Ten-time winners Real Madrid lead the way in Group A and they are obviously expected to ease off into the knockout stages, but it is not as if this will be a walk in the park for them. The group also contains star-studded Paris Saint-Germain side, which have reached Champions League last 8 three times in a row. Shakhtar Donetsk are another team with quite a few appearances in Europe’s elite competition and they, too, will be hoping to make it to the next stage, whereas Malmo FF will have their work cut out for them. Having studied all four teams in Group A, we have made our selection of betting tips and outright picks that should offer the best value, so read on to learn more.
Outright Tips
Market: Group Betting
Tip: Real Madrid to Win Group A
Odds: 4/9 @ bet365
Real Madrid have had their share of disappointing results in Champions League knockout stages, but they usually ease off to the first place in their group. Los Blancos have won 11 of last 12 group matches and even though it won’t be easy for them to continue the trend with PSG and Shakhtar looking to claim their scalp, Rafael Benitez’s side should have enough quality and experience to qualify from the top spot and ensure they face easier opponents in the next phase. If everything else fails, the individual quality of Ronaldo, Bale and Rodriguez should suffice.
Market: Group Qualification
Tip: PSG to Qualify from Group A
Odds: 1/7 @ bet365
Paris Saint-Germain have proved time and again that they are much more than an expensively assembled squad, with the Saints not only reaching the Champions League quarter-finals three times on the bounce, but also giving tough time to some of Europe’s strongest sides. With Angel Di Maria and Layvin Kurzawa added to the ranks among others, Laurent Blanc’s charges can be trusted to pip Shakhtar Donetsk to the second place in the group, and maybe even challenge mighty Real for the top spot.
Match Predictions
PSG v Malmo FF
Market: Half-time/Full-time
Tip: PSG/PSG
Odds: 4/11 @ bet365
Paris Saint-Germain kick off the 2015/2016 campaign with the home game against Swedish champions Malmo FF, and no doubt they will be looking to start brightly. The Saints have won first five matches of the season without conceding and appears to have already come very close to top form. The French giants are aware that even goal difference may play a part in deciding who goes through and they will want to win their first match with few goals to spare, so backing them for a half-time/full-time win looks the right thing to do.
Real Madrid v Shakhtar Donetsk
Market: Both Teams to Score
Tip: Yes
Odds: 11/10 @ bet365
Having already experienced some problems in the opening exchanges, Real Madrid will want to start the Champions League campaign with a bang, and no doubt they are going to attack Shakhtar from the off. And while such an approach should see them score several goals past Andriy Pyatov, los Blancos will be leaving plenty of space at the back and that is something very good Shakhtar side will know how to exploit. We, therefore, expect the Pitmen to score at least one goal at Santiago Bernabeu, with both teams to score the obvious choice here.
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