ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Champions League Gameweek One

Star Sports football ambassador ALEX CROOK previews the first gameweek of the Champions League league phase…

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🇧🇪 CLUB BRUGGE v ASTON VILLA 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Tuesday, 5.45pm

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Aston Villa could be forgiven for seeing their return to the Champions League as welcome rest bite from their Premier League troubles.

Having failed to win any of their first three matches of the season Unai Emery’s men are also yet to score a goal but did at least pick up their first point of the season in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Hull.

Much has changed at Villa Park since they won the Europa League just four months ago to secure their place back at Europe’s top table. Only five of the 11 who started that final remain on the books.

On paper a trip to Club Brugge may look like the perfect opening game, especially with Villa having hammered the Belgians 6-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 two years ago.

However, they were also beaten 1-0 in Brugge in the league phase that season and the hosts have lost just three of their last 22 European games in front of their own supporters.

Given Villa are in a period of transition and that impressive home record, I am quite taken by the draw at 5/2 with starsports.bet.

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🇮🇹 NAPOLI v ARSENAL 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Tuesday, 8pm

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Arsenal begin their latest quest to be crowned European champions for the first time in their history with a trip to Naples on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s men were so close to glory in last year’s final only to come unstuck on penalties against reigning Champions PSG.

Having reached the quarter finals in 2024, the semis a year later and then finishing as runners-up, perhaps they can go one better this time around.

It has been a pretty serene start to their Premier League title defence after coming from behind to beat London rivals Chelsea in an absorbing contest on Sunday to maintain their 100 start to the season.

In contrast, Napoli are facing a third successive defeat after losing to Como and Inter Milan in their past two outings.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 15 Champions League games, if you discount their shootout heartache in Budapest.

They are also looking to make it ten matchday one fixtures without defeat, having won seven and drawn two of their previous nine.

Napoli’s manager Max Allegri already seems to be coming under pressure and their European record also makes Grim reading having won just two of their last 10 Champions League games.

With the hosts missing talisman Scott McTominay as he undergoes minor heart surgery, Arsenal to win and under 3.5 goals at 13/10 with starsports.bet is my strongest bet of the week.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 LIVERPOOL v ATLETICO MADRID 🇪🇸
Wednesday, 8pm

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Andoni Iraola will be standing on the touchline hearing the Champions League anthem for the first time when his Liverpool side welcome Atletico on Wednesday.

European nights under the lights at Anfield are always special and Liverpool come into it on the back of their best performance of the season in Friday’s 2-0 win at Ipswich.

This could also be a good time for Iraola to face Diego Simeone’s team, who were beaten 3-0 by one of his former clubs Athletic Bilboa at the weekend.

While last season was one to forget for the Merseysiders they have happy memories from Atleti’s visit, which ended in a rousing 3-2 victory.

I am expecting more of the same here, especially with Alexander Isak finally showing the type of form that persuaded Liverpool to spend a British record £125m on him.

Isak has three goals in his past two games and I fancy Liverpool to win and the Swede to score at 1.63/1 with starsports.bet.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 MANCHESTER UNITED v SABAH 🇦🇿
Thursday, 8pm

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United return to the Champions League arena after a three-year absence with the visit of little-known Sabah on Thursday.

There is added pressure on the Red Devils to get off to a good start after taking just four points from their first three games of the Premier League campaign.

While Sabah should not be underestimated having won the Azerbaijan league by nine points over now-experienced European side Qarabag.

They also scored plenty of goals during the qualification rounds but this is a game Michael Carrick’s men simply have to win convincingly to settle some of the early season nerves among the Old Trafford crowd.

Marcus Rashford was taken off before full-time with fatigue at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but if fit to start could have a very good night.

Even with a Manchester derby at home to City on Sunday, Carrick is expected to name a strong team.

That could include striker Benjamin Sesko being given his first start since the back end of last season having come off the bench to score in Sunday’s ultimately frustrating 2-2 draw at Everton on Sunday.

My build-a-bet is Manchester United to win the first half, Sesko and Rashford to score and Sabah most card points at 6/1 with starsports.bet.

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RECOMMENDED BETS
1⃣ BEST BET: Arsenal to win and under 3.5 goals 1.5pts at 13/10 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

2⃣ NEXT BEST: Liverpool to win and Alexander Isak to score 1pt at 1.63/1 with starsports.bet

📊 BUILD-A-BET: Manchester United to win the first half, Benjamin Sesko and Marcus Rashford to score and Sabah most card points 1pt at 6/1 with starsports.bet

🎲 LONG SHOT: Club Brugge versus Aston Villa draw 0.5pts at 5/2 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

🚀 ALEX ACCA: AEK Athens, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Arsenal 1pt at 9/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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