Team News

 Leicester

• Leicester could name the same XI that drew 1-1 with West Ham on Friday night.
• Claude Puel is again without Matty James, Robert Huth and Adrien Silva.

 Tottenham

• Erik Lamela missed the 1-1 draw with West Brom due to the birth of his child, but is an option for Mauricio Pochettino here and could make the bench.
• Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld are both ruled out for Tottenham, while Harry Winks is a doubt due to illness.
• Pochettino could make a handful of changes, with Serge Aurier, Mousa Dembele, Moussa Sissoko and Danny Rose all in line to start.

Match Facts

There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Tottenham‘s last 4games (Premier League).

There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Leicester‘s last 3home games (Premier League).

Tottenham have scored at least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 away matches against Leicester in all competitions.

Prediction

• Leicester were held to a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Friday night and have now failed to win their last three Premier League matches. The Foxes have also lost four of their last six home meetings with Tottenham and they will be up against it on Tuesday night.
• After drawing 1-1 with West Brom on Saturday, Spurs have won just one of their last four Premier League matches and have lost their last two on the road. Now out of the top-4, Mauricio Pochettino will demand a return to winning ways here.
• They’ll be made to work hard, but Spurs could edge all three points at the King Power Stadium in midweek.

Prediction:

 Leicester

1

2

Tottenham 

Team News

 Atalanta

• Remo Freuler is back from suspension and Marten de Roon is expected to make room for the Switzerland international.
• Andrea Petagna and Andreas Cornelius will continue to rotate in attack, while Jasmin Kurtic should also start for the hosts.

 Benevento

• Amato Ciciretti is a doubt for the trip to Bergamo due to muscular problems.
• Marco D’Alessandro and Cristiano Lombardi are therefore expected to feed the striker in case Benevento’s key player can not make it.

Match Facts

Benevento have lost their last 13 matches (Serie A).

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Benevento‘s last 5games (Serie A).

Benevento have conceded at least 2 goals in 9 of their last 10 matches (Serie A).

Atalanta are undefeated in their last 6 home matches (Serie A).

Prediction

• Atalanta have failed to reproduce last season’s form in Serie A this term but are going well in the Europa League and return to Italy after thrashing Everton 5-1 on Thursday.
• Benevento were minutes away from picking up their first point in Serie A last weekend but are still bottom on 0 points afte 13 matches. It should be defeat number 14 on Monday.

Prediction:

 Atalanta

2

0

Benevento 

Team News

 Espanyol

• Pau Lopez is fit to start in goal for the home side after recovering from a muscle injury.
• Mario Hermoso returns from suspension and should come straight back into the heart of the back four at the expense of Naldo.
• Jose Manuel Jurado is expected to feature on the right-hand side of midfield, with Sergio Garcia taking the injured Leo Baptistao’s place up front.

 Getafe

• No changes are expected for the visitors, who have been performing to very high standards of late in La Liga.
• Franciso Portillo will retain his place on the right-hand side, with Angel leading the line with Jorge Molina.
• Three of Getafe’s first-team regulars – Antunes, Mauro Arambarri and Juan Cala – are one booking from a suspension.

Match Facts

There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Espanyol‘s last 6games (La Liga).

Espanyol have seen under 2.5 goals in 9 of their last 10 home matches against Getafe in all competitions.

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Getafe‘s last 7 games (La Liga).

Getafe have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches (La Liga).

Prediction

• Espanyol have lost their last two La Liga games, but Quique Sanchez Flores’ men are notoriously difficult to break down and dominate.
• The hosts haven’t scored in either of those defeats, with a short-term injury to Leo Baptistao sure not to help matters. With Gerard Moreno carrying a calf problem, plenty of the goalscoring burden is placed on Sergio Garcia’s shoulders.
• Getafe are unbeaten in their last four La Liga games, with Jose Bordalas having his team playing some excellent football. Angel in particular is looking very dangerous indeed.

