Wednesday's Champions League predictions: Benfica can further Juventus woes

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

Real Madrid v Leipzig

Where to watch

BT Sport 5, 8pm

Best bet

Real Madrid to win and both teams to score
1pt 7-4 bet365

Preview

The opening matches in Group F could hardly have gone in a more contrasting fashion for Real Madrid and Leipzig.

The defending champions recorded a 3-0 victory over Celtic while the Germans were beaten 4-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk, a result which led to the departure of manager Domenico Tedesco.

New Leipzig boss Marco Rose got his feet under the table with a 3-0 win over Dortmund on Saturday and will need a repeat performance if they are to get anything from the Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side look likely to be without Karim Benzema for this clash but still have an abundance of attacking talent.

Los Blancos have won and both teams have scored in five of their last six matches and Leipzig can find the scoresheet, albeit in a Madrid victory.

Juventus v Benfica

Where to watch

BT Sport 7, 8pm

Best bet

Benfica draw no bet
1pt 11-8 Betfair, Betfred

Preview

Juventus’s poor start to the season took another cruel blow as they were denied a last-minute winner against Salernitana on Sunday thanks to an incorrect VAR offside call.

That means the Italian giants have now won just two of their seven matches and were comfortably seen off by Paris Saint-Germain last week.

In stark contrast to the Old Lady are Benfica, who have won all of their 11 matches to start the new campaign including a 2-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa in their opening group stage game.

Massimiliano Allegri’s problems have only been furthered by an extensive injury list that includes Paul Pogba, Federico Chiesa and Angel Di Maria.

Benfica couldn’t have landed on a better time to play the Italian giants and Roger Schmidt’s men are worth backing in the draw-no-bet market.

Maccabi Haifa v Paris Saint-Germain

Where to watch

BT Sport 6, 8pm

Best bet

Paris Saint-Germain to win 4-0
1pt 9-1 BoyleSports

Preview

Maccabi Haifa’s first Champions League group-stage appearance since 2009-10 was always going to be an uphill battle but the scale of the task was evidenced by their 2-0 defeat to Benfica last week.

Now the Israeli side face an even tougher assignment as they host Paris Saint-Germain, second favourites to win the competition.

The French champions have won eight of their nine matches under new boss Christophe Galtier and the performance of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe has made a statement across Europe.

Four of PSG’s eight victories have produced four or more goals and in what is likely to be a one-sided affair a similar outcome looks likely.

The correct score market may be one way of extracting value from this match and 4-0 to the Parisians is the pick.

Copenhagen v Sevilla

Where to watch

BT Sport 8, 8pm

Best bet

Sevilla to win and over 2.5 goals
1pt 23-10 Betfair

Preview

Sevilla have endured a nightmare start to the season, winning just one of their opening six matches and losing four, including a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last week.

However Julen Lopetegui’s side picked up their first victory of the campaign with a 3-2 win over Espanyol on Saturday.

They may have a golden opportunity to notch back-to-back wins given the struggles of their hosts.

Copenhagen have lost three of their last four matches and were outclassed by Dortmund last week in a 3-0 defeat.

Sevilla may not get a better opportunity to record a much-needed victory but they have conceded 14 goals this season and their defensive frailties should give the home side hope.

Five of the Spanish team’s last six games have gone over 2.5 goals and more of the same is fancied in a win for the visitors.

Milan v Dinamo Zagreb

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 5.45pm

Best bet

Rafael Leao to score at any time
1pt 7-4 Betfair

Preview

Dinamo Zagreb pulled off one of the shocks of the opening round of Champions League fixtures, beating Chelsea 1-0 in a result that led to the departure of Thomas Tuchel as the Blues manager.

The Croatian side will have to produce a similar performance if they are to get anything from this visit to take on Italian champions Milan.

Stefano Pioli’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Salzburg in their opener but followed that up with a battling win over Sampdoria at the weekend despite going down to ten men for much of the contest.

Rafael Leao, who was sent off against Samp, is likely to play a big part on Wednesday given that he will be suspended for Milan's weekend clash with Napoli.

The Portuguese youngster has hit three goals in six Serie A games this season and is fancied to get on the scoresheet in this tie.

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