Tuesday
Fixture: Marseille 1-2 Liverpool
Venue: Stade Velodrome (Marseille home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST
Verdict: I'm going to keep these brief - because I am away on holiday but no less astute and correct. Liverpool are gutsy, I'll give them that, but whereas they have appeared to have adopted their style of play specifically for Europe in the last few seasons, they have now reverted back to a backs-to-the-wall Premier club. And those don't do that well in Europe. Marseille are a classy side, who are exceptionally difficult to beat at home and they are well fancied to win against a Liverpool side I have little confidence in at the moment.
Betting Advice: 3pts Marseille win at 5/2 (3.5 at Canbet.com)
Fixture: Panathinaikos 0-2 Inter Milan
Venue: Athens Olympic Stadium (Panathinaikos home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST
Verdict: With the humbling of Olympiakos against minnows Anorthosis from Cyprus in the final qualifying round, Panathinaikos are the sole Greek representative in the group stages and I don't expect them to last too long. Inter have started the season OK, but coach Jose Mourinho knows the Champions League so well having been a regular at the semi-final stage for so many years at Chelsea. I expect them to win this one narrowly.
Betting Advice: 1pt Inter to win at 21/20 (2.05 at Blue Square and 888sport)
Wednesday
Fixture: Lyon 2-2 Fiorentina
Venue: Municipal de Gerland (Lyon home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST
Verdict: Many are expecting Lyon to be eliminated in the group stages as they were last year, but I think this is the year to back them. With success at domestic level considered the norm, they have to start performing at European club level for the sake of France if nothing else. They have the attacking flair to break down a Fiorentina side that has struggled so far this season.
Betting Advice: 2pts Lyon to win at 19/20 (1.95 at VC Bet and William Hill)
Fixture: Celtic 0-0 Aab
Venue: Celtic Park (Celtic home)
Kick-off: 7.45pm BST
Verdict: The Jutland minnows have not been given a chance in this league, but they may surprise Celtic who have not looked good at all this season and whose home form in the Champions League looks good on paper, but has been very lucky/sketchy on grass. Aab Aalborg have strength at the back, and a solid keeper in Moroccan shot stopper Karim Zaza, which makes the Asian Handicap betting interesting.
Betting Advice: 1pt Aab +1 on Asian Handicap at 23/20 (2.15 at Bet365)
