Lets start with AZ Alkmaar v Man Utd — at which I am backing the hosts to acquire with a draw.
Im afraid Manchester United just are not very good. With three wins out of their first nine games of this season in all competitions–with not one coming to the street –it is hard to make a lot of case about them.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaers guys scraped past Astana in their opener, while AZ drawn at Partizan Belgrade, despite being a man down in the 27th minute onwards.
The side have lost only once in their 15 fixtures that were competitive this year, as well as United so desperately short of inspiration and ideas, especially away from home, I am giving a really good opportunity in this to AZ.
I have a suggestion that is tasty to have revealed a card.
Besiktas are mathematically the dirtiest aspect in Turkey (an impressive feat), amassing 20 yellow cards and 2 reds in their six matches.
Serbian midfielder Ljajic has been picking up reservations of his five league matches in four and one in Besiktas Europa League defeat.
This should be a high-intensity, full-blooded affair, and together with the failure understanding eligibility is gone, as both groups tasted defeat in their garages. Hopefully, this will result in a few bookings.
A chance at evens against Young Boys looks chunky, so thats my tip for this clash.
After dominating domestic event last year, Young Boys sit, and look just a bit jaded this time round, also they have drawn three of the last four matches while unbeaten in the peak of the table behind Basel.
There was no shame in losing 2-1 from Porto that a fortnight before, however Rangers–who have lost just one of the 18 games this season in all competitions (that coming at home to Celtic)–are building some fantastic momentum under Steven Gerrard, as displayed by their outstanding victory against Feyenoord at Ibrox.
For this suggestion, Rangers have retained four clean sheets, and that will hopefully ensure they avoid defeat at Stade de Suisse.
This one is straightforward: Arsenal to beat at Standard Liege at home.
For their (many) faults, the Gunners are still a very good side at The Emirates, and will certainly prove too much for Liege, particularly after their amazing 3-0 win at Frankfurt.
Id expect another much-changed group from Unai Emery–though the next XI still did the business in Germany and from Nottingham Forest at the EFL Cup–but that should not matter too far, as the Belgians have lost away games into St. Truiden and Anderlecht.
Its always tough with Arsenal (possibly why this is odds-against), but an expert win is certainly the most probable outcome.
Last but not least, I have Celtic avenging their Champions League qualifying defeat to Cluj with a success and the two teams scoring.
The Romanians conquer Celtic 4-3 in Parkhead–nevertheless their only defeat of the year –to knock them out of Champions League contention (before going on to lose more than two legs from Slavia Prague), but that is where that wrong is placed directly.
Neil Lennons boys have won six of the second Premiership matches this season, but theyve only kept one clean sheet at home, conceding against Kilmarnock and Hearts.
Cluj have been a small hit-and-miss domestically–neglecting to win their last three games –and with the needle from the conquer back in August, theres big value in Celtic.