RADIO
Welcome back to “The Kick-Off”! It has been a while and we are finally here once again. We are heading into the final two matchweeks of the Group Stage play and there are a few key battles on the slate, namely, Chelsea vs Juventus, Lille vs Salzburg and Barcelona vs Benfica.
The main slate will kick-off at 3:00 PM EST with the six matches. Atalanta and Zenit will be the best teams with a chance of a clean sheet and Barcelona will look to remain undefeated in Xavi’s return.
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 1
[H] Barcelona (-160) vs [A] Benfica (+440): Total: 3u
Believe it or not, in the last five meetings between these two one side has always been shutout with the most recent meeting a 3-0 Benfica win. New bench boss Xavi did manage to scrape a 1-0 win in his return to Barcelona, but it will prove much more difficult here. The hosts are without a plethora of bodies and Benfica may just well prove to post back-to-back clean sheets on the Spaniards.
Expected Outcome: 2-0 Benfica
BAR:
Cash/GPP:
D: Alba($6.1K)
M/F: Depay($10.5K)
GPP: Demir($7.7K), Coutinho($6.1K)
BEN:
Cash/GPP:
G: Vlachodimos($3.9K)
D: Grimaldo($4.4K), Gilberto($3.1K)
M/F: Rafa($5.8K), Mario($3.8K)
GPP: Nunez($5K), Yaremchuk($4.2K)
[H] Young Boys (+290) vs [A] Atalanta (-105): Total: 3o
Young Boys have been on a steady decline for the past month or so with a single win in their last six matches. They have been outscored 14-7 in that window. Meanwhile, Atalanta is undefeated in their last six with three wins. If Atalanta wins this matchup, they will also jump at least one of Villarreal or Manchester United if not both. With the wave of injuries plaguing the hosts, this may very well become the lock of the slate for Atalanta to win.
Expected Outcome: 3-0 Atalanta
YB:
Cash/GPP:
D: Garcia($4.5K)
M/F: Aebischer($5.1K)
GPP: Ngamaleu($7K), Elia($6.2K), Siebatcheu($4.7K)
ATA:
Cash/GPP:
G: Musso($5.1K)
D: Zappacosta($5.5K), Maehle($3.9K)
M/F: Zapata($9.2K), Pessina($4.8K)
GPP: Pasalic($5.5K)
[H] Sevilla (-135) vs [A] Wolfsburg (+415): Total: 2 1/2u
Both sides are coming into this meeting with relatively the same form. Sevilla has won three of their last six matches and at one point, Wolfsburg was on a three-game win streak that included a 2-1 home win against RB Salzburg. Whoever wins this match will possibly leapfrog the entire table into first, otherwise, they will at least take over second. The first meeting ended in a 1-1 draw a few months ago, it would not be surprising to see the same take effect once more.
Expected Outcome: 1-1
SEV:
Cash/GPP:
D: Acuna($5.6K)
M/F: Rakitic($5.7K), Torres($5.4K)
GPP: Ocampos($7.2K), Mir($5.6K)
WOB:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Arnold($7.5K)
GPP: Nmecha($7.7K), Weghorst($5.4K), Pervan($4.2K), Lukebakio($3.6K)
[H] Lille (+146) vs [A] RB Salzburg (+185): Total: 2 1/2o
This will prove one of the tougher matchups on the slate with both teams contending for first place in Group G. Lille have lost only once in their last six matches and the same goes for Salzburg, however, the visitors have also won three times as well. If someone is to edge out a win here, it would be Salzburg.
Expected Outcome: 2-1 Salzburg
LIL:
Cash/GPP:
D: Celik($3.7K)
M/F: Yilmaz($5.9K), Xeka($5K)
GPP: David($7.4K), Weah($5.3K), Onan($3.1K)
RBS:
Cash/GPP:
M/F: Aaronson($7K), Seiwald($5.5K)
GPP: Adeyemi($9K), Okafor($7.2K), Kristensen($4.9K), Kohn($4.6K)
[H] Chelsea (-145) vs [A] Juventus (+450): Total: 2/12u
After the last meeting between these two in Turin, Juventus are now 2-0 while outsourcing Chelsea 4-0 in the last two meetings. However, now proceedings return to Stamford Bridge where Chelsea will look to even things and tie Juventus for the group leaders. Both clubs are coming in with great form as well, Chelsea has won five of their last six matches and Juventus is on a three-game win streak after dropping two consecutive matches.
Expected Outcome: 2-0 Chelsea
CHE:
Cash/GPP:
D: Chilwell($7.2K)
M/F: Mount($9.5K), Ziyech($8.9K)
GPP: Werner($7.9K), James($6.7K), Mendy($5.4K)
JUV:
Cash/GPP:
D: Cuadrado($5K)
M/F: Chiesa($8.2K)
GPP: Morata($6.6K), Kulusevski($5.1K), Szczęsny($4K), Locatelli($3.7K)
[H] Malmoe FF (+270) vs [A] Zenit (-110): Total:
Both clubs are coming in at almost identical form, however, Zenit does have the upper hand after winning 4-0 in their first meeting. Malmoe still has yet to score their first goal and Zenit is looking much healthier than their first meeting a few months ago. Outside of the Atalanta match, this is easily the next straightforward outcome.
Expected Outcome: 2-0 Zenit
MAL:
Cash/GPP:
D: Olsson($2.9K)
GPP: Birmancevic($5.6K), Pena($4K), Berget($3.9K)
ZEN:
Cash/GPP:
G: Kerzhakov($5.2K)
D: Santos($5.7K), Barrios($3.3K)
M/F: Dzyuba($4.9K), Malcolm($7.3K), Claudinho($7.1K)
Expected Corner Takers:
Barcelona: Depay
Benfica: Mario/Grimaldo
Young Boys: Aebischer/Garcia
Atalanta: Zappacosta/Zapata/Pessina
Sevilla: Acuna/Torres
Wolfsburg: Arnold
Lille: Xeka/Yilmaz
RB Salzburg: Seiwald
Chelsea: Ziyech/Mount/Chilwell
Juventus: Chiesa/Cuadrado
Malmoe: Pena
Zenit: Malcom/Claudinho, Rakitsky
Thanks for reading The Kick-Off! Good luck in all of your contests today!
