Surely, anything less than a win here would spell the end of Michael Carrick’s time at Manchester United, right?
The Red Devils welcome AS Roma in what feels like the sixth must-win game Carrick has faced in a row. Following yet another defeat over the weekend, this time to Chelsea, the pressure on the Englishman is reaching boiling point. Has reached boiling point.
Thankfully, he has some fond memories of facing the Italians, having scored two absolute worldies in United’s famous 7-1 demolition of Roma back in 2007 Champions League campaign.
Today, we discuss a few talking points as we serve up our betting tips for a midweek packed with European action.
Enjoy!
Our Picks:
Fixture | Tips | Bet |
Manchester United vs. AS Roma | AS Roma Win | |
Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich | Double Chance: Atletico Madrid Win or Draw | |
Barcelona vs. Aston Villa | Barcelona 1UP | |
Fenerbahce vs. Liverpool | Early Goals: Over 2.5 | |
RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City | Erling Haaland Anytime Scorer | |
Slavia Praha vs. Arsenal | Arsenal Clean Sheet | |
FC Porto vs. Napoli | Over 1.5 Goals | |
AEK vs. Real Madrid | Real Madrid 2UP |
- Total Odds: 31.86
- Booking Code: 772HC8
Manchester United vs. AS Roma
Manchester United head into Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Roma desperately needing a result, having gone nine consecutive matches without a win. Michael Carrick’s side have lost three in a row and four of their last five, scoring just twice in their last three outings. Even at Old Trafford, the Red Devils have gone four games without a victory and conceded in each of their last four home matches.
Roma, meanwhile, are in much better shape. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men are unbeaten in five, winning four, and have scored at least three goals in four of those matches. They've also found the net in six consecutive games and lost just once in their last 13. However, defensive concerns remain, with Roma conceding in each of their last three outings.
Donyell Malen is one to watch for the visitors. The Dutchman has eight Serie A goals and three Champions League strikes, alongside two assists.
On paper, history favours United, who have won all four previous meetings with Roma at Old Trafford. However, their current struggles make that record less reassuring. With Roma's attacking form and United's defensive woes, goals could be worth considering alongside a win for the Italians.
Betting Tips:
Atletico Madrid vs. Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid host Bayern Munich on Tuesday in a clash between two sides looking to strengthen their Champions League campaigns. Both have four and five points, respectively, after three games, but Atletico come into this one in better form, having won nine of their last 10 matches without defeat. Diego Simeone’s men have also kept six clean sheets during that run and remain unbeaten at home this season, winning five of six matches while scoring 13 goals and conceding just three.
Bayern, meanwhile, have drawn their last two Champions League fixtures, including a 2-2 stalemate with Arsenal. Vincent Kompany’s side remain top of the Bundesliga, but their away form offers some encouragement for the hosts, having failed to win three of their last five road games. Interestingly, those five matches produced 17 goals, with Bayern scoring 10 and conceding seven. Just this past weekend, they failed to win at home as they drew with Dortmund in an intense game that saw newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner, Harry Kane miss a penalty.
Team news could also play a part. Bayern are without Luis Diaz, while Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and several others are injury doubts. Atletico could also be without midfielders Koke and Johnny Cardoso.
With Atletico's defensive solidity at home up against Bayern's attacking firepower but questionable away record, this could be an interesting one for the goals markets. That said, I don’t see Atletico losing here and we have the best odds for that.
Betting Tips:
Barcelona vs. Aston Villa
Aston Villa head to Camp Nou on Tuesday with a perfect UCL record, having won all three of their league-phase fixtures and scored 12 goals. Unai Emery's men have beaten Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Viking FK, with their 6-0 demolition of Fenerbahce particularly impressive. Those results have seen them soar to second on the Champions League table as they look set to get to the knockout phase. They also claimed a 2-1 victory over Manchester City recently, although back-to-back domestic games without a win, including a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth (in the EFL Cup), have slightly interrupted their momentum.
Barcelona, meanwhile, bounced back from consecutive defeats to PSG and Real Madrid with a 6-1 thrashing of Alaves on Saturday. Hansi Flick's side have been scoring freely, with only one match this season producing fewer than three goals. However, defensive issues remain, as Barca have conceded in nine of their last 10 games and are without a clean sheet in five.
The hosts also have an impressive European home record, going unbeaten in 15 consecutive Champions League home games against English opposition. Lamine Yamal is another one to watch, sitting level with Kylian Mbappe on 13 Champions League goals as a teenager. One more would give him the outright record.
With both sides possessing plenty of attacking quality but Barcelona struggling defensively, the goals markets could offer some interesting angles.
Betting Tips:
Fenerbahce vs. Liverpool
Liverpool travel to Turkey for a tricky Champions League encounter against Fenerbahce, with both sides having plenty to prove. The Reds have won all three of their European fixtures, including a hard-fought victory over Atletico Madrid, but defensive concerns remain. They've conceded seven goals in those three games, including three against LASK and another three in a 4-3 thriller against Villarreal.