Prediction:

 Espanyol

1

1

Getafe 

Team News

 Valencia

• Jeison Murillo is missing at centre-back for the home side, which is a very big miss.
• Valencia will start with Gabriel and Ezequiel Garay at the heart of the defence as a result, with few other surprises.
• Simone Zaza should make a start, ahead of getting some treatment on a long-standing injury. He will give whatever he can before facing time on the sidelines.

 Barcelona

• Gerard Pique misses out due to suspension for the away side after picking up a booking against Leganes last time out.
• Thomas Vermaelen will be forced to feature at centre-back, with Javier Mascherano currently out due to injury.
• Paco Alcacer should continue on the right-hand side, with Luis Suarez featuring up top after recapturing some goalscoring form of late.

Match Facts

Barcelona have won 18 of their last 19 matches (La Liga)

Valencia have won their last 8 matches (La Liga).

Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in 18 of their last 19 matches (La Liga).

Valencia have scored at least 2 goals in their last 8 matches (La Liga).

Valencia have been winning at both half time and full time in their last 4 home matches (La Liga).

Barcelona are undefeated in 21 of their last 23 matches against Valencia in all competitions.

Barcelona have been winning at both half time and full timein 6 of their last 8 matches (La Liga).

Valencia have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 6 home matches (La Liga).

Barcelona have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 7 matches (La Liga).

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Valencia‘s last 4home games (La Liga).

Valencia have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Barcelona in all competitions.

Valencia have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches against Barcelona in all competitions.

Prediction

• Valencia have won their last eight games in La Liga and sit just four points off first-placed Barcelona. Marcelino’s men have made a lot of progress in a short space of time, but this is their biggest test at Mestalla yet.
• Both of these sides are unbeaten in the Spanish top flight, with Los Che dropping just two points at home since the start of the campaign. They’ll be confident that they get give the visitors a very tough test indeed.
• Barcelona have only dropped points on the road against Atletico Madrid this season, but Marcelino is bound to have planned meticulously for their visit. The away side have scored in every game this season and that trend should continue.

Prediction:

 Valencia

2

2

Barcelona 

Team News

 Monaco

• Djibril Sidibé and Thomas Lemar remain doubts through injury, and look to be joined by Stevan Jovetic.
• Almamy Touré seems to have lost the trust of Leonardo Jardim this season, but could be given a chance here.
• If Jardim opts to match PSG’s 4-3-3 system with his own, Rachid Ghezzal should be preferred to Rony Lopes owing to his success in that system at Lyon.

Paris Saint Germain

• Yuri Berchiche and Thomas Meunier should come back into defence, per Unai Emery’s habit of rotating his full-backs.
• Javier Pastore could start in central midfield, with Julian Draxler also an option.
• Kylian Mbappé didn’t make an appearance in the win over Nantes, but should start here after scoring in midweek.

Match Facts

Monaco have won 15 of their last 16 home matches (Ligue 1).

PSG have won 11 of their last 13 matches (Ligue 1).

PSG have scored at least 2 goals in 13 of their last 15 away matches (Ligue 1).

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in PSG‘s last 6 games (Ligue 1).

Monaco have been winning at both half time and full time in 6 of their last 8 home matches (Ligue 1).

PSG have been winning at both half time and full time in their last 3 matches (Ligue 1).

Monaco have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 4 home matches against PSG in all competitions.

PSG have won their last 3 matches against Monaco in all competitions.

PSG have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches against Monaco in all competitions.

Prediction

• A hotly anticipated match a month ago, Monaco’s recent stumbles have taken some of the lustre off of this encounter. Injuries have played their part, but the defence has also looked suspect at times, with Jemerson’s own goal against RB Leipzig punctuating a downturn in form from the Brazilian.
• Paris Saint-Germain continue to cruise after demolishing Celtic 7-1 in midweek, but could suffer from fatigue given their lack of options in midfield.

