Champions League Betting: Bordeaux v Olympiacos

Champions League / Richard Aikman / 16 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Bordeaux's defence are unlikely to have sleepless nights over having to face former Blackburn striker Matt Derbyshire

"However, a glance at Olympiacos’s away form makes for grim reading. Božidar Bandović’s men failed to register a single win on the road in a group containing Arsenal, AZ Akmaar and Standard Liege."

Olympiacos have the toughest task of all in the Champions League this week after losing 1-0 at home in the first leg and they're unlikely to pull it off against the Ligue1 table-toppers, says Richard Aikman.

Although only a goal separates these two sides from the first leg in Piraeus, the fact that Bordeaux scored it has left the Greeks with Mount Olympus-sized uphill climb.

Olympiacos gave a good account of themselves in the first leg forcing goalkeeper Cédric Carrasso into a series of saves from Ieroklis Stoltidis and Lomana LuaLua, twice, as well as Benoît Trémoulinas into a goal-line clearance from Benoît Trémoulinas late on, but Michaël Ciani's header on the stroke of half-time has effectively killed off this tie.

If that appears a bold statement then you only have to look at Les Girondins' form in this competition. The Ligue 1 side have won six out of their last seven Champions League matches, winning all three of their home matches against Juventus, Bayern Munich and Maccabi Haifa, and they boast the best defensive record in the competition, conceding just two goals in seven matches. In fact not only is the [1.56] about Bordeaux beating their Greek opponents worth snapping up but so is the [28.0] about the French side going all the way. In this sort of form they're capable of mixing it with the best sides in Europe and at worst a few points will be shaved off that price if they get a decent draw or have a good first leg.

It is of course worth pointing out that Bordeaux haven't won in their last three matches and have been caught at the top of Ligue 1 by Montpellier after a 2-1 humbling at home to Auxerre and draws with their co-leaders and Monaco. The absence of centre-back and captain Michel Planus, who could also miss Wednesday's match through injury, has been significant.

However, a glance at Olympiacos's away form makes for grim reading. Božidar Bandović's men failed to register a single win on the road in a group containing Arsenal, AZ Akmaar and Standard Liege. Indeed they didn't so much as muster a goal on their travels, which is perhaps no surprise when you look at a side whose plan A consists of LuaLua and whose plan B consists of Matt Derbyshire. Both players scored in the 2-2 draw with Giannina at the weekend - but there is a reason why they no longer play in the English top-flight. They're simply not good enough.

Olympiacos also lost their last domestic away match, slumping to a 1-0 loss away at Iraklis, so there is absolutely no reason to believe they can clinch the all-important win at [7.6] or even scrape a fruitless draw ([4.1]). Bordeaux should win this by a battle-hardened 1-0 at [6.6] or perhaps even 2-0 ([7.2]). And they can certainly be trusted to keep a clean sheet with or without Planus at [1.95].

Back-to-lay Bordeaux to win the Champions League [28.0]; Back Bordeaux to keep a clean sheet @ [1.95]; Back Bordeaux to win 1-0 @ [6.6]