Nov 1: Champions League Preview

WE'VE reached the halfway stage of the Champions League groups and on matchday four sides play the reverse fixture from the previous game.

That's bad news for Celtic who head to Monchengladback after losing 2-0 to the Germans at home and Man City who entertain Barcelona after being floored 4-0 in the Nou Camp.

Celtic have never won a European tie in Germany (seven defeats, two draws) and the only sensible conclusion is to back Gladbach at a biggest 11-20 with McBookie.

To be leading at the end of both halves is 11-8 with Coral while Gladbach are 11-8 at McBookie to cover the -2 handicap as they did in Glasgow.

The only thing in Celtic's favour is the Germans' poor form but Brendan Rodgers has been hit by injuries to defenders Kieran Tierney, Kolo Toure and Jozo Simunovic as well as striker Leigh Griffiths while Borussia star men Raffael and Thorgan Hazard are in the squad after recovering from injury but may not start.

Borussia have won two out of seven and failed to score in four league games – but still triumphed at Parkhead without their main men.

To have any chance of qualifying Celtic have to win and are 6-1 with William Hill while a draw that would help Man City pays 7-2 at McBookie.

In the absence of Raffael and Hazard the Germans' best player at Parkhead was Lars Stindl and he is 7-4 at Betfred to net again.

Just to score Celtic are 8-15 at Ladbrokes while dangerman Moussa Dembele is 11-4 at 888sport to hit the target.

If Gladbach win that will pile the pressure on Man City who will trail the Germans if they lose at home to Barcelona.

Barca were dominant as they won 4-0 at home and tempt at 6-4 with William Hill and bet365. Victory will just about clinch top spot for the Spaniards and allow them to go easy in their final two fixtures.

Lionel Messi has hit hat-tricks against City and Celtic and again looks big at 6-4 with Coral to score

Arsenal hammered Ludogerets 6-0 at the Emirates and will head for Bulgaria in confident mood. While the Gunners should win they are short at 1-3 with the likes of William Hill and Ladbrokes.

Arsene Wenger is likely to make some changes with Spurs to come at the weekend and if he starts consider Olivier Giroud to score first at 18-5 with BetVictor. The Frenchman came on at Sunderland on Saturday and hit a quickfire double.

Arsenal are locked at the top on seven points with PSG who travel to Basel where they should pick up a second win against the Swiss.

PSG are short at a best 7-11 with Marathonbet so consider Edinson Cavani to score first at 16-5 with McBookie. The Uruguayan has hit 14 this season including seven in his last six and has four goals in the Champions League.

In Group D it's a straight fight between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich for top spot and both should win again. Atletico edged out Rostov 1-0 away and are 1-8 with bet365 to win again.

That's short so look at bets such as Atletico -1 at 2-5 with Stan James or Atletic/Atletico HT/FT at 8-15 with Coral.

Bayern make the short trip to Eindhoven and are 4-9 at Ladbrokes to repeat the 4-1 thumping they handed the Dutch on matchday three.

Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski continue to bang in the goals with Muller a bit of value at 13-10 with betfair to find the net.

Group B is more interesting with two points splitting Napoli, Besiktas and Benfica. It looked all to easy for the Italians until they lost at home to Besiktas last time out and they travel to Turkey without injured hitman Arkadiusz Milik.

This is a tough assignment for Napoli and you have to fancy Besiktas at least not to lose. They are big at 35-12 with Marathonbet to collect the points and Besiktas draw no bet is 15-8 with the same firm.

Benfica were comfortable 2-0 winners away to Dynamo Kiev and are 4-7 with Betfred and William Hill to make it a double.

Bets to Consider

Gladbach HT and FT

Messi to score

Barcelona

Giroud to score

Cavani to score first

Muller to score

Besiktas draw no bet

Bayern/Benfica double

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