Prediction:

 Monaco

1

3

Paris Saint Germain 

• FK Vardar Skopje have lost 8 of their last 10 matches (UEFA Europa League).
• AEK Athens have drawn their last 3 matches (UEFA Europa League).
• Vitesse have lost 6 of their last 7 matches (UEFA Europa League).
• Lazio have won their last 4 matches (UEFA Europa League).
• Lazio – Vitesse (in 5 hrs 41 mins)Lazio win1.50

• Defensor Sporting have won 9 of their last 11 matches (Primera Division).

  Defensor Sporting – Montevideo Wanderers (in 10 hrs 11 mins)Defensor Sporting win1.57

• Plaza Colonia have drawn their last 4 matches against Racing in all competitions.

  Plaza Colonia – Racing (in 9 hrs 41 mins)Plaza Colonia draw3.75

• Velez Sarsfield have lost 5 of their last 6 matches (Primera División).

  Velez Sarsfield – Godoy Cruz (in 9 hrs 56 mins)Velez Sarsfield lose3.60

• Nacional have won their last 5 matches (Primera Division).

  Rampla Juniors – Nacional (in 7 hrs 41 mins)Nacional win1.66

• Arsenal have won their last 3 matches against FC Cologne in all competitions.

  FC Cologne – Arsenal (in 5 hrs 41 mins)Arsenal win2.39

• Villarreal have won their last 3 matches against FC Astana in all competitions.

  FC Astana – Villarreal (in 3 hrs 41 mins)Villarreal win2.35

• CF America have won 6 of their last 7 matches against Cruz Azul in all competitions.

  Cruz Azul – CF America (in 13 hrs 11 mins)CF America win3.50

• Nacional have won their last 4 matches against Rampla Juniors in all competitions.

  Rampla Juniors – Nacional (in 7 hrs 41 mins)Nacional win1.66

• Naft Tehran have lost their last 3 away matches (Persian Gulf Pro League).

  Padideh FC – Naft Tehran (in 23 hrs 56 mins)Naft Tehran lose1.83

• El Entag El Harby have lost their last 3 matches (Premier League).

  Al Nasr – El Entag El Harby (in 2 hrs 41 mins)El Entag El Harby lose4.20

• Plaza Colonia have lost their last 3 matches (Primera Division).

Team News

 FC Cologne

• FC Cologne are without first team regulars Jonas Hector, Marcel Risse and Domenique Heintz for the visit of Arsenal.
• Elsewhere Marco Hoger is also out, while Christian Clemens is nearing a return.
• Leonardo Bittencourt did make a timely return from injury at the weekend and could start on the left in place of Simon Zoller, who was forced off early on against Mainz and will be out until the New Year.

 Arsenal

• Santi Cazorla is the only certain absentee for Arsenal, who will hope to have Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott back in contention from a thigh problem and illness respectively.
• David Ospina and Matt Macey are vying for a spot between the posts, while Per Mertesacker may start at the heart of the defence having missed out at the weekend.
• Eddie Nketiah will be hoping to make his first start for the senior side if Giroud nor Welbeck can recover in time, alongside fellow academy graduates Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock.

Match Facts

Arsenal have won their last 3 matches against FC Cologne in all competitions.

FC Cologne have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Arsenal in all competitions.

Arsenal have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches against FC Cologne in all competitions.

Prediction

• Cologne have had a truly woeful season to now, and this is a huge game for the club if they want to pick their morale off the floor before the winter break in Germany.
• Defeat may well see the hosts crash out having been so enthusiastic about this Europa League campaign at the start of the season, so the atmosphere will be an intense one for a young Arsenal side to contend with.
• The Gunners are already assured of a place in the knockout stages but will no doubt want to guarantee top spot to avoid an impressive batch of Champions League dropouts and they should earn a result that would ensure as much on Thursday evening.

Prediction:

 FC Cologne

1

1

Arsenal 

Team News

 Juventus

• Paulo Dybala, Gianluigi Buffon, Blaise Matuidi, Mattia De Sciglio and Alex Sandro were all rested at the weekend and will come back into the starting XI on Wednesday.
• Douglas Costa and Mario Mandzukic are in competition to start on the left flank against Barcelona.

