[Mario]

UEFA Champions League
12/11/2014

AS Roma vs Manchester City

Home - AS Roma
Last away matches - D-W-L-L-D-L

AS Roma come into the clash off the back of their 2-2 draw with Sassuolo. For that game though the decision was taken to rest several key men for the match with City. Gervinho, Totti and Ashley Cole were all able to rest themselves for the match in hope that they will be ready and firing for the English side’s arrival. They were also able to welcome back Kevin Strootman for the first time since his knee surgery. Whether Strootman will start against City after such a long layoff is unclear but his presence back in the squad will be a huge lift to the Italians and he could play some part in the game. With a near fully fit side available to him for the visit of Manchester City Rudi Garcia could be confident of getting the result needed to secure his sides safe passage to the Knockout Round.

Away - Manchester City
Last away matches - W-W-D-L-D-W

Manchester City wasn’t already massive, they will now have to go into the clash with Roma missing a few of their key players. Sergio Aguero’s injury on Saturday means that there will be no repeat of his heroics from the Bayern game that kept City’s European dream alive. As if missing their best player so far this season wasn’t enough they will also be without Yaya Toure at the heart of their midfield. The big man from the Ivory Coast is still serving his suspension. Maybe most importantly they will be without their captain Vincent Kompany. A night like this, with what is at stake is exactly the type of match you need the leader of your team. Kompany’s absence could be sorely felt as he won’t be to push the team through what should be an epic battle against

Asian Handicap
Home - (0.00)
Away - (0.00)
Pick - Manchester City (0.00)
Odds - 2.16
Stakes - 10/10
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UEFA Champions League
12/11/2014

Chelsea vs Sporting Lisbon

Home - Chelsea
Last away matches - L-D-W-W-D-W

Captain John Terry, Eden Hazard and Willian are to be rested for Chelsea's final Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon, with the Blues already through as Group G winners.Chelsea lost for the first time in 24 games this season at Newcastle last Saturday, but can afford to rest key personnel for a match which they need not win and the trio did not train on Tuesday.Manager Jose Mourinho has opted to give defender Terry the clash off, along with Hazard and Willian, prior to a return to Premier League action against Hull on Saturday.The match means more for Sporting, who are in a battle with Roberto di Matteo's Schalke to advance as group runners up.Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the 18-year-old midfielder, is included in the squad, with Mourinho likely to balance rotating his options and giving youth a chance with keeping his side in tune for the busy festive programme.

Away - Sporting Lisbon
Last away matches - W-W-L-L-W-W

Sporting's young team could be without its talisman Nani at Stamford Bridge.The Portuguese side has precious little experience at the top European level and the former Manchester United winger has added some much-needed know-how.Nani limped off in the first half of Sporting's league game at Boavista last weekend. The club says he has a right thigh injury, but is not saying how long he will take to recover.Sporting, fourth in the Portuguese league, has not won on the road in Europe since September 2011, when it beat FC Zurich in a Europa League game.

Asian Handicap
Home - (-0.75)
Away - (+0.75)
Pick - Chelsea (-0.75)
Odds - 1.90
Stakes - 10/10
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UEFA Champions League
12/11/2014

Barcelona vs Paris Saint Germain

Home - Barcelona
Last away matches - W-W-W-W-W-L

It has been eight seasons since Barcelona last failed to win their Champions League Group and they do know the importance of overturning Paris Saint*Germain this season. The pressure is off in the sense of Barcelona already booking their place in the Last 16, but there is little doubt that winning the Group does offer a much 'easier' prospect in the Second Round as teams like Arsenal have found to their cost in recent seasons. The defeat at Paris Saint*Germain is the only one that Barcelona have suffered in the Group, but they have at least put themselves in a position to win the section. By winning their other four Group games, Barcelona are just 1 point behind PSG in the Group and beating them at the Nou Camp, where they have won 6 of their last 7 Champions League games, will win them the Group. Barcelona have won 7 in a row in all competitions since their surprising 0*1 loss to Celta Vigo and they have scored 23 goals in those games. The Catalans have also won 8 of their 9 home games in all competitions at the Nou Camp with the sole exception being that loss to Celta Vigo.

Away - Paris Saint Germain
Last away matches - D-W-W-W-W-D

Ever since the high financial input of the Qatar Investment Authority was placed into Pari Saint*Germain, it was only going to be a matter of time before they became one of the major threats to win the Champions League. Reaching the Quarter Finals of the last two Champions League tournaments has underlined that and Paris Saint Germain can make another statement by winning this Group containing Barcelona and Ajax. In all honesty, Paris Saint*Germain and Barcelona have dominated the section, although PSG did slip a little by not beating Ajax in Amsterdam. That has opened the door for Barcelona to win the Group by beating them in this final game of the section, although PSG will point to their 3*2 win over Barcelona at home as proof they can cause a surprise. Paris Saint*Germain are actually unbeaten in their last 25 games in all competitions which should improve confidence as they head to the Nou Camp, while they have won 10 of their last 11 games. They are also unbeaten in their last 14 away games in all competitions, although PSG are just 2*1*2 in their last 5 away games in the Champions League.

Asian Handicap
Home - (-1.00)
Away - (+1.00)
Pick - Paris Saint Germain (+1.00)
Odds - 2.40
Stakes - 10/10