Manchester United v Galatasaray

United look to have the easiest task of the British sides on Wednesday as they welcome Turkish champions Gala to Old Trafford. Not that Sir Alex Ferguson will be taking anything for granted following last season’s disappointing group stage exit (United 2/7, Galatasaray 11/1, draw 9/2).

The Premier League runners-up were uncharacteristically sloppy in front of their own fans in this competition last term, drawing 3-3 at home to Benfica and 2-2 with Basel as well as just about seeing off minnows Otelul Galati 2-0.

Fergie has warned he will not tolerate those sort of below-par performances and results this season and, with that in mind, back United to kick off with a fairly convincing home win.

Saturday’s 4-0 success over Wigan was more like it from the Red Devils after a rusty start to the campaign which had seen them lose to Everton and then scramble wins over Fulham and Southampton. They have added firepower this year in the shape of Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa so Wayne Rooney’s continued absence should not be much of a problem.

Gala will approach the game determined to claim a point but the Turkish side are notoriously poor travellers and will not relish the trip, as their huge odds of 11/1 to win on the night prove.

Go for 2-0 to United in the correct score market at 5/1.

Chelsea v Juventus

The Blues appear to have a much-more daunting opener with the visit of Italian champions Juve a tougher one to call (Chelsea 11/10. Juve 11/4, draw 23/10).

Roberto Di Matteo’s side surprised many with their Champions League triumph last season and they will not want to give up their crown easily. At least progressing through the group should be fairly straightforward, with minnows FC Nordsjaelland in Group E along with Shakhtar Donetsk and Juve.

The European champions come into Wednesday’s clash in good early-season form, too, and they are unbeaten so far with the hard-fought 0-0 draw at QPR on Saturday the only blip domestically.

However, the 5-1 thumping at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup is a reminder of how vulnerable they can still be and Di Matteo’s side, who finished last season sixth in the Premier Leauge, are very much a work in progress with several new arrivals bedding in.

Eden Hazard has looked a class act already, though, and will relish this test against one of Europe’s heavyweights so the Belgian is well worth backing in the score anytime market at 9/4.

Overall, Di Matteo’s men may well view a point as a decent outcome considering what lies ahead and a cagey 0-0 (11/2) could well be on the cards.

Celtic v Benfica

It has been a very strange start to the season in Scotland as Celtic have stumbled their way through their opening SPL games, not quite sure what to do with themselves now arch-rivals Rangers have left the top flight.

The Bhoys will surely come good in the league after a start that has seen them draw twice, scrape two narrow wins and then lose to St Johnstone at the weekend.

That last result may just have given away the fact that Celtic’s focus was on this tie rather than their early SPL struggles as they look to see off the Portuguese giants (Celtic 11/4, Benfica 11/10, draw 23/10).

Expect a passionate home support to lift Neil Lennon’s side and a home win is not out of the question, especially when you consider Benfica’s record away from home. They have also lost their two Champions League trips to Celtic to date, conceding four goals and failing to score a single one in the process, while they have only won four of their 26 Champions League away games in total.

Despite those stats, this remains a big test for the Hoops and another draw is predicted in what looks like being a tight encounter. 1-1 at 5/1 appeals to ensure a solid, if unspectacular start to Celtic’s European Cup campaign proper.

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Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland

The draw to will take place in Krakow on Tuesday, with the four winners joining co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, holders Spain, Germany, Russia, Italy, France, Holland, Greece, England, Denmark and Sweden at next summer’s football showpiece.

The draw will be seeded, meaning those with the four best national team coefficients will not play against each other. Here is a closer look at the teams involved:

The seeded sides:

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo and co will be disappointed to be in the play-offs after losing a ‘winner-takes-all’ contest with Denmark at the top of Group H. Nicklas Bendtner grabbed the winner in Copenhagen to send Denmark through automatically, meaning Paulo Bento’s men (33/1 World Cup 2014 outright) had to be satisfied with second spot.

They have a fine record, though, at European Championships with one semi-final and two quarter-final appearances in the last four tournaments, as well as being runners-up when hosting the tournament in 2004. Definitely one for the others to avoid in Thursday’s draw.

Republic Of Ireland

Trapattoni’s men (80/1 Euro 2012 outright) beat Armenia 2-1 in a nervy encounter in Dublin this week to ensure they took second place behind winners Russia in Group B.

They received a pre-draw boost by being named as seeds, meaning they avoid the likes of Portugal and Croatia. Irish hearts still carry with them a burning sense of injustice after Thierry Henry’s handball helped France knock the Irish out of the World Cup play-offs two years ago.

That determination to right the wrongs of that night in the Stade De France should see them home – just.

