Arsenal may have already secured top spot in Champions League Group F but there is still plenty to play for on match-day six with Marseille, Olympiacos and even a remote chance Borussia Dortmund can qualify in second place.
Olympiacos v Arsenal
The Gunners go to Greece to take on Olympiacos safe in the knowledge they are already through to the last 16 but their opponents on Tuesday can still qualify as runners-up if Marseille fail to win at Dortmund. The Greek side will also progress if the Bundesliga outfit win by win by four goals or fewer so it’s no surprise to see the home side 20/21 favourites in the match odds.
The Gunners (3/1 to win) claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory in the corresponding fixture at the Emirates earlier in the group but it likely to be a much-changed Arsenal side on Tuesday.
The very best the Londoners could hope for from this game is a draw, on offer at 5/2, but even that looks optimistic given the context of the game.
Boss Arsene Wenger will rest plenty of his top stars with qualification assured so expect a young Gunners side to get beat in Greece.
Wenger’s men are on a fine run of form in the Premier League, with the 4-0 win at Wigan on Saturday their seventh in eight league games, and it’s fair to say this clash is not the Frenchman’s priority – even though he is bound to talk up the benefits of maintaining momentum and form with a win beforehand.
Olympiacos to win 2-0 looks tasty at 13/2 while it is also worth taking them at 7/2 in the half-time/full-time market.
Borussia Dortmund v Marseille
The French giants head to Dortmund knowing second place and qualification for the knock-out stage is in their hands and they will be looking for the victory that assures them of second spot in the group on Tuesday.
Even a draw could be enough if Olympiacos fail to beat Arsenal in the other game as they prepare to take on the Bundesliga side – who know qualification for them is possible – but extremely unlikely.
Dortmund need to beat Marseille by four goals or more and hope Olympiacos lose, or by five goals or more should Olympiacos draw – but those scenarios look remote bearing in mind the Greek side entertain the already-qualified Gunners.
Dortmund’s Mats Hummels has admitted his side’s chances of securing second are “nearly impossible” and they have underperformed in the Champions League so far – picking up just four points from their first five matches.
With what’s at stake, Marseille look great value at 9/2 to win the game while draw/Marseille – HT/FT at 8/1 is also very tempting.
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