 Barcelona

• Gerard Pique is available again after serving a one-match ban last time out in the competition.
• Nelson Semedo and Andrés Iniesta were brought off just before the hour mark at the weekend to ensure they are fresh for Wednesday.
• Semedo will incur a one-match ban with his next booking.
• Paulinho will be pushing for a start and could replace Ivan Rakitic in central midfield in Turin.

Match Facts

Juventus are undefeated in 17 of their last 19 matches (UEFA Champions League).

Juventus have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 home matches against Barcelona in all competitions.

Barcelona are undefeated in their last 5 matches (UEFA Champions League).

Prediction

• Juventus have to beat Barcelona to have any chance of catching the Spanish giants at the top of Group D but have not prepared in the ideal fashion after losing 3-2 to Sampdoria at the weekend.
• Barcelona are unbeaten in all competitions this season and have only failed to win on two occasions. Luis Suarez also ended his poor spell in front of goal with a brace at the weekend, which makes things more challenging for Juventus.
• Juventus have only won two of their last five in the Champions League and face the prospect of losing at home in the competition for the first time since April 2013.

Prediction:

 Juventus

1

2

Barcelona 

Team News

 Qarabag FK

• Dino Ndlovu is back from suspension and may go straight back into the starting XI.
• Mahir Madatov will hope to return from injury at home to Chelsea on Wednesday.
• Ibrahim Sehic was sent off at the weekend but is free to feature here if picked.

 Chelsea

• Chelsea are expected to miss Victor Moses and Michy Batshuayi for Wednesday’s match away to Qarabag.
• David Luiz has not featured in Chelsea’s last two games but could return here if Antonio Conte looks to shuffle his pack.

Match Facts

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Chelsea‘s last 6games (UEFA Champions League).

Qarabag FK have failed to win their last 5 matches (UEFA Champions League).

Prediction

• Qarabag have had a player sent off in four of their last six matches and will need to keep a lid on things here to have any chance of success. They had no chance of progress in Group C after being drawn with Chelsea, Roma and Atletico Madrid, but did hold Atletico to two draws.
• However, Chelsea thrashed Qarabag 6-0 at Stamford Bridge back in September and it would be a huge shock if Antonio Conte’s side didn’t win comfortably. They are currently one point behind Group C leaders Roma with two games remaining and will secure a spot in the next round with a win here.

Prediction:

 Qarabag FK

0

3

Chelsea 

Team News

 Besiktas

• Caner Erkin and Tolgay Arslan are both one booking away from suspension for the home side.
• Jeremain Lens came off at half-time in Friday’s 0-0 draw with Akhisarspor and may not feature here as a result.
• Pepe failed to recover from injury sustained during the international break to feature against Akhisarspor and he remains a doubt.
• Anderson Talisca and Oguzhan Ozyakup are battling for a spot in the team on Tuesday.

 FC Porto

• Sérgio Oliveira and Danilo Pereira are one booking away from a one-match ban.
• Moussa Marega, Otávio, Tiquinho Soares and Fabiano are still injury concerns for the away side.

Match Facts

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Porto‘s last 4games (UEFA Champions League).

Besiktas are undefeated in 9 of their last 10 matches (UEFA Champions League).

Porto have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches (UEFA Champions League).

Prediction

• Besiktas are four points clear of Porto in Group G and know a point would be good enough to secure top spot. They are unbeaten in Europe this season, winning three of their first four matches.
• Porto are currently second but could drop down to third if RB Leipzig beat Monaco in the group’s other game. Porto lost the reverse match 3-1 at home.
• Besiktas are unbeaten in seven matches but are struggling to convert ties into wins at the moment, drawing four games in that run. However, they know a point is all they need at this stage and that bodes well for the home side.

 Besiktas

2

2

FC Porto