The UEFA Champions League will resume on Tuesday with the latest round of fixtures including a massive game at Anfield between Liverpool and German giants, Bayern Munich and Barcelona’s trip to French side, Olympique Lyonnais. Here at InterBet we preview both of Tuesday’s games, offering the latest pre-match odds.
Liverpool vs Bayern Munich
Due to their flying start to the 2018/19 season, Liverpool were made favourites to progress when the draw was made a few months back but a slight loss of form and a defensive crisis has turned the tables in the German’s favour.
First-choice central defenders, Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, miss out through suspension and injury respectively. Meanwhile, their usual understudy, Dejan Lovren, will also miss out through injury. The absence of Liverpool’s defensive trio leaves Joel Matip as The Reds’ only fit central defender. That could mean an unexpected appearance in central defence for Brazilian, Fabinho.
The Liverpool rear-guard will be boosted by the return to fitness of full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold. The England youngster is set to line up alongside Matip, Fabinho and Andy Robertson in defence.
On the possibility of Fabinho appearing in defence, Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, explained, “In the Champions League, against Bayern Munich, it’s not an easy job, but we don’t want our last guy alone defending. It depends on how we defend in general and that’s it. There will be a lot of moments where we have to defend and we’ve worked on that.”
The Liverpool boss is also sweating on the fitness of Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri. On Wijnaldum’s chances, Klopp stated, “Gini [Wijnaldum] trained and looked really well.”
Bayern Munich will also be without one of their defensive mainstays with German international, Jerome Boateng, missing through illness. French international, Kingsley Coman should feature after manager, Niko Kovac, claimed he was “optimistic” that the 22-year old forward would be available.
If Wijnaldum is fit he could line up in a solid yet far from creative midfield three alongside Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita. That lack of creativity will put extra responsibility on their three main men in attack; Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah. Their free-scoring attackers blew most European defences away last season but this season, Salah is their top scorer in the Champions League with a moderate return of three goals from six group games.
Lewandowski Chasing Personal Scoring Record
In contrast, Bayern Munich boast this year’s top scorer from the Champions League group stage. Polish forward, Robert Lewandowski, bagged eight goals in his six group games. Lewandowski has scored in four consecutive Champions League games going into the clash at Anfield. He has never scored in five consecutive games in the competition but is 23/20 to score at Anfield.
Despite a woeful start to their season, Bayern Munich arrive in England in a rich vein of form. Niko Kovac’s side have closed to within three points of Bundesliga leaders, Borussia Dortmund, thanks to a run of nine wins and just one defeat in their last ten league games.
Bayern were one of only five teams to progress through the group stage unbeaten. The other four sides who managed to avoid defeat include Ajax, Porto, Barcelona and Lyon. The latter two meet at the Groupama Stadium in Tuesday’s other game.
Match Odds
Liverpool – 63/50
Draw – 237/100
Bayern Munich – 221/100
To Qualify
Liverpool – 23/25
Bayern Munich – 81/100
Olympique Lyonnais vs Barcelona
In the other Champions League game taking place on Tuesday evening, Barcelona will be heavy favourites to continue their fine start to the current campaign when the travel to Lyon’s Groupama Stadium (formerly the Parc Olympique Lyonnais).
The Spanish giants have been in less-than-ideal form ahead of the Champions League last-16 tie but will be relieved to have claimed a 1-0 win against Real Valladolid at the weekend. That win halted a run of three consecutive draws, prompting defender, Gerard Pique, to suggest the game at Lyon may not be as easy as many may think.
Pique exclaimed, “We were not the Barca we wanted to be [against Real Valladolid]. The result was good, the sensations were not. If we don’t move the ball quickly, dominate the play and possession or create chances, we are a weaker team.”
In the Champions League especially Barcelona have become over-reliant on talisman, Lionel Messi. The Argentine forward is second only to Robert Lewandowksi in the scoring charts, scoring six goals in six games. That form has seen him extend his run to an incredible 90 goals in his past 90 Champions League games. Messi is 5/2 to score firm in France.
In contrast to Messi’s fine scoring record, his strike partner, Luis Suarez is in enduring a woeful time in front of goal. The Uruguayan forward has not scored a Champions League goal away from the Nou Camp since he scored against Roma way back in September 2015.
Lyon’s own talisman and captain, Nabil Fakir, will miss the game on Tuesday through suspension and manager, Bruno Genesio, has admitted that his side will find it difficult playing without the French international.
Speaking on Monday, Genesion admitted, “We have to find a balance. Nabil Fekir is our captain and technical leader. It’s always difficult playing without him. He likes being decisive. We’ll need to overcome his absence. We have to be measured. We can compete tomorrow but we aren’t favourites. It will take more effort than usual. It’s important to believe and trust in yourself. I’m calm and serene. The danger is to play the match before starting it.”
Lyon go into the game against Barcelona on a run of five consecutive draws. No side have tied six Champions League games in a row since Rangers back in 2005/06. But, with Barcelona mis-firing and expected to win comfortably in the second leg at the Nou Camp, a draw at 69/25 could be a very tempting bet.
Match Odds
Olympique Lyonnais – 71/20
Draw – 69/25
Barcelona – 19/25
To Qualify
Olympique Lyonnais – 41/10
Barcelona – 1/7
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