams to score
1pt 19-20 bet365

Preview

Zenit St Petersburg defended resolutely in a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in their Champions League curtain-raiser, but they will be expected to play on the front foot against Swedish minnows Malmo and a more open contest looks likely.

With Chelsea and Juve also housed in Group H, this looks a must-win fixture for both parties and that could see goals delivered at both ends.

Zenit are in pole position in the Russian Premier League but have managed only one clean sheet in nine games and often depend on their attacking quality to shine.

Last season Zenit collected only one point from six games in the group stages and Malmo, who overcame Ludogorets, Rangers, HJK and Riga in qualifying, may be able to make them work hard for their rewards.

Malmo were brushed aside 3-0 at home to Juventus on matchday one but caused some early problems and should find this test considerably easier.

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