Croatia

Four years ago Croatia (50/1 Euro 2012 outright) revelled in being the masters of Steve McClaren’s downfall at a soggy Wembley.

However, after losing in the quarter-finals at Euro 2008 on penalties to Turkey, Slaven Bilic’s men didn’t even make the 2010 World Cup, with England gaining revenge by beating them twice in qualifying. Bilic was expected to resign after that disappointment but he has stayed on and guided them to second place in Group F, behind shock winners Greece.

Czech Republic

Michal Bilek’s men broke Scottish hearts by beating Lithuania 4-1 on Tuesday and ensuring it was they and not Craig Levein’s side who went through to the play-offs.

They will be hoping to continue their record of qualifying for every European Championships since gaining independence in 1992. They were memorable runners-up in England in 1996 and reached the semi-finals in 2004 – losing to the eventual winners on both occasions – but are perhaps considered the weakest of the four seeded teams (66/1 Euro 2012 outright).

The unseeded sides:

Turkey

Irish fans will be nervously hoping they are not paired with Guus Hiddink’s Turkey (80/1 World Cup 2014 outright).

Unpredictable and volatile – especially at home – their recent performances in major tournaments suggest you can never be quite sure what you are going to get.

After failing to qualify for Euro 2004 they went all the way to the semi-finals in 2008. They also reached the last four at World Cup 2002, but have failed to even reach the finals since.

Montenegro

England fans will be familiar with Branko Branovic’s men after seeing their side fail to beat them in both meetings in qualifying Group G.

A water-tight defence proved to be the backbone of their success as Montenegro (125/1 Euro 2012 outright) conceded just seven goals in seven qualifying games.

However, they only scored seven too, meaning the pressure will be on the likes of Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic and Juventus’ Mirko Vucinic to score the goals required to see them through.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

The eastern European theme continues with Bosnia (80/1 Euro 2012 outright) looking to reach their first-ever major tournament.

They have gone agonisingly close on previous occasions, just one goal prevented them from nudging past Denmark to qualify for Euro 2004, before losing to Portugal 2-0 on aggregate in the play-offs for World Cup 2010.

You get the impression that it will not be too long before they go one better and make a major finals for the first time. They certainly shouldn’t be discounted here.

Estonia

When Estonia were drawn with Italy, Serbia and Slovenia in Euro 2012 qualifying Group C, few would have predicted their presence in Thursday’s play-off draw.

But while Tarmo Rüütli’s men were beating Northern Ireland 2-1 in their final qualifying match, Serbia were losing in Slovenia, meaning the small Baltic nation had reached their first ever qualification play-off. You get the impression they are just happy to be there, meaning they should not provide too much opposition for the seeded sides.

However, the pressure of expectation can do strange things, meaning Estonia (400-1 Euro 2012 outright) can play with a freedom knowing they have nothing to lose.

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Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti’s side lost 2-1 at Tottenham at the weekend which saw Manchester United (11/8 Outright) close to within a point with three games left to play in the top flight this term.

The White Hart Lane defeat was compounded by captain John Terry’s red card on 67 minutes while Ivory Coast star Drogba aggravated a groin problem he has been carrying recently.

Whether or not the 32-goal striker requires surgery remains to be seen, with Ancelotti confirming the decision rests with Drogba despite the fact Chelsea are going for the Premier League and FA Cup double.

“He doesn’t have a big problem. It’s more about controlling the situation,” said the Italian.

“He’ll take a decision at the end of the season. But it’s not sure he’ll have surgery.”

However, Drogba could well decide he needs to rest the problem in order to ensure he reaches the World Cup finals (Drogba 20/1 Top Goalscorer) in as good a condition as possible, surgery or not.

Ancelotti still feels the Premier League title is Chelsea’s to lose after United managed to secure a 1-0 win at Manchester City in the early kick-off on Saturday thanks to a late Paul Scholes header.

He added: “We are top of the list with only three games left so every team wants to be in our place.

“We have two at home and one difficult game away. We can be the best again. A one-point lead is not bad at this stage of the season.

“To be sure we have to win all three games. Now the most important is against Stoke.”

The Potters arrive at Stamford Bridge having again guaranteed their Premier League status with games to spare after winning promotion in 2008.

But boss Tony Pulis is eager to move the Britannia Stadium outfit further up the table next season from the confines of mid-table security.

He told the Sunday Mirror: “We want to take it up another level and that may mean shifting a few players on.

“There are a few players whose futures will be discussed and we will see where it takes us.

“There has to be changes if we are to move on because if you stand still you’re dead.”

Pulis’ challenge is to add to his squad while maintaining the unity that has largely served them well over the last three years.

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