The UEFA Champions League returns with the sixth and final round in the group stages, as our soccer expert previews games taking place across Europe, sharing his betting tips for the biggest games.

 

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PSV vs Arsenal (Tuesday 17:45 UTC)

The Gunners travel to the Philips Stadium, Eindhoven, for the last game of a successful foray in Group B. Although their position as table leaders and progression to the last sixteen is assured, their opposition still has to cement their standing in the table with at least a point as RC Lens could still grasp second place with a win over Sevilla. The English and Dutch sides last battled at the Emirates back in September, and the Londoners emerged victors 4-0.

PSV made it fifteen wins from fifteen games in the Dutch Eredivisie last week with a solid 2-0 home win over Heerenveen. With the match being played on a Thursday, they will have plenty of time to recuperate before they welcome their future opponents. The stats for the game paint a solid picture, with 62% possession, and a mammoth thirty shots, eight of which were on target. Goals could be well expected and indeed they came either side of halftime from Guus Til and Ricardo Pepi. It would take an epic misadventure for the club now to lose the top spot and title, as their nearest rivals for the title Feyenoord lag ten points behind as we approach the winter break.

Dutch international hitman Luuk de Jong has had a brilliant start to the season and impressively leads the Champions League goal tally charts with seven to his name. Complimenting his continental adventures, he currently has ten goals and six assists in the domestic league and will for sure present the biggest threat to the Arsenal defence. Speaking before the team's last face-off on matchday one he was under no illusions of the challenge ahead, 'You have to watch out against teams like Arsenal as little errors will kill you, they will score goals.' His participation will be essential in ensuring his side's qualification out of the group, regardless of the outcome in Northern France. PSV Team Total - Match - Over 1.5 at 2.06

The away side succumbed last Saturday to a remarkable Aston Villa team who have exceeded expectations with their season's campaign. Manager Unai Emery will be pleased to have tripped up his former club's title ambitions with the 1-0 win. Current manager Mikel Arteta had to watch his side falter from the director's box following a one-match touchline ban. Indeed, dominating in the game with 62% possession, the game is one missed opportunity for the travelling team as there were plenty of chances to put the ball into the back of the Villans net to omit John McGinn's strike in the seventh minute. Thus, a six-game winning run in all competitions was brought to a sombre end for Arsenal in Birmingham.

However, it is not all doom and gloom for the Red & Whites, as this defeat is only the second of the season. They currently lie in second place with thirty-six points, one behind current leaders Liverpool after they beat Crystal Palace 2-1. There is cause for pride as not since their 2005-06 outing on the continent have, they won at least five group-stage games in a single Champions League season. After thrashing Lens last month with a rare 6-0 scoreline, Arsenal will commence their final matchday with an enviable positive goal difference of twelve, the best of all other teams currently in the continent's premier club competition. Arsenal to Score? Yes at 1.236

A solid encounter for the Dutch outfit here, and they'll be under no illusions of the visitor's lethality in the goal box, especially after recent scorelines. With home advantage, a leading man of their own and one foot in the group stages, they'll be looking to finish in style over the side who bested them at the season's commencement. 

1x2 2.47 3.82 2.67

 

Manchester Utd vs Bayern Munich (Tuesday 20:00 UTC)

The Devils welcome Stern des Südens to the Theatre of Dreams with both sides off the back of an abysmal weekend in domestic affairs suffering grievous defeats. The Bavarians already have their ticket to the next round stamped, though for United there is a question mark over whether they will be playing any continental football at all this season after the game. Stern rivals in European affairs, these sides have met several times in the past and are both some of the most successful clubs in their countries, so it's never a minor occasion when the pair clash. One of the most memorable encounters was the 1998/99 UCL final at Camp Nou, Barcelona which United won 2-1 in extra or 'Fergie' time with goals from Sheringham and Solskjær. The same scoreline to the hosts this time around is currently at 10.88

A win though may not be enough for United as they require a particular set of circumstances to emerge if they are to pull a blinder and inch into second place in Group A behind Bayern. Copenhagen and Galatasaray, who will face off in Denmark at the same time are both one point ahead and would have to end the match in a draw alongside a Manchester win if continental ambitions were to continue for the Reds. A big task awaits the Manchester defensive lines as they will have to tighten up lest they could have the most goals conceded across all the groups, they are currently at fourteen for a negative two difference. Manchester United - Handicap - Match +0.5 at 1.653

An unlikely 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford on the weekend at the hands of the Cherries was a stark reminder that all is still not well at the club. Despite eclipsing their opposition with 69% possession and twenty attempts on goal, they emerged bruised and battered at the final whistle. Radical change could be on the cards over the winter break for the wavering giant, as alongside the calls for Ten Hag's resignation and the board to be changed up, club legend Roy Keane has also stated that the captaincy should be removed from Bruno Fernandes. Stating back in October, ''I know it's a big decision, but Fernandes is not captain material. He's a talented player, but what I saw today - he's whingeing, he's moaning, he's throwing his arms up in the air constantly - it isn't acceptable. When you're talking about where they make changes - board level, managers - I'd start with that because the manager is capable of doing that.''

