Champions League – October 24
Carlo Ancelotti has the chance enjoy his return to Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, as his in-form Napoli side can stun the French champions and throw Champions League Group C wide open.
The 59-year-old guided PSG to the Ligue 1 title in 2012/13, before leaving to take charge of Real Madrid.
He succeeded Maurizio Sarri in the Napoli hot-seat in the summer and has guided his current club to seven Serie A victories in the first nine games of the campaign, as well as to a fine 1-0 win against Liverpool in the Champions League earlier this month.
Ancelotti’s Napoli on a roll
PSG have won all 10 of their Ligue 1 matches to date but doubts persist as to their ability to rise to the big European occasions – they were poor when losing 3-2 at Anfield in September. Napoli are very good value at 6.75 to win in the French capital.
In the other Group C match, Liverpool should have little difficulty returning to winning form following their setback in Naples, by beating Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade.
Henry faces difficult task
In Group A Thierry Henry appears to have taken on a very difficult job as coach of Monaco who have failed to win any of their last nine Ligue 1 matches and have also lost their first two Champions League matches.
Monaco look set to be embroiled in a relegation dogfight this term, quite a comedown for a club that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2016/17, as well as winning their domestic title.
There may be some respite for Henry on Wednesday as they take on Club Brugge with Monaco 3.20 to win in Belgium.
Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are in complete control of the group and already seem certain to qualify for the last 16, so a draw at 3.35 in Germany may be worth considering.
Messi’s absence to boost Inter
In Group B, Inter Milan may be playing Barcelona at exactly the right time as Lionel Messi is currently injured.
Luciano Spalletti’s side won the Milan derby at the weekend, their fifth Serie A victory in a row, and have already beaten Tottenham in the Champions League.
They could hold on for a draw at the Nou Camp, available at 4.65, which would pile the pressure on pointless Tottenham, who are 11.25 to beat PSV Eindhoven 2-0 in Holland.
Porto can take a firm grip on Group D by beating struggling Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia.
Goals are likely to be scarce in the RZD Arena, as Lokomotiv have only scored 13 goals in their first 11 Premier Liga games of the campaign and conceded just 11 – even though they were involved in a 5-3 defeat at Zenit Saint Petersburg in September.
A 1-0 victory for the Portuguese side at 6.20 looks a tempting price.
No respite for struggling Schalke
Finally, Galatasaray can beat Schalke and enhance their chances of reaching the knockout stages.
Schalke are in a state of disarray, with Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen being their seventh loss in nine Bundesliga matches so far this season.
Galatasaray are three points clear at the top of the Super Lig standings and are coached by the experienced Fatih Term. The Turkish side can be backed at 8.25 to win the match from behind.
