It's the final rounds of the Champions League Group stages this week
- 8 games tonight and 8 more tomorrow...

The Top 2 from each Group will go in the hat for the knockout stage
draw next Friday. We can look at all tonight's games knowing exactly
what result each team needs (or doesn't need) to make it through to
the next stage.

And with that info in mind, along with all the stats for the season
so far, here are our standout bets for tonight's games...

Besiktas v CSKA Moscow

Group B
7.45pm, Sky Sports Xtra
Referee: Martin Hansson

This game might get some special attention from the press as the
Referee - Martin Hansson - was the man in charge for the
controversial France v Ireland game where Thierry Henry's handball
went unpunished.

Besiktas are bottom of Group B on 4 points. CSKA are 3rd with 7
points. The Russian side have the biggest incentive to win here - if
they win and Wolfsburg don't beat Man Utd, CSKA will qualify for the
knockout stage.

Besiktas pulled off a surprise away win at Man Utd last time out.
But United fielded a weakened team for that one and didn't need to
win (they're top of the Group on 10 pts). The Turkish team's overall
Champions League form has been poor:

• Besiktas have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 3 so far

• They have lost both their home games

• Besiktas have yet to score a goal at home in the Champions
  League this season

CSKA have won 2, lost 2 and drawn 1. They have scored in both away
games so far and also beat Besiktas 2-1 at home in the reverse
fixture.

The home team have some injury concerns going in to tonight's game,
and are all but out of contention in Group B. CSKA on the other hand
have all to play for.

Wolfsburg v Man Utd

Group B
7.45pm, Sky Sports 2
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers

Man Utd are top of Group B, 3 points ahead of Wolfsburg and CSKA
Moscow. Wolfsburg need to at least match CSKA's result in order to
reach the next round.

It's not often you see Man Utd at 3/1 to win any game. But they
don't need to win this one, they have 8 defenders in their squad out
injured - and Wolfsburg need the points.

The Cards and Booking Points stats provide the standout bet here...

• 4 out of 5 Wolfsburg Champions League games have been Under
  35.5 Booking Points and Under 3.5 Cards - including both their
  home games

• 4 out of 5 Man Utd games have also paid out on those 'Under'
  bets - including both their away games

Both teams' games are averaging less than 30 Total Booking Points
(eg. less than 3 yellow cards per game). Wolfsburg's home total is
22.5 pts - Man Utd's away total us 20.0 pts.

There were 20 points in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, 1
yellow card each.

Note: Cards and Booking Points bets

Yellow Card = 10 pts (1 Card, Bet365).
Red Card = 25 pts (2 Cards, Bet365).
Most one player can get in a game = 35 pts (3 Cards, Bet365).

Maccabi Haifa v Bordeaux

Group A
7.45pm, Sky Sports Xtra
Referee: Jonas Eriksson

Maccabi Haifa are playing for pride in this one. They've lost all 5
games so far and haven't scored a single Champions League goal this
season (beaten 'To Nil' 5 times out of 5). Bordeaux go through as
Group winners whatever happens tonight.

There's not much to play for in this game - and both teams' 'low
Goals' figures are worth looking at.

• Maccabi Haifa have lost 4 out of 5 games by a 1-0 score-line,
  including the away game at Bordeaux

• 4 out of 5 Bordeaux games have been Under 2.5 Goals -
  including both their away games

With Haifa unable to find the back of the net in 5 games so far, and
with Bordeaux boss Lauren Blanc expected to field a team of
youngsters and reserves (he's taken a squad of just 15 players to
Israel) - goals could be hard to come by again here.

The bookies make Under 2.5 Goals an 8/15 shot (1.53). Other options
include:

Under 1.5 Goals @ 7/4 - Paddy Power.
Total Match Goals to be 'One' @ 13/5 - William Hill.
No Goals @ 7/1 - Skybet.

Marseille v Real Madrid

Group C
7.45pm, Sky Sports Xtra
Referee: Wolfgang Stark

Marseille are 1 point behind 2nd-place AC Milan in Group C. Real
Madrid are top on 10 pts. The French side need to get a result and
hope Milan slip up in Zurich. Real look in a good position as they
can only be knocked out if they lose by a 3-goal+ margin and Milan
win - however Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini is aiming to finish 1st
in the Group.

The majority of both teams' games have paid out on 'Over' bets on
the Total Cards and Booking Points so far.

• Marseille's home Champions League games are averaging 45 pts
  (away games = 50 pts).

• 100% of Real Madrid games have had Over 35.5 Booking Points

• Real's home games have averaged 58 pts and away games are
  averaging 60 pts.

Those are high totals - and there were 65 Booking Points in the
reverse fixture in Real Madrid (including a sending off).

With so much at stake in tonight's game, the Referee could be busy
again.

More online...

You can get full Head-2-Head stats to find the top betting
opportunities for every game at our website. On the home page you
can view all the Group standings and at 7.45pm when the games kick
off, you can follow every Goal, Corner and Booking on the Live
Scoreboard:

www.ChampionsLeagueBet.co.uk       Password: *****

I'll be back in touch tomorrow with the latest results and my
recommended bets for the Wednesday night games...

Best wishes,

Matt Nesbitt

Champions League Bet

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