Bayer Leverkusen v Valencia (Group E)

Leverkusen host Valencia on matchday three before the return game between the two in the group takes place in the Mestalla on November 1.

The German outfit hold a slight advantage after two games, earning a win and a draw so far while Valencia have only been able to pick up two draws – a disappointing 0-0 against Genk before an improved 1-1 at home to group E favourites Chelsea last time out.

Veteran midfielder Michael Ballack has urged Leverkusen’s youngsters to take their chance on the biggest stage and make an impact on the group with a win over the more experienced Champions League campaigners and they look decent value at 11/8 to do just that on Wednesday.

Valencia (2/1 – match prices) are not the feared outfit of a couple of years ago and, despite holding Chelsea, look set to struggle to claim an automatic qualification place.

Gone are the stellar names of David Villa, Juan Mata and David Silva – players who graced the Champions League for ‘Los Che’ – and now boss Unai Emery has to rely on the likes of Roberto Soldado, Daniel Parejo and David Albelda.

The draw is on offer with totesport at 9/4 – a result Valencia will take – but a victory for the home side looks on the cards with a 2-1 success at 8/1 particularly tempting.

Olympiacos v Borussia Dortmund (Group F)

The other game in Arsenal’s group sees Greek giants Olympiacos entertain Dortmund with both sides still looking for a win after two games.

Dortmund held the Gunners at home 1-1 before they were humbled 3-0 in Marseille last time out and know a win in Piraeus could be vital to their chances of making the top two.

The Bundesliga side are evens to come away with a victory, but the draw looks more tempting at 12/5 in this one, as Olympiacos search for their first point of the competition.

Defeats at home to Marseille (1-0) and Arsenal away (2-1) leave Ernesto Valverde’s men with a mountain to climb already and, with daunting trips to France and Germany still to come, they will surely be going all out for a win in this one.

Dortmund, however, are in decent domestic form having won their last three Bundesliga matches and will certainly fancy their chances of getting something out of the game.

Robert Lewandowski has scored five goals already this season, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Augsburg at the start of the month, and the Polish star looks good value at 13/2 to score anytime.

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Arsenal

The Gunners have endured a slow start to their Premier League campaign with just four points from their first four games in the top flight so far.

Arsenal (16/1 Champions League outright) head to Germany with a win under their belts but it was a less than convincing 1-0 victory over newly promoted Swansea City last weekend that will not fill Gunners fans with confidence.

Having finished in fourth place in the Premier League last term, manager Arsene Wenger and his men have already played in the qualifying rounds of this competition and were able to overcome Italian outfit Udinese over two legs.

That success will have been a good experience for a somewhat new look Arsenal side who will need to draw on that when they take on the current Bundesliga champions.

Dortmund have not made the best start to the defence of their domestic crown, as they currently sit in 11th place in the Bundesliga table and this could be a promising sign for the Gunners.

Arsenal’s new signings Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun could all feature for the Gunners but Aaron Ramsey will miss out through injury in what will be a fiery clash.

Wenger’s side will have their work cut out for them but they might just be able to nick a draw to take back to the Emirates.

Tuesday’s other game with British interest sees Chelsea host German opposition of their own in the form of Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Chelsea 2/5, draw 7/2, Leverkusen 15/2).

This will be the first game for manager Andre Villas-Boas with the Blues in the Champions League and the Portuguese coach will be looking to continue his unbeaten record with the London outfit.

Chelsea (8/1 Champions League outright) midfielder Frank Lampard has admitted there is extra pressure on his side to win this lucrative European competition from the club’s owner Roman Abramovich, who has made no secret of his desire to win the tournament.

The Blues have come close in the past, most notably their final appearance against Manchester United back in 2008, but the club are yet to lift the prestigious European Cup.

With Chelsea looking like they are starting to settle under Villas-Boas, they will be full of confidence going into this game, however it won’t be easy against a Leverkusen side who are only two points off the top of the Bundesliga.

Tuesday’s game will see a welcome return for Germany international midfielder Michael Ballack, who helped the Blues secure the first domestic double in their history.

The 34-year-old has plenty of European experience but not even that is likely to stop Chelsea picking up all three points in front of their home fans at Stamford Bridge.

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England

Capello has already endeared himself to England fans after leading the Three Lions through an impressive and almost perfect qualification campaign, with only the Ukraine managing to beat England after qualification had already been assured, but could become a national hero if he manages to lead England to World Cup glory for the first time since 1966.

After falling at the hands of Germany in international tournaments on more than one occasion in recent times England fans would love to see their side knock the Germans out of the competition in South Africa and Capello remains hopeful the two sides will meet, and England will come out on top.

“The perfect scenario for me would be for England to beat Germany in the semi-finals, and then to win the World Cup by defeating France in the final,” said Capello. “It is high time that a European team wins the World Cup outside Europe. In my opinion there are four very strong European sides, and this time they will not have the excuse of there being a change of time zone.”

Capello does not mention the four European teams he considers ‘very strong’ but it seems safe to assume that Spain, who are the current favourites to take the trophy in South Africa (Spain 4/1 to win the World Cup), are in his thoughts.  The Italian has stated he wouldn’t have take the England job if he didn’t think they could lift international football’s greatest prize and at 11/2 England are certainly among the favourites to come out on top in South Africa.

Germany, finalists in 2006, are currently priced at 14/1 to emerge victorious in South Africa, while other European heavyweights include Holland (12/1), Italy (12/1) and France (16/1) and Capello believes there are no excuses for Europe’s top sides heading into the competition in South Africa.

However, the Italian tactician admits he is wary of the threat the African teams could pose, with England drawn in the same group as north African nation Algeria.  The South African World Cup is the first to be held in the continent and Capello believes the African participants will be keen to show their talents to the rest of the footballing world.

He added: “I am also on my guard about the African teams. Algeria are the most dangerous side in our group.”

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