Reds and Spurs to make gains
Spurs can stave off elimination
Tottenham welcome Inter Milan to Wembley on Wednesday evening knowing a win is needed to prolong their interest in the Champions League.
A slow start in Group B saw Spurs fail to register a win in their first three games and, even with a victory here, a daunting final game in the Nou Camp awaits. Their task will be further complicated as will have to match or better Inter’s result in a home game against PSV Eindhoven.
It’s a tall order but Spurs are fancied at 1.76 to get the win here and at least complete part one of their task.
How they must regret their late collapse at the Giuseppe Meazza on Matchday One. Leading through Christian Eriksen’s goal, Spurs conceded in the 86th minute before shipping a winner in stoppage time. It was a ruinous lapse in concertation for Mauricio Pochettino’s men and, coupled with another late concession in Eindhoven, probably sees them settling for Europa League football after Christmas.
Spurs have won their last five games and were most-impressive in the weekend win over Chelsea at Wembley. A repeat of that level of performance could even yield a similar scoreline, with a 3-1 Tottenham success priced at 14.25 against the Serie A side.
Reds can make Paris point
Liverpool’s away form served them admirably en route to the Champions League final last season and the Anfield outfit can emerge from their trip to Paris St Germain with a vital point, the draw paying out at 3.95.
One win from five European games is not the return the Ligue 1 side would have anticipated and manager Thomas Tuchel is sweating on the fitness of main men Kylian Mbappe and Neymar for this potentially make or break home game.
PSG failed to beat Napoli home or away and, if they are held here, may well rely on Liverpool defeating the Italians at Anfield on Matchday Six to keep their hopes of progress alive.
Liverpool scored three times at Anfield in the reverse game and have the attacking weapons to seriously worry their Parisian hosts. It simply has not been happening for Paris St Germain in Europe this season and a 2-2 draw, priced at 11.75, could be one massive nail in their Champions League coffin.
Home rule to reign
Elsewhere on Wednesday evening a hat-trick of home wins looks on for Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Borussia Dortmund.
Monaco boss Thierry Henry finally gained his first victory with a 1-0 triumph at Caen over the weekend but it is hard to see their 12-match winless sequence in the Champions League ending against Atletico.
Diego Simeone’s side were unfortunate not to beat Barcelona over the weekend and will secure their qualification for the knockouts should they win this game. Having come from behind to succeed in the reverse game in the Principality, it should be more straightforward for Atleti this time.
In the same group, Dortmund will secure their passage assuming they take maximum points from Club Brugge. The Bundesliga side scored eight goals in their first three matches before losing last time out in Madrid. They were more dominant than a 1-0 scoreline suggested when they won in Brugge and should have few problems here.
Finally, Napoli should condemn Red Star Belgrade to three straight Champions League losses on the road. The visitors have conceded 10 goals in two away games so far.
It isn’t hard to surmise the overcoming Liverpool at home in matchday four was something of a ‘cup final’ for Red Star and they may struggle to back it up. Napoli are 1.48 conceding a one-goal handicap and they should come through this with clear daylight.
Napoli -1, Dortmund and Atletico Madrid all to win pays out at 2.36 as a treble.
