UEFA Champions League. Preview. Matchday 3. Man Utd – København, Braga – Real Madrid, Galatasaray – Bayern
Calendar icon Updated 23 Nov 11:21

UEFA Champions League. Preview. Matchday 3. Man Utd – København, Braga – Real Madrid, Galatasaray – Bayern

On October 24, the calendar is packed. Manchester United must secure three points at Old Trafford following the disappointment against Galatasaray (2-3) Erik ten Hag faces mounting pressure, with critics suggesting he might not be the right fit for the Red Devils.

Real Madrid are set to play Braga. On paper, it seems to be an easy fixture, but ‘Los Blancos’ might fielder a weaker XI, in foresight to the upcoming Clásico, possibly title-deciding, as Barcelona and Real Madrid are fighting neck-to-neck for every single point. Ancelotti’s men might be cruising past their group (3-2 vs Napoli, 1-0 vs Union Berlin), avoiding overworking their athletes, and therefore, injury will be season-defining. There probably is no better moment in the upcoming weeks than against Braga for Ancelotti to find rest for some of his stars, in light of the difficult schedule. 

On Bayern’s side, Galatasaray remains the surprising challenger so far, having won at Old Trafford and drawn against Copenhagen — a sign of a tough challenge, as the Turks are yet to lose any game since the beginning of the season. Bayern has the tools, but Tuchel will need to strategize carefully to ensure his players don’t get overwhelmed by Galatasaray, whose temperament is a key factor in their unity and strength.

Manchester United vs København Main Match Info

Manchester United vs København Prediction and Odds

After the famous wake-up call at Old Trafford, there’s little doubt that Erik ten Hag’s team has received a clear warning against repeating the same inconsistencies. They are already the last of their group and the only team with zero points. København are direct competitors, with one point. Losing against the Danes would send them to four points, while Manchester United would still be pointless, probably translatable with a direct sack for Erik ten Hag, something he surely will want to avoid. There is not much chance for further continuation in the Champions League knockouts, but fighting for the third spot (that would relegate Manchester United to the Europa League) would already be somewhat of an improvement. As for the Danes, they will have to remain very compact to negate space to the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Rashford.

Manchester United vs København Betting Tips

There probably is no better pick than Rashford to find space in the København field with his teammate Hojlund. One can expect the Norwegian to combine well with the Manchester star to find the pockets of space that will allow Rashford to score twice. It’s known that the Englishman enjoys runs in behind, and there’s probably some truth in saying that less compact teams will tend to struggle (Galatasaray had that temperament factor). It would also be a statement for the star as a team leader to get the team back on track in the group for the Champions League.

Braga vs Real Madrid Main Match Info

Braga vs Real Madrid Predictions and Odds

Against the powerful Real Madrid, Braga has minimal hope. At home, Real Madrid dominate the Champions League, and every year, teams fall to their prowess. Braga might just be another notch on the belt for the dominant side, Especially after Vinicius Jr., who unfortunately faced racial abuse, is determined to refocus on football, provided he receives the necessary public support.

Jude Bellingham is the star of the moment, and he’s likely to reappear as a nightmare for Braga between their lines; his expertise in finding the right positioning at the right timing has proven to be key to success. Assuming Joselu plays, there is little that would show a contrary result, especially due to the lack of compactness Braga have shown. They might have staged a comeback against Union Berlin, but repeating that against the mighty Real Madrid—kings of the competition and unforgiving of any mistake—is unlikely.

Braga vs Real Madrid Betting Tips

Real Madrid might sometimes struggle against lower-rated opposition (as they did against Union Berlin, dominating but not finding the defining goal). However, very little shows that Braga could be that type of opponent. They themselves were down against Union until they found their way back, but it is an exception that will probably not become the rule. Joselu is finding his form and role as a connector around him. Unless Braga magically find a pressing scheme that could force Ancelotti’s men into panic, there is nothing that could possibly worry the Madrid-based team.

Anything besides a win will not be a catastrophe, but it surely might turn out to be costly in anxiety and potential injuries if Ancelotti doesn’t guard against the risks of overworking. Overwork-related injuries are a significant concern. And while the best teams might afford certain luxuries, Real Madrid, due to some shortcomings in Perez’s squad building, cannot. 

Galatasaray vs Bayern Munich Main Match Info

Galatasaray vs Bayern Munich Prediction and Odds

Galatasaray may remain unbeaten this season, but that is unlikely to continue by the end of the encounter against Bayern Munich. The Germans are hungry, and as passionate as Turkish fans are, there is only so much Galatasaray can endure, and there is no shame in that. Though they were great at Old Trafford, the close scoreline shows the limit of the team, limits Bayern Munich and Thomas Tuchel’s team will have analyzed and found a way to exploit. Galatasaray remains second, and the Germans will likely want to find a greater difference between themselves and their second.

Galatasaray v Bayern Munich Betting Tips

An ‘easier’ opponent but nonetheless tenacious, this game screams for Mathys Tel’s last-minute goals. The youngster has found the net on multiple occasions as a substitute this season, unlocking the game with great positioning in previously closed defenses. Add to that the fact that Harry Kane will likely confuse Leroy Sané with his markers, leaving the Turks mentally exhausted once Tel comes on. Galatasaray may exhaust and halt it, but when Tel comes on, there are very few teams that can do anything about it.

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