football | Tuesday, September 6, 2022 9:12 AM (Revised at: Tuesday, September 6, 2022 3:56 PM)

Jack Wright's Champions League Best Bets: 3 Value Bets for September, Wednesday 7th

Jack Wright

Jack Wright’s Champions League Best Bets: September, Wednesday 7th

UEFA’s elite club competition is back! I have taken a look through Wednesday’s Champions League games and picked out my three best bets. Games in the Netherlands, Spain and Italy catch the eye. Three different markets are covered, so there should be something for everyone.

In this article:

Ajax vs Rangers Preview & Best Bet
Atletico Madrid vs Porto Preview & Best Bet
Napoli vs Liverpool Preview & Best Bet

Ajax vs Rangers Preview

UEFA, Champions League, Wednesday, September 7th, 17:45 (UK)

Alfred Schreuder would have been happy to finally hear the transfer window slam shut last week. Close to £200m of talent has left the Johan Cruyff Arena this summer. Replaced with some shrewd acquisitions costing less than half that total. Key personnel including Antony, Lisandro Martínez, Sébastien Haller and Ryan Gravenberch have all opted to accept new challenges. However, it is business as usual in Eredivisie after five games of the new campaign. Five wins yielding 16 goals sees the champions two points clear at the top of the Dutch top flight.

Rangers must bounce back from a horrific 4-0 Old Firm derby defeat at the weekend. A performance prompting Giovanni van Bronckhorst to say it “can never happen again, against any opponent”. Facing his old De Klassieker rivals is familiar for the former Feyenoord man. They are the side he never beat in 12 attempts as a player. Although he did manage two successes when in charge of the “peoples club”. The most recent of which a 6-2 thumping of an Erik ten Hag led Ajax. This represents a quick return to his homeland for van Bronckhorst. As the Gers produced a 1-0 away win in Eindhoven last month to qualify for the group stages. Their first appearance at this stage in 11 years.

Ajax vs Rangers Best Bet

One of those aforementioned shrewd pieces of business is Steven Bergwijn. The Ajax youth academy product returning to the club after two seasons at Tottenham. The reported £28m fee is the most expensive transfer in the history of the Eredivisie. After drawing a blank on his debut he scored a hat-trick in his next appearance, a 6–1 win over Groningen. The 24-year-old struck twice in the first half of his side’s 4-0 weekend win over Cambuur. Taking his tally to six goals in just five appearances. Ajax only know one style of play illustrated by a fantastic recent scoring record in this competition. Scoring two or more goals in seven of their last eight UCL games. I am taking Bergwijn to help continue that fine run.

Selection: Steven Bergwijn to score at any time.
Best Odds: 3.40 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Ajax vs Rangers Tips

Atletico Madrid vs Porto Preview

UEFA, Champions League, Wednesday, September 7th, 20:00 (UK)

This one promises to be feisty! Diego Simeone’s values run right through Atletico Madrid, the club he took charge of in December 2011. He is now the longest serving manager in Europe’s top five leagues. In that period of time he has guided his side to two Europa League titles. Also becoming La Liga champions on two occasions. Twice beaten finalists is the closest he has come to lifting this prestigious trophy. Last season saw Atleti fall at the quarter-final stage and never challenge for their domestic title despite a third place finish. With the once notoriously miserly defence labelled the worst in Simeone’s era. Injury problems in that area will not help here.

Portuguese champions Porto have fallen at the group stage for two successive seasons. Sérgio Conceição is another manager who many feel has a weaker hand this season. The talented trio of Luis Díaz, Vitinha and Fábio Vieira have all been sold. A 3-1 defeat away to Rio Ave at the end of last month was a shock. They do at least come into this tie following a confidence boosting 2-0 win at Gil Vicente. But it is not the result I am interested in at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Atletico Madrid vs Porto Best Bet

We don’t have to look too far back to see the last meeting between these two sides. As they were drawn together in the group stage of the Champions League last season. Their two meetings produced 13 yellow and three red cards. This exact fixture also being on MD1 last term seeing nine yellows and a red card.
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak is in charge. An official who cautioned eight players in the recent PSV v Rangers qualifier. As a result the Asian total cards line of 5.0 just has to be played at odds of 2.00.

Selection: Over 5.0 Asian total cards (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.00 (bet365)
Stakes: 7/10

More Atletico Madrid vs Porto Tips

Napoli vs Liverpool Preview

UEFA, Champions League, Wednesday, September 7th, 20:00 (UK)

Two other sides who are no strangers to each other make up Group A. Napoli and Liverpool drawn together for the third time in the last five seasons. Luciano Spalletti’s side sit 2nd in Serie A after an unbeaten opening five games. Winning three of those firing in a league high 12 goals. The Azzurri will open their European campaign in good heart. Coming from behind in Rome to defeat Lazio 2-1 at the weekend. In-form Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the winner with a thunderous finish from the edge of the box. The Georgian already notching four goals for the season.

In contrast Liverpool were held to a goalless draw with Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Saturday. They have now won only two of their opening six league games. Although the stats would suggest an upturn in form is not far away. The eye test still suggests Jurgen Klopp’s side are misfiring and some way off the levels of which we are used to seeing.

Napoli vs Liverpool Best Bet

The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona promises to be a fearsome venue for any visitor this season. Napoli have only ever lost three of their 21 home UCL matches. Winning five of their six meetings with English sides. Liverpool also failed to win home or away against Napoli when they met in the group stage back in the 19/20 season. Losing the tie here as they did in 2018 too, failing to score on either occasion. Despite the Reds fine recent form in this competition I can’t get away from their current toils. Taking Napoli +0.5 at odds of 1.90 is too good to pass up. For those unfamiliar with the Asian Handicap this is in essence a double chance bet. A draw or a Napoli win secures the bet.

Selection: Napoli +0.5 Asian Handicap
Best Odds: 1.90 (bet365)
Stakes: 6/10

Odds as at 00:45 September 6th 2022. Odds may now differ.

More Napoli vs Liverpool Tips

Odds via bet365 as at 00:45 September 6th 2022. Odds may now differ.