Champions League Tips

Friday is derby day in Hamburg as St Pauli take on Hamburg in a key game in the battle against the drop. St Pauli are propping up the table but the visitors are just five points above their neighbours, and home advantage could give the Kiezkicker the edge. St Pauli performed well in defeat to Dortmund last time out and they won the reverse fixture 2-0, while Hamburg are on a four-game winless run and have been woeful on their travels – with no wins and six defeats in eight trips so far. Back St Pauli to make their home advantage count with a victory on the Heiligengeistfeld.

Malaga are La Liga 2’s form team as a run of five successive wins has seen them break into the play-off spots. Los Albicelestes have been strong at home all season with just one defeat in 11 league games, and they can see off a Burgos side who have lost two of their last three away games in this competition. Malaga have only managed one clean sheet in their last 15 games, however, so Burgos can grab a consolation effort.

Inter are averaging just under 2.5 goals per game at home in the league but that rises to three per game against bottom-half clubs. Pisa have shipped 20 in 10 away trips this term, so the hosts can hit at least three on Friday.

West Brom suffered their second defeat under new manager Eric Ramsay in midweek as they were torn apart by Norwich. They have the second worst away record in the Championship and have lost their last ten league trips, while Derby have won two games on the spin and have won their last four meetings with West Brom. Derby have kept clean sheets in 75% of their home wins, while West Brom have scored just one goal across their last three league trips.

PSG suffered Champions League defeat in midweek, but they have won six of their last seven Ligue 1 assignments and have the second best defensive record in the division. They face an Auxerre side on a four-game losing streak and harbouring the worst attacking record in the top flight.

This is a match-up between two big-hitting heavyweights. Cortes-Acosta claimed three knockout wins in five fights last year, while 10 of Lewis’ last 11 contests have finished early. Whoever wins this one, it is unlikely to reach the second half of the fight.

Sean O’Malley should have too much for Song Yadong as he looks to respond to back-to-back losses to Merab Dvalishvili. Song pulled off a career-best win over Henry Cejudo in his last bout, but the style clash should suit O’Malley.

These two fighters are both likely to bring chaos to the Octagon and ultimately that may favour Pimblett. Gaethje has the edge in striking but Pimblett is the stronger grappler and his submission threat could prove decisive.

These two fighters are both likely to bring chaos to the Octagon and ultimately that may favour Pimblett. Gaethje has the edge in striking but Pimblett is the stronger grappler and his submission threat could prove decisive.

FEBRUARY –  The Texans’ suffocating defence has been the key to their eight-game winning run and with the AFC looking the less competitive conference this season after the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs, they have the talent to go a long way. Quarterback CJ Stroud is fully fit again and can look for an elite wide receiver in Nico Collins while former first-round picks Will Anderson Jr. and Derek Stingley Jr. are just two of their many defensive stars.

JULY – Elena Rybakina looks a bet in her bid to repeat her 2022 triumph at the All England Club. The Kazakhstani has had a tough couple of years, due in the main to off-court issues, but she finished last year on a high with victory at the WTA Finals. She’s a superb grass-court player who is as good as Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek when she’s on her game.

JULY – Alex Noren enjoyed a resurgence in his career in 2025, winning twice on the DP World Tour, and 2026 could finally be the year he ends his long wait for a maiden Major. The Swede has an affinity for links golf, evidenced by his victory at the 2016 Scottish Open and his two top-10 Open finishes, he could go all the way and land the Claret Jug in 2026.

DECEMBER – Mercedes may have botched the ground-effect era, but the Silver Arrows have a strong record of responding well to rule changes, and the sweeping regulation shift coming in 2026 should bring the title back into play. Their power unit has already come under, and been cleared, of scrutiny, suggesting it is likely to be among the strongest engines on the grid, and they have the driver lineup to win the consistent points necessary to land the constructor crown.

Aryna Sabalanka has reached each of the last six Grand Slam finals played on hardcourts and has won four of those. The Belarusian has won two of the last three editions of the Australian Open and can respond to the disappointment of losing last year’s final by taking the trophy in 2026.

This has the potential to be a high-scoring clash as both of the sides’ league games average over three goals per-game. Eindhoven have seen over 3.5 goals land in three of their last four games, while Cambuur have scored six goals themselves across their last two fixtures.

Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in four of Dordrecht’s last six games and they have conceded in all of those. Den Bosch have seen at least three goals scored in 11 of their last  games.

Jong Utrecht have been involved in some highly entertaining games lately as at least four goals have been scored in six of their last seven fixtures, while there have been goals at both ends in each of their last nine. Struggling Maastricht’s home games average 3.2 goals per-game and they score 1.5 per-game themselves at this venue, these sides can combine for at least four in total.

There have been at least three goals scored in six consecutive Den Haag games, while over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in 80% of Vitesse’s home league fixtures.

Inter have scored two or more goals in six of their last eight home league games while Pisa have conceded two or more goals in seven of their last nine away Serie A matches. The visitors have scored in six of their last seven away contests, however, and can at least get on the scoresheet.

Rock bottom Bastia have shown a bit of fight of late with seven points in their last three games, doubling their total for the season in that period. They can continue their revival by beating out of sorts Montpellier, who have just one point to show from their last five games. The visitors can at least strike in defeat, however, as Montpellier have scored in eight of their last 10 trips across all comps.

Backing both teams to score looks the best angle here as both defences have been woeful this season,. AFS have shipped a hefty 44 goals in just 18 league games, while Casa Pia haven’t fared much better as they concede on average just under two goals per-game. Casa Pia are the more likely winners as they face an AFS side who are still waiting for a first league win, but the hosts have just one clean sheet at home this season and look likely to concede even if they do claim the points.