Fatigue could also be a factor for Liverpool. They've faced Villarreal, Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal in quick succession, winning the first three before losing to the Gunners over the weekend. With four demanding fixtures in a short space of time, some squad rotation is expected.
Fenerbahce, meanwhile, desperately need a result. They're winless in Europe and sit 31st in the Champions League standings, with just one victory in their last five matches across all competitions. That run includes a 6-0 thrashing by Aston Villa, a derby defeat to Galatasaray and a disappointing home loss to Goztepe over the weekend. By the way, there should be plenty of familiar faces on show, with N'Golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku, Mattéo Guendouzi and Ederson among those expected to feature.
Given Liverpool's defensive issues and Fenerbahce's need for points, this could be an entertaining, high-scoring contest.
Betting Tips:
RB Leipzig vs. Manchester City
This fixture pits an RB Leipzig side in a mini European crisis against a Manchester City team looking to get back on track. Leipzig sit 29th in the league phase with just three points from three matches. They've suffered heavy 4-1 defeats to both Como and Real Madrid, with their only victory coming against PSV in a narrow 1-0 win. Their European campaign is already in danger of slipping away, and another defeat would leave them with plenty of catching up to do.
Manchester City, meanwhile, are 10th with six points. They started with wins over Porto and AEK Athens before suffering a 4-2 home defeat to reigning champions PSG. Pep Guardiola's men will be keen to get back to winning ways, especially after a disappointing 1-0 home loss to Brighton over the weekend saw them surrender top spot in the Premier League standings to Arsenal.
Leipzig's defensive struggles in Europe should give City plenty of encouragement, although the visitors haven't exactly been watertight themselves. With both sides needing a response, we expect goals. I mean, that’s a no-brainer since Erling Haaland will be playing. A guy who famously scored 5 against them back in 2023 in a 7-0 win at the Etihad.
Betting Tips:
Slavia Praha vs. Arsenal
Arsenal travel to Prague looking to extend their unbeaten Champions League campaign against a Slavia side still searching for their first win in the competition. Mikel Arteta's men have collected seven points from three games, beating Napoli and Lille before earning a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich. They also picked up an impressive 1-0 victory at Anfield over the weekend, extending their winning run in the Premier League and moving three points clear at the top.
Slavia Prague, meanwhile, sit 32nd in the 36-team standings with just one point. They lost their opening two fixtures before coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Fenerbahce. However, their domestic form has been encouraging, with five games unbeaten and back-to-back victories, including a 5-0 demolition of Jablonec.
Arsenal have conceded just twice in three Champions League games, making them one of the competition's best defensive sides. History also favours the visitors, who are unbeaten in five previous meetings with Slavia, including a 3-0 win in last season's league phase. Honestly, I’ll be surprised if this is anything but a comfortable win for the North Londoners.
Betting Tips:
FC Porto vs. Napoli
Porto hosts Napoli to the Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday, with both sides desperate for points after disappointing starts to their Champions League campaigns. Porto are 34th (out of 36) on the league-phase standings with zero points from three games, having lost to Manchester City, Real Betis and PSV Eindhoven. However, Francesco Farioli's men have been a different proposition domestically, winning all 10 of their Primeira Liga matches and scoring 25 goals while conceding just four. Their latest outing was a convincing 4-0 demolition of Estoril.
Napoli, meanwhile, sit 22nd with three points. After opening their European campaign with defeats to Arsenal and Villarreal, Massimiliano Allegri's side bounced back with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Bodo/Glimt. However, they followed that up with a 2-0 defeat to Juventus over the weekend and will be looking to respond.
Porto's incredible domestic form makes them difficult to underestimate at home, but Napoli's attacking quality means this could be an entertaining contest. With both sides needing points, there's plenty riding on this one.
Betting Tips:
AEK Athens vs. Real Madrid
Real Madrid travel to Greece on Wednesday looking to maintain their perfect start to the Champions League campaign against struggling AEK Athens. Jose Mourinho's men have won all three of their opening European fixtures, beating Inter Milan and Roma before thrashing RB Leipzig 4-1.
Los Blancos are also in excellent domestic form, winning six consecutive matches across all competitions, including a 3-0 victory over Racing de Santander on Sunday. They currently sit third on LaLiga table, three points behind leaders Barcelona, and will fancy their chances against an AEK side struggling for consistency in Europe.
The Greek hosts were thrashed 5-1 by Manchester City on Matchday 2 and have plenty of work to do if they hope to trouble the visitors who are among just five teams to have won all three of their opening league-phase fixtures.
Vinicius Junior is expected to return to the starting lineup, with his domestic suspension obviously not applying to European competition. His availability should provide another attacking boost for Mourinho's side.
With Madrid winning six straight games and scoring freely, while AEK are coming off a heavy European defeat, the visitors look well placed to extend their winning run.
Betting Tips:
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