Qarabag unlikely to get a sniff against organised Atletico

Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
BT Sport 2, 5pm Wednesday

The Champions League group stage is a massive learning curve for Qarabag, who are unlikely to register any points while their opponents are battling for the top three spots in Group C.

The Azerbaijan champions have conceded the opening goal inside the first ten minutes of their first two matches and will be hoping to hold out a bit longer against Atletico Madrid, who are a largely defensive-minded side.

However, few teams in world football execute a counter-attacking game as well as Atletico and their manager, Diego Simeone, wants to see a big improvement from his side after they deservedly lost 2-1 to Chelsea last month.

Atletico will be determined not to give their hosts a sniff and their chances of a win and a clean sheet are strengthened by the likely absence of Qarabag's pacy forward Dino Ndlovu.

Recommendation
Atletico Madrid to win to nil
1pt 7-10 BoyleSports

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Team news
Qarabag
South African attacker Dino Ndlovu picked up an injury at the weekend and is unlikely to recover in time.

Atletico Madrid
No fresh injuries have been reported for the visitors, who have taken a 20-man squad to Baku.

Key stat
Atletico have kept clean sheets in 13 of their last 17 Champions League group stage matches.

Anderlecht v Paris St-Germain
BT Sport Extra, 7.45pm Wednesday

Anderlecht have failed to score a goal or register any points from their first two games but they can at least go down fighting when taking on Paris St-Germain in Brussels.

The size of the task is not lost on Anderlecht manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck, who said "If we surrender too much possession then we will get slaughtered."

However, Vanhaezebrouck has also admitted that the best chance of pipping Celtic to third place is to get a point at home to PSG or Bayern Munich and that he hasn't given up hope.

Anderlecht's natural game is to attack and they might cause problems for PSG, who have looked defensively loose in the last two games - giving up 16 shots when beating Bordeaux 6-2 in the capital and ten shots when winning 2-1 at Dijon. PSG should win the game but a clean sheet may elude them.

Recommendation
PSG to win and both teams to score
1pt 6-4 Betway, BoyleSports

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Team news
Anderlecht
Andy Najar is ruled out and Emmanuel Sowah and Uros Spajic are doubts.

Paris St-Germain
The away side have fitness doubts over Layvin Kurzawa, Marco Verratti, Thiago Silva, Thiago Motta and Edinson Cavani.

Key stat
Eight of Paris St-Germain's last ten games have featured at least three goals.

Lionel Messi's Barcelona may have to wait until after the break to assert their superiorityCredit: Alex Caparros

Barcelona v Olympiakos
BT Sport Extra, 7.45pm Wednesday

Barcelona are likely to retain their 100 per cent record in Group D but may have to show some patience before putting Olympiakos to the sword at Camp Nou.

The Greeks are pointless after defeats at home to Sporting (3-2) and away to Juventus (2-0) but showed a stubborn streak in Turin - keeping Juve at bay until the 69th minute.

It will be tougher to restrict a Barcelona side spearheaded by Lionel Messi - La Liga's top scorer this term with 11 goals.

However, Messi hasn't found the net in three of his last four club appearances and may still be recovering from his heroics in Ecuador last week, when his hat-trick rescued Argentina from World Cup elimination.

It may take some time for Messi and his team-mates to warm to their task and a defensive-minded Olympiakos could maintain parity until the interval.

Recommendation
Draw-Barcelona double result
1pt 9-2 Hills

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Team news
Barcelona
Ousmane Dembele and Rafinha are sidelined and Arda Turan is a doubt.

Olympiakos
Attacking pair Emmanuel Emenike and Nabouhane are ruled out for the Greeks.

Key stat
Barcelona have failed to score a first-half goal in their last three matches.

CSKA Moscow v Basel
BT Sport Extra, 7.45pm Wednesday

It is shaping up as a three-way battle for second place in Group A and Swiss champions Basel can enhance their qualification chances by taking at least a point from CSKA Moscow in the Russian capital.

Basel looked overawed when losing 3-0 at Manchester United on matchday one but responded with a stunning 5-0 success at home to Benfica.

They are without injured top scorer Ricky van Wolfswinkel but did well enough without the Dutchman on Saturday, winning 4-0 away to Lugano.

It will be tougher against CSKA but they have no reason to fear the Russians, who lost 4-1 at home to Manchester United last month.

CSKA have won just one of their last 12 Champions League group stage matches and have scored just twice in their last five games.

Recommendation
Basel or draw double chance
2pts 6-7 188Bet

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Team news
CSKA Moscow
Alan Dzagoev is ruled out but Pontus Wernbloom and Vasili Berezutski have shaken off injuries and are available.

Basel
Germano Vailati and Ricky van Wolfswinkel are definite absentees.

Key stat
CSKA have not won any of their last six home games in the Champions League group stage.

Juventus v Sporting
BT Sport Extra, 7.45pm Wednesday

Juventus have been making hard work of the group stage but can take a big step towards the last 16 by beating Sporting in Turin.

Losing 3-0 at Barcelona on matchday one was a major blow and Juve still seemed short of confidence when labouring to a 2-0 success at home to Olympiakos last month.

The back-to-back matches against Sporting (also on three points after two games) will be key and Juve's chances are significantly boosted by the return from injury of influential midfielder Miralem Pjanic.

The Bosnian magician is a player of rare talent and his passing skills should make life easier for top scorer Paulo Dybala, who hasn't scored in the last three matches.

Sporting restricted Barcelona to a 1-0 victory in Lisbon last month but they look the third force in Group D and could be chasing the game by half-time.

Recommendation
Juventus-Juventus double result
1pt 21-10 Coral, Ladbrokes

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Team news
Juventus
Midfielders Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira are available after injury but right backs Mattia De Sciglio and Benedikt Howedes are out.

Sporting
Striker Seydou Doumbia is absent for the visitors.

Key stat
Sporting have not kept a clean sheet in their last 12 Champions League away fixtures.

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