Champions League Tuesday

Lyon managed to grab a 1-1 draw so Tom’s decision to lay Bayern Munich reaps dividends.

Lots of short priced favourites about this week in the Champions League, you’ll get no better than 1.60 about any of the English sides claiming three points over the next two days, but there are some bets to be had and one certainly catches my eye on Tuesday.

Bayern Munich did the business for us a fortnight ago in Romania, when 1-0 winners over Steaua, but they weren’t that impressive then and have since lost consecutive Bundesliga games. I can forgive any side a defeat, however Bayern were humiliated 5-2 on home soil by Werder Bremen and then lost by a single goal at Hannover on the weekend. It certainly hasn’t been an easy start for new manager Jurgen Klinsmann and an experienced Lyon side can leave Germany with at least a point.

While Bayern star Franck Ribery is likely to be confined to a place on the bench, still recovering from the injury he sustained at Euro 2008, Lyon have virtually a full strength squad to chose from and couldn’t enter the match in better form. Seven wins and a draw from their opening eight fixtures domestically sees them clear at the top already and the superb Karim Benzema looks in great shape.

Benzema has bagged seven goals already this term and found the net on opening night when the French champions needed to come from two down at home against Fiorentina to earn a share of the spoils. That 85th minute equaliser from Benzema could prove crucial in the latter stages of Group F and also means that a point will be seen as a decent effort on their travels tonight.

At around 2.00, Bayern certainly look short enough and to have a side as talented as Lyon and the draw on our side at the same price looks like excellent value. They don’t lose many games in Europe, are equally as talented as their opponents and certainly enter the game in better form.