Tuesday's Champions League Tips: Back 7/1 Newcastle special in Marseille & 3/1 Barca at the Bridge

• Back Barca to outscore Chelsea at the Bridge at 3/14.00

• Man City to see-off Leverkusen at 6/42.50

• Get 7/18.00 on big Newcastle Bet Builder in Marseille

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Ajax v Benfica

17:45 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 3 & Discovery+

The fixture computer throws up a quirky one with these two famous European names the only two sides in the Champions League yet to win a point after four defeats in four and just three goals between them.

Hapless Benfica are 17/201.85 favourites against even more hapless hosts Ajax then, who are 16/54.20, as someone somehow will end up with points on the board one way or another. You'd suspect goals after conceding a combined 22, but that lack of scoring power from both is a worry.

Jose Mourinho has lost all of his three Champions League games with Benfica, he's never lost four in a row in 154 games in the competition, and I don't expect him to start now - so we'll go for somewhat of a throwback game for Jose. With Ajax losing both their home games so far without scoring the blueprint is there to follow.

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Galatasaray v Union SG

17:45 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 4 & Discovery+

Galatasaray dished out one of those Ajax home defeats, 3-0 last time out, and they're 8/131.61 to make it four wins on the spin in the competition after being thrashed 5-1 by Frankfurt in their opener.

4/15.00 Union have gone the other way by losing three straight after beating PSV, but facing Newcastle, Inter and Atletico Madrid would be a tough run for anyone. It's hard to see them coping with Gala's scoring power even if the hosts are missing Victor Osimhen, so expect this to go the way of eight of their last nine European games which contained over 2.5 goals.

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Chelsea v Barcelona

20:00 kick-off
Live on Amazon Prime

Chelsea are 7/52.40 favourites against the 17/102.70 Spanish giants, who played their first game back at the Nou Camp at the weekend in a 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao, so both teams are in good spirits with the Blues easing to a win at Burnley.

Barca won at Newcastle without Lamine Yamal, so I fancy them to also pick up the points here with the young superstar back in the side, that's even considering them being held to a 3-3 draw at Club Brugge last time out. Chelsea will present a huge test but there's just a bit too much nous in Hansi Flick's side to pinch what could be a cracker.

 

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Bodo/Glimt v Juventus

20:00 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports Extra

Five draws between them so far in eight games - two for Bodo-Glimt and three for Juventus, which is why the Italian giants are only 6/52.20 for the away win and not a lot shorter, while the hosts are 21/103.10 which considering the size difference seems a touch short.

Maybe 11/43.75 the draw is the play since they both love a stalemate? Amazingly, all four of Juve's games in Norway have ended 1-1, and although it looks odd at first glance, Juve's away form has been poor in general, but only Real Madrid have beaten them in this season's Champions League, that could all add up to yet another stalemate.

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Dortmund v Villarreal

20:00 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 4

You could excuse Villarreal losing to Spurs and Man City and being held at home by Juventus, but losing to Pafos last time out was a shocker, so nobody gives the 16/54.20 shots much hope in Dortmund, with the hosts odds-on at 20/231.87 for a third win in five so far.

The Germans have scored four goals in three of four games in this group stage, and that's not the kind of scoring power the Spanish visitors can live with even though Dortmund will give them chances as they tend to drag teams into shootouts, but usually they come out on top.

 

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Man City v Leverkusen

20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 1 & Discovery+

A hefty 1/51.20 is quoted on Pep Guardiola winning what is his 100th Champions League game in charge of Man City, with 62 wins from the first 99 you can see why, despite Saturday's damaging defeat at Newcastle. 

Bayer Leverkusen got their first win of the group stage last time, but that did come against pointless Benfica and with just one win in six Champions League aways you can see why they're 11/112.00 to inflict a first home defeat in 24 group games for City.

So something like the 4-1 win over Dortmund last time can probably be expected for City, with Leverkusen scoring in every game so far the 6/42.50 on a home win and both teams to score seems fair. If he starts, I'd also add in Phil Foden 2+ shots on target for a combined 4/15.00 Bet Builder but the outright remains the main bet.

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Marseille v Newcastle

20:00 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports 2

Newcastle visit the south of France as 29/202.45 favourites but you just wonder how much Saturday's win over Man City took out of them, as it was a maximum effort performance. They still should beat 19/102.90 home underdogs Marseille but there's an element of risk here in what should be a decent atmosphere as well.

Eddie Howe's side have won just once in 10 away games - against Union SG in this group stage - but they've kept things tight with three clean sheets in four, so I'm edging towards a draw at 12/53.40 as they've got enough defensive nous to frustrate the hosts and a point wouldn't be the worst result in the world.

We love a quirky Bet Builder here though so I'll pair the draw with Sandro Tonali to be fouled 2+ times at 13/82.63 as the Italian's won 10 fouls in just three Champions League outings, while Marseille have given away 61 in their four games so far.  

Uefa Champions League - Top 6 Fouls Won

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Napoli v Qarabag

20:00 kick-off
Live on Discovery+ & TNT Sports Extra

Surprise package Qarabag are three points above Napoli in the standings after a great 2-2 home draw against Chelsea last time, while the Italians had a goalless stalemate against Frankfurt at the Stadio Olimpico. As Serie A champions they're still massive odds-on at 2/71.29 but there's just a hint of them not being as rock-solid as they should.

And Qarabag have already won away from home in the group stage, albeit at troubled Benfica, and they've lost just twice in 10 European games this season and scored in every one. At 10/111.00 though an away win would still be a huge shock, and even the 5/16.00 draw would raise an eyebrow. I'll back them to be lively and perhaps give the hosts a fright but nothing more.

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Slavia Prague v Athletic Bilbao

20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports Extra & Discovery+

Just one win from four for Athletic Bilbao but you always have to check the fixtures in this group stage, and losing to Arsenal, Dortmund and Newcastle were expected results and they beat Qarabag as expected. This trip to Prague is a bit more of a coin toss with the Spaniards 7/52.40 and Slavia 2/13.00.

The Czechs have just two goals and two draws to their name so far to make it 11 European games without a win, while conceding at least twice in seven of eight, so this looks a decent opportunity for Bilbao to get a rare away win in Europe.

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