The Champions League resumes on Tuesday with three British clubs in action, as Manchester United (9/1 – Champions League outright) face CFR Cluj, Chelsea meet FC Nordsjaelland and Celtic travel to Russia to take on Spartak Moscow.
After last season’s European disappointment, United struggled through their opening group match against Galatasary and cannot afford to be complacent when they head to Romania to meet Cluj (9/2, draw 11/4, United 4/6).
Ione Andone’s men also won their first match of the tournament away at Braga and have now become regulars in Europe after making their debut in 2008.
United themselves have something to prove going into the game, having lost 3-2 at home to Tottenham on Saturday, a result that has prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to drop a number of his more established figures for the trip to Transylvania.
The exclusions could see the veteran coach experiment with some of the talented youngsters that impressed in the League Cup against Newcastle, so don’t be surprised to see a few unfamiliar names on the United teamsheet.
This has all the hallmarks of a banana skin but United should have enough experience to see them through, but they won’t have it all their own way.
In the second game which sees a British team in action, champions Chelsea travel to Denmark to face one of the unknown quantities of the tournament in FC Nordsjaelland (10/1, draw 7/2, Chelsea 4/11).
The Blues almost got off to the perfect start as they took an early lead in their first game against Juventus before being pegged back by the Italian giants as the tie finished 2-2.
This has put them under some early pressure, with Shakhtar Donetsk also in the group, but they’ll look at their trip to Scandinavia as the chance to claim an easy three points.
However, facing the champions of Europe is a massive opportunity for any side and having won their domestic league last season, Kasper Hjulmand’s men will be looking to cause what would be a massive upset.
Like the first game, things certainly won’t be easy for the Blues but their greater experience should see them though and so expect them to claim a comfortable win.
The final game involving a British team sees possibly the toughest test as Celtic travel to Russia to face Spartak Moscow (4/7, draw 3/1, Celtic 11/2).
The Bhoys made a solid start to their European campaign with a goalless draw against Benfica a fortnight ago, but a trip to Russia is always a tough test and you never quite know what threat the opposition will pose.
Neil Lennon’s men will meet a familiar face at the Luzhniki in winger Aiden McGeady, who ironically was the man who scored the winner the last time Celtic won a game in the Champions League.
After dominating Russian football during the 1990s, Spartak have had a difficult few years both on and off the field but Unai Emery’s appointment in the summer has brought freshness to the club and they could be the surprise package of this group.
This is likely to be a cagey affair but despite Celtic’s confidence in the build-up to the match Spartak’s extra class should see them to an easy win.
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Liverpool, Manchester City and Rangers all drew against their respective opponents in their first legs of the Europa League knockout stages and now these British clubs will be determined to break the deadlock on Thursday night.