Home » Champs League Accumulator: 8th & 9th December
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Champs League Accumulator: 8th & 9th December
I’ve had a bit of a mixed bag with my acca tips over the last couple of weeks. It hasn’t been easy to predict games due to how quickly they are coming around at the moment, and second guessing what team managers will put out isn’t an accurate science, but I have hit a good proportion of my games on the money, but unfortunately one or two games in each selection just keep letting me down.
This week sees the final round of Champions League and Europa League Group Games and for some teams who have already qualified for the knockout phase of the tournament, this is a chance to rest some players ahead of the busy Christmas period. For others with a place in the knockout phase still up for grabs, there is no such luxury available for them.
I have tended to go with most selections this week for the games that matter. That includes three games where a place in the next phase is up for grabs, one game between two European giants were top spot (and a top seed in the draw for the knockout phase) is on offer. I have tried to avoid any ‘dead rubber’ games between teams already qualified and those already eliminated as I can see both sets of managers changing their teams completely for these games to give players a much-needed rest. As such these games can be a nightmare to predict when you have effectively two reserve teams battling it out.
We know a number of teams already in the draw for the knockout round next year. Those confirmed as top seeds include Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea while confirmed as qualified are Barcelona, Juventus, Sevilla and FC Porto. Group B is especially exciting were all four teams (Real Madrid, Borussia Moench, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk) could still qualify on the final night of action while showdown ‘winner takes all’ games for a place in the next round include Red Bull Salzburg v Atletico Madrid, Ajax v Atalanta, Red Bull Leipzig v Man Utd and Lazio v Club Brugge.
It promises to be an intriguing couple of nights to see who joins the eight teams already qualified for the knockout phase, with the other 8 teams to be decided on the games played on Tuesday and Wednesday and here’s my tips for a selection of them.
Two giants of European football clash in the Nou Camp with Barcelona holding all the aces here after beating Juventus 2-0 in Italy on Matchday 2. The Italians need to beat Barcelona 3-0 or better to top the group and in truth I can’t see that happening. With both sides qualified, I think Juve may even rest a couple of key players for this game and with Barcelona at home, I would expect the Spaniards to come out on top once again.
Red Bull Leipzig v Manchester United – Away Win
With PSG likely to earn a win at home to Istanbul Basaksehir in the other game in this group, this game sees Red Bull needing to win against Man Utd to progress, while United need just a draw or better. Red Bull had a hard warm up for this game playing Bayern in the Bundesliga at the weekend ahead of this game, while United were fine 3-1 winners away to West Ham. It is United’s away form that has been their saving grace this season and it is what I think will propel them to a narrow win here too.
Bet Analysis: Wednesday 9th December
Ajax v Atalanta – Draw
With Liverpool already confirmed as qualified and group winners in this group, Atalanta hold a one point advantage over Ajax heading into this game. The Dutch side were narrowly beaten at Anfield last week while Atalanta could only earn a point against Midtjylland in Denmark, but that point is crucial as it stands. The teams played out a fine 2-2 draw when they met on matchday 2 in Italy and that game of open attacking football will I think be replicated here. I can see Ajax taking the lead but I think Atalanta will grab a goal on the break to level things up and get the draw they need to progress.
Red Bull Salzburg v Atletico Madrid – Home Win
This is the game that I have had most thought about as it goes against the grain to bet against Diego Simeone’s Atletico side in crunch games. As they have proven over the years, when it comes to getting a job done, there are few teams that can match them. However, it took a late Joao Felix goal to hand Atletico a 3-2 win in the first game between these teams and Salzburg are a very decent side at home and after a fine win in Moscow, they have a chance here to upset the applecart somewhat. This Atletico side isn’t what it once was and Salzburg have enough attacking quality to cause an upset here. This will be close and I just feel the Austrians will spring the surprise of the night and land a late winner to progress into the next round alongside Bayern from this group.
Author: Dean Wyatt
Dean Wyatt is the founder and editor here at Acca Nation. He’s been betting sports for over 20 years and is a profitable sports trader on the exchanges.