Our football expert looks at 5 key UCL fixtures taking place this week, including Barcelona vs Bayern Munich, in Tipping Point 25-26 Oct 2022.
With just two rounds left in the group stages, it’s squeaky bum time in the UEFA Champions League, with top European teams scrambling to qualify for the last 16. Others, like Bayern Munich and Manchester City, have concluded their business early and may use the left games to test the depths of their squads, with domestic games piling up due to the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Borrusia Dortmund 15/4 | Draw 10/3 | Manchester City 8/13 – Tipping Point 25-26 Oct 2022
Man City has had a solid run in Group G and has qualified for the next round after collecting ten points in four games. The only match they dropped points in was against Copenhagen, mainly due to Erling Haaland starting on the bench and the red card given to Sergio Gomez.
Kyle Walker and Kevin Philips are still out injured, meaning we’re likely to see a handful of City graduates being given a chance on the bench or starting XI to fill their places.
Dortmund has only lost once this season in the Champions, going down 2-1 at the Etihad back in September. BVB will head into this one confidently, having held Bayern to a draw at home and smashed VfB Stuttgart by 5-0 on Saturday, with Jude Bellingham grabbing a brace.
Tip – While City has wrapped up qualification for the next round, Dortmund needs a draw to join them. I will double-chance this. Dortmund win or draw.
Benfica 20/21 | Draw 12/5 | Juventus 11/4 – Tipping Point 25-26 Oct 2022
Juventus needs maximum points in their remaining two fixtures in Group H to have any chance of qualifying for the next round.
Their first task is beating the in-form Benfica, who haven’t lost any game in Liga Portugal, winning nine out of ten games and drawing once. They’ve also managed to take this form to Europe, drawing twice with PSG and taking three points from Juve away from home. They’ll be home this time and want to show The Old Lady their victory in Turin was no fluke.
It hasn’t been a rosy return for Max Allegri at Juventus, but they have recently won three games in their previous four games and will look to replicate this form in the UCL, where they’ve won once in four.
Central to their form change is midfielder Adrien Rabiot who has stepped up in recent weeks with the absence of Paul Pogba earlier in the season and now Di Maria and Peredes.
Tip – Benfica has just been outstanding so far this season. With Juventus desperate for a win, they could leave gaps at the back, and they don’t have the paciest back four. Go for the over 1.5 goals market here.
Club Brugge 23/10 | Draw 12/5 | FC Porto 23/20 – Tipping Point 25-26 Oct 2022
Both Club Brugge and Porto weren’t even considered by many as potential last 16 occupants. They have proved many of us wrong and now face each other in a match that means more for the visiting side.
Brugge has already qualified for the next round, while Porto needs to ensure they keep the distance between themselves and Atletico Madrid.
When these clubs met in September, Brugge thrashed Porto by 4-0 in front of its home crowd. Porto will be looking for revenge, especially following a 1-0 loss to Benfica.
Tip – Back a victory for the home side.
Barcelona 5/4 | Draw 14/5 | Bayern Munich 7/4 – Tipping Point 25-26 Oct 2022
A lot rests on the next two games in the Champions League for Barcelona. They are not quite out yet, but the writing is on the wall and carries directions to the Europa League.
Barcelona needs a miracle to remain in this prime competition. They need to collect maximum points in their remaining two fixtures and hope Inter doesn’t get anything in theirs.
Barcelona lost the first leg against Bayern despite creating decent goal-scoring chances and controlling ball possession.
They face a better Bayern this time, though. They have been growing in form and confidence over the last few weeks and have collected ten points in their previous four games.
The challenge for Barcelona will be keeping the Bayern attack, which has scored 13 goals in the last three games, at bay.
Tip – As we saw last time Inter was in town, it will be raining goals at Camp Nou, and the match could go either way. I will back a Barcelona win because they are under immense pressure to win and will give it their all.
Ajax 13/5 | Draw 3/1 | Liverpool 17/20 – Tipping Point 25-26 Oct 2022
The home side looks set to drop to the Europa League, having won just one game and lost the other three in the Champions League so far.
There is still a glimmer of hope for Ajax, but with a -4 goal difference, it’s doubtful they will make up the goals needed to make it through the group. They host a Liverpool side that has struggled for form this season but has defeated them at Anfield.
In Amsterdam, things could be different. They could get all three points with a big performance, especially with Liverpool losing their last fixture against relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Tip – I’m on the fence with this one, honestly, so I will go with the over 1.5 goals total goals for Ajax Amsterdam. They should be able to score twice here.
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Tipping Point 25-26 Oct 2022: 5 to watch this week by Mcebo Mpungose