Inter forward Lautaro Martinez has 11 Serie A goals this season and three strikes in his last six games. He looks the most likely scorer for the hosts against Pisa.

David Larrubia scored the only goal of the game in Malaga’s success over Cordoba last time out and he can follow that up with a strike against Burgos, having managed two goals and an assist in his last five games.

Eric Smith has been exceptional for St Pauli since returning from a one-game ban. The Swedish midfielder scored in the defeat to Wolfsburg and set up both of his side’s goals at Dortmund last time out. He can continue his strong run with a goal in Friday’s derby.

Malaga are La Liga 2’s form team as a run of five successive wins has seen them break into the play-off spots. Los Albicelestes have been strong at home all season with just one defeat in 11 league games, and they can see off a Burgos side who have lost two of their last three away games in this competition.

PSG suffered Champions League defeat in midweek, but they have won six of their last seven Ligue 1 assignments and have the second best defensive record in the division. They face an Auxerre side on a four-game losing streak and harbouring the worst attacking record in the top flight.

Friday is derby day in Hamburg as St Pauli take on Hamburg in a key game in the battle against the drop. St Pauli are propping up the table but the visitors are just five points above their neighbours, and home advantage could give the Kiezkicker the edge. St Pauli performed well in defeat to Dortmund last time out and they won the reverse fixture 2-0, while Hamburg are on a four-game winless run and have been woeful on their travels – with no wins and six defeats in eight trips so far. Back St Pauli to make their home advantage count with a victory on the Heiligengeistfeld.

West Brom suffered their second defeat under new manager Eric Ramsay in midweek as they were torn apart by Norwich. They have the second worst away record in the Championship and have lost their last ten league trips, while Derby have won two games on the spin and have won their last four meetings with West Brom.

Malaga are La Liga 2’s form team as a run of five successive wins has seen them break into the play-off spots. Los Albicelestes have been strong at home all season with just one defeat in 11 league games, and they can see off a Burgos side who have lost two of their last three away games in this competition.

Inter have scored two or more goals in six of their last eight home league games while Pisa have conceded two or more goals in seven of their last nine away Serie A matches. The visitors have scored in six of their last seven away contests, however, and can at least get on the scoresheet.

Elche have scored in nine of their last ten Primera Liga games and the best bet is both teams to score when they visit Levante on Friday. Both sides have been struggling defensively. Levante have failed to keep a clean sheet in 17 of their last 20 games, while Elche have conceded on all nine of their away days this season.

Backing both teams to score looks the best angle here as both defences have been woeful this season,. AFS have shipped a hefty 44 goals in just 18 league games, while Casa Pia haven’t fared much better as they concede on average just under two goals per-game. Casa Pia are the more likely winners but they have just one clean sheet at home this season and look likely to concede even if they do claim the points.

Inter are averaging just under 2.5 goals per game at home in the league but that rises to three per game against bottom-half clubs. Pisa have shipped 20 in 10 away trips this term, but have scored at least once in six of their last seven on the road, which suggests a 3-1 defeat could be on the cards for the visitors.

West Brom suffered their second defeat under new manager Eric Ramsay in midweek as they were torn apart by Norwich. They have the second worst away record in the Championship and have lost their last ten league trips, while Derby have won two games on the spin and have won their last four meetings with West Brom. Two of Derby’s last three victories have been by 1-0 scorelines and two of West Brom’s last three league away games have been 1-0 defeats. They have lost 1-0 in two of their last three trips to Pride Park and lost the reverse fixture at the Hawthorns by the same scoreline in September.

Auckland are worthy favourites to see off the second-bottom visitors, who have lost five of their last seven matches. However, both teams have scored in the hosts’ last five at home, while they’ve kept four clean sheets in 13 games this term.

The visitors have kept only one clean sheet on their travels this term, while there have been 16 goals spread across their last four matches. Brisbane Roar have conceded in their last six matches, while BTTS has landed in four of the last five meetings between the pair.

These two sides are underperforming their xG tallies by the biggest margins in the A-League this term, which has seen under 2.5 goals land in 71% of their matches this term. The visitors have seen five of their six trips feature fewer than three goals, while Macarthur have scored just 0.86 goals per game at home this term.

These two sides are underperforming their xG tallies by the biggest margins in the A-League this term, which has seen under 2.5 goals land in 71% of their matches this term. The visitors have seen five of their six trips feature fewer than three goals, while Macarthur have scored just 0.86 goals per game at home this term.

Enzo Le Fee has four goals and four assists this season and can add to that tally against strugglers West Ham in tomorrow’s early kick-off.

Salah has scored 12 goals in 12 Premier League games against Andoni Iraola’s men and will be on penalties so he has a good chance to extend that impressive run.

Hall has been fouled at least twice in nine of his last 11 games and has been brought down 14 times in his last four outings.

Liverpool look like the best value pick, with the Reds putting their struggles behind them with an eight-game unbeaten run. The Reds have the fourth-best Expected Goals record across the first six Champions League gameweeks, while they’ve recorded back-to-back 1-0 wins over Real Madrid and Inter Milan in Europe. Arne Slot’s side have a kind double-header in January, leaving them primed for a top-eight finish. With the Premier League coasting towards a fifth Champions League berth, the Reds should be in a good position to focus on European success in the spring.

Spain have some incredibly talented individuals, Lamine Yamal being the prime example, but are strong in all areas and don’t have any particular weaknesses. They won Euro 2024 with relative ease and they should be too good for their continental rivals at the World Cup. They also look a level above South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil, suggesting they will be the team to beat at the World Cup this summer.