[Mario]

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
10/21/2014

CSKA Moscow vs Manchester City

Home - CSKA Moscow
Last away matches - W-W-L-L-W-W

CSKA Moscow are the only team in Group E without points after opening two rounds. They have won 8 from 10 played matches in Russian Premier league, including five in a row, but that solid form was not adequate transformed in UEFA Champions league. CSKA Moscow lost to Bayern Munich at home in the last match and suffered heavy defeat to Roma in the first round.Manager Leonid Slutski has a number of casualties to his squad for this game. Mario Fernandes, Rasmus Elm, Vitinho and Kirill Panchenko are all unlikely to feature in this game for the hosts along with Pontus Wernbloom and Alan Dzagoev who are suspended.

Away - Manchester City
Last away matches - W-W-L-D-W-L

Manchester City played solid in the opening two matches, but collected just one point on the last match against Roma. They are in better form in domestic league, won the last three matches and scored 10 goals. Just as their opponents, they have a problem when play in Europe. Their efficiency in the Champions League are on low level and they have scored only one goal. Manager Manuel Pellegrini has a full squad to choose his starting lineup from as all his players came through the weekend destruction of Totteham Hotspur with no reported injuries and we could see Edin Dzeko given a chance to impress his manager having not featured in that game and it will be interesting to see who he is partnered with as Sergio Aguero scored an impressive four goals in that game and looks in the form of his life at the moment.

Asian Handicap
Home - (+1.00)
Away - (-1.00)
Pick - Manchester City (-1.00)
Odds - 2.03
Stakes - 9/10
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
10/20/2014

APOEL Nicosia vs Paris Saint Germain

Home - APOEL Nicosia
Last away matches - W-W-L-W-D-D

APOEL Nicosia grabbed a 1-1 draw at home was a fair result, the host were a goal down, but with their resilient form at home, Ajax were unable to take all 3 points from them.Giorgos Donis is sweating on the fitness of a number of players ahead of the welcome of PSG. The former Greece international will be without Efstathios Alonefits, Anastasios Papazoglu and Tasos Kissas through injury. The likes of Nuno Morais, Vinicius and Gustavo Manduca will be assessed closer to kick off, but should be fit to feature.

Away - Paris Saint Germain
Last away matches - W-D-W-D-D-D

Paris Saint Germain aiming to take all 3 points in Cyprus as the mega rich French champion looking to win Group F following their strong performance with a win over Barcelona at home 3 weeks ago by 3-2! The visitor is 15 competitive games unbeaten so far.PSG beat Lens 3-1 on Friday in the league, with Edinson Cavani was sent off, he will be banned in the next League game, with Zaltan Ibrahimovic acting ill and refused to play, Cavani will be a better choice to back him to score.Laurent Blanc will be without Marquinhos through injury, while Thiago Silva and David Silva are doubts. Silva, however, has travelled with the squad and should come into the starting XI. Ezequiel Lavezzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are both sidelined.

Asian Handicap
Home - (+1.00)
Away - (-1.00)
Pick - APOEL Nicosia (+1.00)
Odds - 2.07
Stakes - 10/10
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
10/20/2014

AS Roma vs Bayern Munchen

Home - AS Roma
Last away matches - L-D-W-W-W-W

Roma’s rise to the top has once again been based on a veteran, but extremely solid, defence. Aside from the 3-2 defeat at Juventus, Roma have conceded just one goal in six games, and the experienced, still truly world-class defender, Ashley Cole has settled in absolutely seamlessly to the Roma backline. There is a real Premier League feel to their line-up, with Cole joined by other former Premier League players in the shape of Yanga-Mbiwa, Maicon and Gervinho. Italian goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis is the favored player having featured in six of the seven Serie A fixtures they have played in. The club have only conceded four goals so far which is only one more than champions Juventus. Young striker Mattia Destro seems to be starting the season with great form having now scored three goals so far, although Carlos Tevez is leading the goals race having scored double.

