RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off”! Yesterday went according to plan with the majority of favorites winning their respective matches. Today we will have another handful of favorites, most notably: Manchester City -950, Inter Milan -335 and Sporting CP -210.
The main slate will kick-off at 4:00 PM EST with the six matches. Manchester City, Sporting CP and Ajax will be the best teams with a chance of a clean sheet and Sporting is looking to dominate Besiktas and grab a hold of second place in the group.
Remember that during the Champions League and Europa League play, things are much messier and goals come from everywhere or nowhere. When betting, it is not as easy to predict as the domestic play, but the heavy favorites typically never disappoint. On that note, let’s jump right into the matchups and their projected players for the day.
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!If you have any questions on today's slate, bankroll management, GPP strategy, Cash game strategy, or anything else don’t hesitate to email me at bmwvolleyball94@gmail.com or via Twitter @df_solutions or on “SLACK”.
The Kick-Off - UCL Matchweek 5 - Day 2
[H] Manchester City (-950) vs [A] Club Bruges (+2300): Total: 3 1/2u
Bruges have picked up form since their 5-1 loss at home to Manchester City, now they have to travel to the Etihad for yet another meeting with the Premier League giants. However, Manchester City has taken a drastic turn in form, although they will be looking to rebound here. In their last two matches, they have lost to West Ham and Crystal Palace. In that time, they were shut out in both matches. Look for the hosts to take out their frustration against the Belgium side.
Expected Outcome: 4-0 Manchester City
MCL:
Cash/GPP:
G: Ederson($5.9K)
M/F: Mahrez($10.5K), Grealish($8.3K)
GPP: Sterling($7.8K), Gundogan($7.4K)
BRU:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Lang($3.8K)
GPP: Vormer($3.5K), Mignolet($3.5K)
[H] RB Leipzig (+200) vs [A] Paris Saint-Germain (+123): Total: 3o
Leipzig continues to be a surprise in situations where they are heavy dogs. Paris Saint-Germain continues to chug on no matter who goes down with injury or can’t play for whatever reason. That will be the same storyline here when they travel to Germany. Messi has not had quite the start that many expected with the French outfit. The star will once again miss a match, but the visitors will still have the likes of Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria. Leipzig will find it difficult to keep pace with PSG’s offense and they are desperate for points right about now.
Expected Outcome: 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain
RBL:
Cash/GPP:
D: Angelina($5.4K)
GPP: Nkunku($7.1K), Forsberg($5.6K), Olmo($4.7K), Gulacsi($4.7K)
PSG:
Cash/GPP:
D: Mendes($3.8K)
M/F: Neymar($7.9K), Di Maria($7.3K)
GPP: Mbappe($8.2K), Navas($5K)
[H] Liverpool (-152) vs [A] Atletico Madrid (+395): Total: 2 1/2o
The Reds will be looking at this match with extreme focus after they just managed to win this meeting in the reverse fixture 3-2. They also will be hoping to rebound with a tighter-knit defense after they drew with Brighton at the weekend 2-2. Liverpool’s defense has not been the same as it once was this season and it is becoming much easier for the opposition to break the line and get shots off. This will be one of the closer matches of the slate with little fireworks.
Expected Outcome: 2-0 Liverpool
LIV:
Cash/GPP:
G: Alisson($5.5K)
D: Alexander-Arnold($7.2K), Robertson($5.9K)
GPP: Salah($11.7K), Mane($8.1K), Jota($6.9K)
ATL:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Carrasco($4.1K), Koke($3.4K)
GPP: Suarez($6.2K), Felix($5K), Kondogbia($3K)
[H] Borussia Dortmund (+144) vs [A] Ajax (+160): Total: 3 1/2u
Dortmund has rebounded rather well after their shelling from Ajax in the reverse fixture. However, they will not have Haaland in what will be an offensive match. Neither side is afraid to press the ball, but with limited offensive weapons potentially starting for the hosts, it will make it much harder. It is very likely that Ajax runs this rematch the entire game.
Expected Outcome: 3-0 Ajax
DOR:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Brandt($5K)
GPP: Hazard($6.4K), Reus($5.9K), Bellingham($5.4K)
AJA:
Cash/GPP:
G: Pasveer($4.8K)
M/F: Haller($9.2K), Tadic($8.9K), Berghuis($7.6K)
GPP: Antony($7.7K)
[H] Sporting CP(-210) vs [A] Besiktas (+600): Total: 3u
Sporting could not be walking into any better of a spot here. The hosts have won the last two meetings with a combined score of 7-2. They are also undefeated in their last six matches, while Besiktas are struggling for any positivity. Sporting also has a shot to possibly overtake second place in the table if Dortmund loses to Ajax in the other match of Group C.
Expected Outcome: 3-0 Sporting CP
LIS:
Cash/GPP:
G: Adan($5.7K)
D: Porro($5.7K), Reis($3.7K)
M/F: Paulinho($10.2K), Sarabia($7.5K), Pote($6.7K),
GPP:
BSK:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Ghezzal($4K)
[H] FC Sheriff (+880) vs [A] Inter (-335): Total: 3u
Inter have looked much better in their last handful of matches, although they did struggle for the majority of the last meeting against FC Sheriff. FC Sheriff has also looked great and they continue to surprise the soccer world alike with their performances against top-end talent. With the home crowd, they could prove rather difficult for Inter to overcome. This is a battle for second in Group D and it looks to be a close affair.
Expected Outcome: 2-1 Inter
TIR:
Cash/GPP:
G: Athanasiadis($3.6K)
D: Cristiano($3.7K), Costanza($3.1K)
M/F: Thill($4.3K)
GPP: Traore($3.7K), Yakhshiboev($3.4K)
INT:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Brozovic($4.1K)
GPP: Dzeko($9.5K), Martinez($8.4K), Perisic($6.9K), Handanovic($5.8K)
Expected Corner Takers:
Manchester City: Mahrez/Grealish
Club Bruges: Lang/Vormer
Red Bull Leipzig: Angelina/Forsberg
Paris Saint-Germain: Neymar/Di Maria
Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold/Robertson
Atletico Madrid: Koke/Carrasco
Borussia Dortmund: Brandt
Ajax: Tadic/Berghuis
Sporting CP: Pote/Sarabia/Poro
Besiktas: Ghezzal
FC Sheriff: Castaneda/Thill
Inter Milan: Brozovic
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off! Good luck in all of your contests today!
