So here we go again, another UEFA Champions League adventure, but this season with a very different look and feel from Matchday 1.
No longer a Group competition, European football’s top dining table is now a league, with the top eight sides finishing as seeds and nine to 16 progressing as the unseeded sides.
However, between that point and now lie no less than eight matchdays, throwing up a glut of mouth-watering ties up until January.
Weekday games are stretched over three nights also – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – leaving football fans spoilt for choice.
So, as Matchday 1 begins, we’ve plucked a Goalscorer Treble from the 18 games on show at a combined 5.61/1 with BetUK.
Erling Haaland
Why start with anyone else?
Still the hottest striking property on planet football, Erling Haaland was denied a record third consecutive Premier League hat-trick against Brentford on Saturday, but his tally still reads an astonishing nine in four games to start the season.
Inter provide a stern opening test as the reigning Italian champions, but at the top level you would still back the Cityzens, and their viking hitman to find the net.
Simone Inzaghi’s men were held over the weekend by Monza in a Lombardy derby, however before that, thrashed Atalanta 4-0.
Haaland may have only netted once in his last three Champions League games, but the Norwegian is on fire in front of goal and despite difficult opposition, looks good to open his European account in Matchday 1.
Harry Kane
As does Bayern Munich’s number 9, Harry Kane.
Despite a sluggish start to the season – perhaps off the back of summer disappointment with England – Kane has four in the last two Bundesliga outings, putting three past Holstein Kiel only days ago.
The important thing with the England man – netting twice in his 100th appearance for the Three Lions – Kane is a form player, so even when he isn’t at his best, a run of goals is like a trail of breadcrumbs.
Matchday 1’s visitors to Munich are Dinamo Zagreb, who sit third in the Croatian top flight having lost the last two league outings, most recently against rivals Hajduk Split.
Kane looks to be finding his feet under Vincent Kompany now and his movement in Kiel was superior to any showing this term so far. Expect Kane to be on the scoresheet this week.
Viktor Gyokeres
The question is: just how good is Viktor Gyokeres?
It barely seems possibly only two seasons ago the red-hot Swede was plying his trade in the Championship with Coventry City, but Gyokeres has truly spread his wings in Lisbon.
A record comparable with Haaland, at Sporting Clube, Gyokeres has scored in all five of Sporting’s opening games this term, netting braces against Rio Ave, Nacional, this past weekend at Arouca, with a hat-trick away at Farense.
Gyokeres is a menacing presence up front and a Lille side who have conceded five in three will likely be sweating at the thought.
With the Swedish international totting up the goals, Sporting could go far in this tournament, but at the very least looks good to find the net in Matchday 1.
Goalscorer treble: Haaland, Kane and Gyokeres to score @ 5.61/1 with BetUK.
Bonus bet: All THREE of Haaland, Kane and Gyokeres to score a BRACE at 105/1 with Betfred.
