Football fans rejoice once more as a new season of the Champions League begins on Tuesday evening. Matchday 1 typically offers up some blockbuster action and we’ve been taking a look at some of the player boost specials on offer across the markets.
We begin in Seville as Manchester City begin their elusive quest for the European Cup once more. This might, however, just be the year for the Citizens with the arrival of arguably world football’s most lethal finisher right now in Erling Haaland, and the Norwegian has hit the ground running in the Premier League – and then some.
Averaging two goals a game in the last four outings, he comes up against a Sevilla side who were outclassed 0-3 versus Barcelona at the weekend and sit bottom of La Liga. For Haaland to have just 1+ SOT against the Spaniards, PaddyPower are offering a boosted price of EVENS from 1/10.
Staying with forward lines, PSG and Juventus meet at the Parc des Princes in not only the marquee clash of MD1 but one of the big ties of the whole group stage. With both Kylian Mbappe and Dusan Vlahovic on fire to begin the new season, first scorer options for both players are enticing. For seven-goal-already Mbappe to net first, a 4-1 price with Betfair is surely worth a punt, but might it be his Serbian counterpart to grab the early momentum?
Having scored before the 10-minute mark on two occasions this season so far in Serie A, PSG, less than a fortnight ago against AS Monaco, went behind early. For Vlahovic to score first, 10/1 odds with William Hill is more than appealing. For an anytime scorer meanwhile, Angel Di Maria will face his former side in the French capital. Together with Vlahovic, the two have built early chemistry and an often-prolific scorer at the Parc, the Argentine will be eyeing the target here. Indeed, for Di Maria to score anytime at 5/1 with Betway, punters will be eyeing the winnings.
Wednesday night sees Rangers return to European football’s top tier as a trip to Amsterdam to face Ajax awaits. With Erik ten Hag now departed for English shores, the Dutch outfit have nevertheless made a sterling start to life under Alfred Schreuder. Having conceded just twice this season, Antonio Colak will though, fancy his chances of challenging that statistic for the ‘Gers. For the Croat to score anytime is 3/1 with Betway.
At Celtic Park, the atmosphere will be electric as the Scottish champions welcome the European champions to Glasgow. Winners of the first Old Firm of the season on Saturday, it will be Los Blancos the strong favourites here but the Bhoys boast a tricky customer in Jota. Netting at the weekend, the Portuguese will be a threat to visitors and for Jota to score in 90 mins can be grabbed at 9/2 from 18/5 with ‘Hills.
Finally, the same bookie are fronting up Robert Lewandowski to continue his hot start to life with Barcelona. Facing Viktoria Plzen first up, the Czechs could be in for a long night in Catalonia and the Pole is likely to be a menace at Campe Nou. For Lewandowski to score in both halves, an 11/4 price from 9/4 still looks well worth a decent stake.
