2011/12 UEFA Champions League Betting Preview Week 1 | Match Day 2 Tips

The draw for the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League Group stages has now been made and the Match Day 1 action gets underway on Tuesday September 13th. Here is our betting preview of week one, Match Day 2 which includes tips on each game and where you can get the best odds on each match.

Match Day 2 – Wednesday September 14^th 2011

Ajax v Lyon

Dutch giants AFC Ajax are no strangers to the UEFA Champions League having won the competition four times previously, albeit not since 1995. They might not be the force they once were, but Ajax are still a formidable force in European football. The Dutch side will do well to qualify from a group featuring both Real Madrid and Lyon, but it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see Frank de Boer’s men progress. Champions League regulars Lyon are one of the best sides in France and actually reach the semi finals of this competition in 2009-10 season. Remi Garde’s side are likely to give Ajax a tough match, but I fancy the home team to just edge it.

Best Bet – Home win at 7/5 with bet365

Basel v Otelul Galati

Champions League debutants and current Romania Champions Otelul Galati haven’t exactly been given the easiest start to life in Europe’s elite competition. In a Group C line up that includes Manchester United, Benfica and Basel, it is hard to see the Romanian side making it past the initial stages. One of the most successful clubs in Swiss football history, Basel are regulars in European competition. They have won the Swiss Super League for the last two seasons and should make a good fist of qualifying for the latter stages of the 2011-12 Champions League.

Best Bet – Home win at 4/7 with William Hill

Benfica v Manchester United

Beaten finalists in the 2010/11 season, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United side will be desperate to go one better this time around. Although Barcelona look head and shoulder above everyone else and are the worthy favourites to make it back to back titles, Manchester Utd are improving all the time and last season’s Premier League Champions will once again give any side in the competition a serious headache. Benfica are the second favourites behind Manchester Utd to qualify from Group C and should make it to the knockout stage, but they may have to wait a little longer before claiming their first points of the campaign.

Best Bet – Away win at 21/20 with William Hill

Dinamo Zagreb v Real Madrid

This looks like a very one sided contest on paper and the only reason the prices aren’t even more prohibitive is the fact that the game is taking place in Croatia. Current Prva HNL champions Zagreb have reached the Champions League group stages on two previous occasions but look to have their work cut out against Jose Mourinho and his Real Madrid side. The most successful club in Spanish football history and second only to Barcelona as far as the current crop of sides in Spain go, Real Madrid will be no doubt giving their all to stop Barcelona taking the Champions League for the second year in succession. I expect them to have far too much for their Croatian opponents.

Best Bet – Real Madrid to win 2-0 at 6/1 with William Hill

Inter Milan v Trabzonspor

The 2009-10 Champions League winners Inter Milan have found things tough since the departure of Jose Mourinho. Previously, Inter had won the Serie A title for four consecutive years but finished runners up to rivals AC Milan last season as well as suffering a disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. Things had settled down since the appointment of Leonardo as manager but they are yet again under new leadership with Gian Piero Gasperini taking charge during the summer. Turkish side Trabzonspor were runners up in last season’s Super Lig and were installed in this season’s Champions League after Fernerbahce were expelled from the competition. They look to be up against it and will struggle to get any further than the group stages.

Best Bet – Inter Milan to win 3-0 at 17/2 with William Hill

Lille v CSKA Moscow

This could well be one of the biggest games as far as Group B is concerned with Lille and CSKA Moscow quite likely to be battling it out for the runners up spot behind Inter Milan. Lille are the current Ligue 1 champions and also holder of the Coupe de France. Under manager Rudi Garcia they have developed and exciting attacking style of play and could well be one of the sides to watch in this season’s UEFA Champions League. CSKA Moscow were runners up in last season’s Russian Premier League and reached the quarter finals of the 2009-10 Champions League. This could be a lively encounter and I think Lille will get all three points with the match taking place at Stadium Nord Lille Métropole.

Best Bet – Home win at 23/20 with Victor Chandler

Manchester City v Napoli

It will be very interesting to see how big spending Manchester City perform in their first season in the Champions League. They were kept out the competition by Spurs the previous year, but their sheer number of signings have taken them to the next level and they managed to finish third in last season’s Premier League. Roberto Mancini’s men have begun the 2011-12 campaign in very impressive fashion and there is no reason why they won’t challenge for the Champions League at the first time of asking. Napoli find themselves in a very difficult group with Man City and Bayern Munich likely to take the top two positions. I can’t really see them taking any points away from the City of Manchester Stadium.

Best Bet – Manchester City to win 3-1 at 11/1 with bet365

Villarreal v Bayern Munich

Germany’s most successful football club Bayern Munich have been on the decline slightly in recent years. They only finished third in last season’s Bundesliga but did manage an appearance in the 201 Champions League final, losing to Inter Milan by two goals to nil. Bayern will be looking to improve on last season’s Champions League exit to Inter Milan at the first knockout stage and can never be written off under experienced coach Jupp Heynckes. Villarreal only finished 4^th in last season’s La Liga but they have gained some important European experience over the last decade. They are no back number, and should provide a stern test for Bayern.

Best Bet – The draw at 23/10 with William Hill

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2011/12 UEFA Champions League Preview

2011/12 UEFA Champions League Group Stage Draw

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