Wednesday's Champions League Tips: Back 5/1 Bayer bet for Newcastle & City to win Bernabeu blockbuster

• Back 5/16.00 player prop for Leverkusen v Newcastle

• Brugge 15/82.88 to bag against Arsenal

• Man City 11/43.75 to win Bernabeu blockbuster

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Qarabag v Ajax

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

Imagine a few years ago Ajax being 11/43.75 going to Baku to face Azerbaijan side Qarabag - but the fallen Dutch giants have lost all five games so far and scored just one single goal, so the hosts are slight odds on at 19/201.95.

Ajax's woeful return means we'll back the hosts here, and while they've let in plenty of late, their last seven home wins have come with a clean sheet so if we're taking Qarabag let's take them to win to nil against a side with just one goal in five.

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Villarreal v FC Copenhagen

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

Just one point in the bank for Villarreal so far yet they're 4/91.44 favourites at home - where they held Juventus to a 2-2 draw - during a tough stretch of fixtures. Copenhagen, a big 11/26.50 here, have lost both away games against Spurs and Qarabag without scoring.

Only two of 11 Villarreal games have seen both teams score while, and in La Liga they've rattled off six straight wins - four with accompanying clean sheets. That should be good enough form to finally get a group stage win.

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Club Brugge v Arsenal

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

Defeat at Aston Villa was a bit of a fly in the oitment, but Arsenal always lose to Villa don't they? And they're still a perfect 5-from-5 in the Champions League with just the one goal conceded. So at 3/101.30 there shouldn't really be an issue even though Brugge will offer lively opposition on home soil even as 9/110.00 underdogs.

The Belgian side are unbeaten in their two home games so far, beating Monaco 4-1 and then earning that incredible 3-3 draw with Barcelona so let's back the home side to at least give their fans a goal to shout about.

 

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Athletic Bilbao v PSG

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

It's 4/71.57 on the European champions who sit in second in the table after their eventful win over Spurs, with Athletic Bilbao finding life tough in the group so far with just the one win - hence the 9/25.50 on the Spaniards at home.

PSG have made a habit of fast starts in away games in the Champions League, taking the lead inside 20 minutes in four of five, so we'll back another fast start in Bilbao and a typically goal-heavy PSG victory.

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Benfica v Napoli

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

Benfica finally got a win last time out, although it was against bottom club Ajax, so they've still questions to answer as 13/102.30 favourites. Napoli have only beaten Qarabag and Sporting so haven't had the best start - but five wins on the spin in all competitions sees them in good form and well priced at 21/103.10 having just beaten Juventus to go top of Serie A.

I can't see many goals and the draw is a distinct possibility here, but I just think Napoli are high on confidence heading to Portugal, and with successive clean sheets in Europe they're tightening things up. I'll back them to pinch this one, with the price good enough to avoid having to back clean sheets or goals.

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Bayer Leverkusen v Newcastle

20:00 kick-off
Live on TNT Sports 3 & Discovery+

What a result that was for Leverkusen winning at Man City, but they're still 2/13.00 home underdogs against 13/102.30 shots Newcastle, who lost at Marseille last time but enjoyed a thumping win at Everton to end a run of four straight away defeats.

Form on the road is still a worry for Eddie Howe's side, but Bayer lost at home to Dortmund last time out and also got hammered at home by PSG, so this one looks finely balanced. I quite like a score draw here.

But a player prop that caught the eye was a double on Leverkusen's Alex Grimaldo, who leads the team with 15 shots on target this season and is also their most fouled player, with multiple against him in six games this season.

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Dortmund v Bodo/Glimt

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

Dortmund have been very Dortmund-like so far, scoring four goals in all but one game and winning three from five, so no surprise to see them 1/41.25 against winless Bodo/Glimt. 

Both sides have seen their games full of goals, with over 3.5 goals landing in nine of the 10 games they've played in so far.

 

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Juventus v Pafos

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

Juventus are the biggest favourites of the night at 1/71.14 but they're actually level on six points with surprise package Pafos - who are 19/120.00 to create the ultimate upset here. The Cypriots even have a better win (Villarreal) on their resume than Juve (Bodo/Glimt) so could possibly the 7/18.00 draw be on the cards?

It's not likely is it? But Pafos may make a game of things as they don't concede too many and they'll go out to frustrate the hosts - even though it won't work ultimately I'm not expecting a landslide.

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Real Madrid v Man City

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

Real Madrid are in a spot of bother at the moment after just two wins from seven, with Xabi Alonso admitting as much after Sunday's home loss to Celta Vigo - so this looks a great chance for Man City as they head to the Bernabeu as slight 29/202.45 favourites.

Real are 13/82.63 so there's nothing in it, and it could be a belter going on recent form. Real's last Champions League game was a 4-3 win and after City have gone 3-2, 5-4, 3-0 in their three straight wins then you'd be shocked if goals didn't flow.

There should be a response from real but the rumblings of discontent have to be taken into account - Pep Guardiola loves beating his old arch rivals as well so that's also a factor.

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Now read all of our in-depth Champions League match previews and best bets

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