Away - Bayern Munchen
Last away matches - W-W-D-D-W-L

Bayern warmed up for this tricky looking tie by walloping Werder Bremen at home, and the bad news for the home side is that Franck Ribery is back in the Bayern team and apparently firing on all cylinders. A front four of Ribery, Robben, Muller and Lewandowski looks pretty intimidating, and there is no doubt that Bayern have the quality to win the entire competition once more this season. It comes as no surprise that Manuel Neuer is the number one goalkeeper with him also earning that same title when comparing him to the worlds best. Pepe Reina is still waiting to play his first game for the club since signing from Liverpool, which seems like such a wasted talent to sit and warm a bench. Mario Gotze (7) and Robert Lewandowski (4) are doing very well when it comes to the goals, and we also see Thomas Muller having scored 5 in all competitions.

Asian Handicap
Home - (+0.75)
Away - (-0.75)
Pick - Bayern Munchen (-0.75)
Odds - 2.28
Stakes - 10/10
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
10/20/2014

Barcelona vs Ajax

Home - Barcelona
Last away matches - W-L-D-W-W-W

With a squad of superstars Barcelona have made hard work of winning lately, its been mostly second half dominations throughout the last month and while I think that the Nou Camp crowd will expect a big performance on Tuesday night I cant help but feel that the home teams first half struggles may continue. Neymar and Messi have been brilliant averaging a goal a game each the two south american superstars elevate Barcelona to the elite level but at the moment I think Barcelona's midfield are struggling to impose themselves. Xavi looks like his influence is on the wain, Iniesta while still brilliant is not having as much joy in the creative department and Luis Enrique is still settling in as manager. It seems shortsighted to have a negative outlook on Barcelona while the team is top of the league by four points but I believe they will struggle this season against the better teams and their first real league test will come next Saturday when they visit the Bernebeau.

Away - Ajax
Last away matches - D-D-W-W-W-L

For Ajax they may be hoping that Barcelona have one eye firmly fixed on the upcoming El Classico and may not be fully prepared for what should be a tough game. Frank De Boar's side have plenty of ability both in the midfield and up front and will not be underprepared going into this game. Defensively Ajax are not bad either and they will have a gameplan to deal with Messi and Neymar, whether they will be able to hold the two for the entire ninty minutes is another matter. With Sigborsson and Milik though De Boar has two goalscoring threats that can keep Barcelona's porous defence honest.

Asian Handicap
Home - (-2.25)
Away - (+2.25)
Pick - Ajax (+2.25)
Odds - 2.11
Stakes - 8/10
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
10/20/2014

BATE Borisov vs Sharhtar Donetsk

Home - BATE Borisov
Last away matches - W-W-D-L-W-D

BATE Borisov coach Aleksandr Yermakovich believes his side can continue to emerge as surprise contenders in UEFA Champions League Group H when they face Shakhtar Donetsk in Belarus on Tuesday.Yermakovich's side looked hopelessly outclassed when they were beaten 6-0 in Porto in their opening group stage game in September.But they fought back with a fine 2-1 win over Athletic Club at the end of the same month to move up to second place in the group.That result was the first of a run of four straight wins in all competitions which helped Borisov consolidate their narrow lead at the top of the Belarusian Premier League.

Away - Sharhtar Donetsk
Last away matches - L-L-W-D-W-W

Shakhtar's season has stuttered in recent weeks and the mood in the squad will not have improved with the news that their Donbass Arena home suffered extensive damage from shelling again this week.Mircea Lucescu's men have started Group H with two draws and head to Borisov on the back of just two wins from their last six games in all competitions, though they were boosted by a 6-2 win over Volyn in the Ukrainian Premier League on Friday night.

Asian Handicap
Home - (+0.25)
Away - (-0.25)
Pick - BATE Borisov (+0.25)
Odds - 2.26
Stakes - 9/10