The German champions endured a humbling defeat at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend, with the scoreline of 5-1 also marking the first time they have been bettered this season in the league. German international midfielder Joshua Kimmich provided the solitary consolation goal for the away side, his first of the season. Bayern will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in UCL group-stage away games to twenty matches this week, and impressively the last eight of those have resulted in victory. Bayern Munich - First Team to Score at 1.925

Matchday one of the group stages resulted in an electric 4-3 scoreline for Bayern over United at the Allianz Arena in September. Head-to-head over the history of the competition these two clubs have played thirteen matches, United have won two, Bayern have won five and there have been five draws. Once again on the scoreboard against the Devils in their latest foray was Harry Kane, he'll be well informed from his time in the Premier League with Tottenham of what to expect on the day. The English international striker has been on fire since landing in Munich and leads the Bundesliga goal tally with eighteen goals, breaking records along the way. Before his move to Germany, there were rumours, he may end up in Manchester and it seems he's made the correct choice. With former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel stating, 'I never doubted Harry Kane would be a success at Bayern Munich'.

The stars will have to align for United on Tuesday evening at Old Trafford, and they will have to play one of the games of their season if they ever hope to remain in a European campaign. Undoubtedly Bayern will show no mercy, with Kane and Tuchel especially looking to beat their all-too-familiar adversaries.

1x2 2.74 4.11 2.31

 

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Newcastle vs AC Milan (Wednesday 20:00 UTC)

Rossoneri will be the final team in Group F to make the trip North to Tyneside. The atmosphere is bound to be electric as both sides still have a chance of progression in the knockout stages by snatching second place from PSG. However, fans from both sides will be wearing Dortmund shirts underneath their own as Paris will need to lose away in Germany to open up any certainties. Both English and Italian sides stumble into the new week after being defeated on the weekend, with the Magpies being thumped 4-1 by a resurgent Tottenham and Milan heartbreaking beaten by Atalanta 3-2 at the last gasp.

Newcastle has triumphed over Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in their last three home games and they are favourited to do the same here too over Milan. Playing at home for the Geordies in front of the Toon Army faithful seemingly lifts them on to overcome the league's finest. However, on the road, they have a mixed bag of results to show for their efforts with many now doubting that they are competing in Europe next season in anything higher than the Europa League or Conference. They teeter above the mid-table doldrums with twenty-six points, with Brighton, West Ham and Fulham nipping at their heels.

Playing away against Ange Postecoglou's Lily Whites in White Hart Lane was not going to be a meagre task, though most would agree it should be a tight game beforehand. Though proceedings quickly ran away from them as Destiny Udogie broke the deadlock in the twenty-sixth minute for his first goal of the season. From then on things went downhill for Eddie Howe's men and ninety minutes in the scoreboard was showing 4-0. A small consolation goal came in injury time from Brazilian international midfielder Joelinton, to make it his second of the season. The side will have to dust themselves off moving into the week and will have to rely on attackers Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak to put to bed the Italian visitors. The former has had a great run of form in 2023 since transferring from Everton in last winter's transfer window and boasts six goals and five assists in this season's Premier League alone.

Milan travelled home last Saturday bitter after being battered in Bergamo, as a ninety-fifth-minute goal from Luis Muriel undid what was a respectable comeback for the Reds as they trailed twice in either half. Opportunities on goal abound for the hosts, despite their opponent's 58% possession. With the opportunity to garner any points now plucked away from them, they stand in 3rd place of the Serie A, seven points behind Juventus and nine behind rivals Inter. Once again on the scoresheet was fan favourite and French international Olivier Giroud. Playing in Italy's top division seems to have suited him well, as he has scored eight goals and contributed five assists in 22/23. Transferring over from Chelsea for the meagre sum of £2.5m back in 2021, the thirty-seven-year-old certainly still has a sting in his tail. AC Milan Goals 1st Half - 1 at 3.15

A tough away game for Milan here on Tyneside, as Newcastle's arena is an indomitable one and the hosts have the record to show it. However, with an all-or-nothing situation for both sides in their respective continental campaigns perhaps we can expect a few surprises on the night.

 

1x2 1.854 4.03 3.91

 

Champions League - Match Day 6 Fixtures (UTC)

Tuesday 12th December

RC Lens vs Sevilla (17:45)

PSV vs Arsenal (17:45)

Union Berlin vs Real Madrid (20:00)

RB Salzburg vs Benfica (20:00)

Napoli vs Braga (20:00)

Inter Milan vs Real Sociedad (20:00)

Copenhagen vs Galatasaray (20:00)

Manchester Utd vs Bayern Munich (20:00)

 

Wednesday 13th December

RB Leipzig vs Young Boys (17:45)

Crvena zvezda vs Manchester City (17:45)

Royal Antwerp vs Barcelona (20:00)

Porto vs Shakhtar Donetsk (20:00)

Celtic vs Feyenoord (20:00)

Borussia Dortmund vs PSG (20:00)

Atlético Madrid vs Lazio (20:00)

Newcastle vs AC Milan (20:00)

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 10:00 UTC Tuesday 12th December**

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