What do Manchester United need to make it through in the Champions League?

Manchester United start life without Ole at the wheel in the early kick-off at Villarreal. Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury time equaliser in the reverse fixture in September, United have won only 2 of their 8 games, a run of form that ultimately cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job. While the powers that be look for an interim manager, Michael Carrick is in temporary charge (the caretaker interim?) and he sends out his team against the outfit that beat them in the Europa League final last season with a number of players not available. Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane are out, Luke Shaw appeared to suffer another concussion in Saturday’s thrashing at Watford, Mason Greenwood has Covid and Edinson Cavani is doubtful. United will go through if they win tonight, or if both games in the group are drawn.

Total Goal Minutes (134-144)

We’ve seen some selling in the Total Goal Minutes market, presumably the theory being that United must tighten up first to have any chance of improving. Having seen them make lowly Watford look like world beaters at the weekend though, punters will have to have a lot of faith in United’s players to find some backbone and defend a lot better if they’re going to see returns here.

What do Chelsea need against Juventus to make it into the Champions League last 16?

Despite their defeat to Juventus on Matchday 1, Chelsea don’t particularly need to return the favour when the Italians come to Stamford Bridge tonight, with a point enough to see them through to the knockout stages. That defeat in September, courtesy of Federico Chiesa’s goal, was Chelsea’s  second in four days, but they’re unbeaten in nine games since and sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League. Timo Werner could be fit to start tonight, though his Germany teammate Kai Havertz is out with a hamstring injury, while Romelu Lukaku could be ready for a place on the bench.

Anytime Goalscorer Timo Werner (Boosted to 13/8)

The German international striker was just carving out a place in the team for himself as a partner for Lukaku when they both got injured in the Champions League win against Malmo a month ago. Now Werner is the first back to full fitness, he’ll be determined to impress tonight, especially given the likelihood of Lukaku being on the bench. Spreadex have also boosted Mason Mount (14/5) and Alvaro Morata (4/1) Anytime Scorer tonight too.

Will Barcelona be in the Champions League knockout stage?

Barcelona have a massive match tonight against Benfica. The troubled Spanish giants will progress through to the knockout stages with a win tonight, but anything less than three points leaves them up against it. They’re currently second in Group E on 6 points, 6 behind leaders Bayern Munich and 2 head of tonight’s opponents Benfica. In the final round of fixtures, Barca travel to Munich, who have won all four games so far, including a 3-0 cruise at the Nou Camp, while Benfica host whipping boys Dynamo Kiev. Xavi, who enjoyed a 1-0 victory over local rivals Espanyol in his first game as Barca manager at the weekend, presides over his first Champions League game knowing that really it’s win at all costs tonight.

Cross-Bookings (755-875)

This game feels like a group decider, even though both sides have another game to go. With so much on the line, there’s been interest in a number of our bookings markets, with punters hoping teams desperate to win, and in Barca’s case, to impress a new manager, will throw everything at it, and that spells bookings and sendings off. Cross-Bookings is made up of one team’s total booking points (10 for a yellow card and 25 for a red) multiplied by the other.