Wednesday's Champions League predictions: Stubborn Atletico to ease past Porto

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

Besiktas v Borussia Dortmund

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 5.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

Dortmund to win & both teams to score
1pt 15-8 bet365, Hills

Preview

Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland was top scorer in the Champions League last season, racking up ten goals in eight games. His record now stands at 65 goals in 65 competitive games for his club.

His Dortmund side have been shaky at the back in the Bundesliga, leaking nine goals in four games. However, the return of Mats Hummels will help and they have still accumulated three wins due to their attacking prowess, finding the net 13 times.

The Black and Yellow face a Besiktas side who will be missing the experienced Domagoj Vida through injury and Haaland should be able to take advantage of a weakened back line.

The arrival of Miralem Pjanic and Michy Batshuayi have bolstered the Turkish side’s attacking options however, and both teams are fancied to score in a Dortmund win.

Sheriff Tiraspol v Shakhtar Donetsk

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 5.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

Shakhtar
2pt 10-11 Betfair, Betfred

Preview

One of the biggest stories in this year’s Champions League is the presence of Sheriff Tiraspol in the group stage, the first Moldovan side to make the grade.

Despite their underdog status, they were impressive throughout their eight qualifying matches, going unbeaten and conceding just two goals.

With Inter and Real Madrid completing this group, both teams will be targeting this game as must-win, particularly Shakhtar.

It is a huge achievement for Sheriff to make it to this point but Shakhtar may demonstrate the gulf in class. The Ukrainian side are unbeaten away from home this season, including wins on the road against Monaco and Genk in qualifying.

This is a side who beat Real Madrid home and away last season and should prove in a different league from what the Moldovan minnows have faced before.

Atletico Madrid v Porto

Where to watch

BT Sport, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Atletico Madrid to win to nil
1pt 7-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

Porto had a fine run to the quarter-finals of this competition last season before being knocked out by winners Chelsea. However, they’ve landed in a tricky group and face a difficult opening tie against La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s side have an imperious record at home in European football, having lost just one of their last 29 games at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Atleti won 22 of those encounters and look too strong for a Porto side who faced a tough match on Saturday against fellow title-chasers Sporting Lisbon.

Centre-half Stefan Savic is suspended but other than that Simeone’s side have a clean bill of health and can call upon the dynamic partnership of Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann to fire them to a comfortable victory.

Club Brugge v Paris Saint-Germain

Where to watch

BT Sport ESPN, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Georginio Wijnaldum to score at any time
1pt 9-2 Hills

Preview

PSG get their highly anticipated Champions League campaign off to a fairly low-key start against Belgian champions Club Brugge.

Their hosts have only won two of their last 12 ties in Europe’s top competition and look up against it. Brugge sit top of their domestic table after seven games but their 6-1 defeat at the hands of Gent before the international break is a cause for concern.

The Parisians have already netted 16 times in five league games and that was without the help of Lionel Messi. He may make his first start in this fixture and is as short as 2-5 to score with some firms.

However, away from the obvious scorers Georgino Wijnaldum makes some appeal. The Dutchman may get his fair share of chances against a Brugge side bound to sit deep and has netted five times for his country this year.

Inter v Real Madrid

Where to watch

BT Sport, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Real Madrid
1pt 15-8 Coral

Preview

As with many of the top sides in Europe this season, Real Madrid have seen their attacking players compensate for weakness at the back. That weakness is understandable given that Carlo Ancelotti’s side lost their two starting centre-backs from last season, Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos.

They will be tested against an Inter side who have had a decent start to their title defence in Serie A, a draw with Sampdoria the only blot on their copy book.

These sides met last year in the group stage, with Madrid coming out on top both times as Inter finished bottom of the section.

New manager Simone Inzaghi has looked to move on from that but Inter’s recent performances in this competition are a concern and they have failed to get out of the group on the last three occasions.

Real may not be the defensive force of old but can still put on a show going forward and can leave Italy with three points once again.

Sporting Lisbon v Ajax

Where to watch

BT Sport, Wednesday 8pm

Best bet

Ajax
1pt 7-5 general

Preview

This is one of the most competitive matches of the first round of Champions League fixtures and is priced accordingly.

Sporting will be missing their captain Sebastian Coates and potentially star striker Pedro Goncalves, who scored 23 goals last season.

Ajax will feel their visit comes at an ideal time, facing a weakened Sporting side and having started strongly in the Eredivisie. Erik ten Hag’s side have conceded just once and scored 13 in their opening four league games with former West Ham man Sebastian Haller rediscovering his goalscoring touch.

Sporting also had a difficult game against Porto at the weekend while Ajax cruised past PEC Zwolle 2-0.

Ten Hag has numerous attacking options at his disposal to complement Haller in Dusan Tadic and new signing Steven Berghuis. The Dutch side are fancied to secure a vital away win.

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