The Champions League enters crunch time on Tuesday as eight teams play their penultimate away game. With so much on the line, we’ve picked out three ties which should see both teams going at it, for different reasons. Plus, we’ve thrown in a couple of EFL games to make an 8.56/1 fivefold.
Both Teams To Score – Crvena Zvezda @ 8/13
Football romantics, avert your gaze from Group G. The table reads predictably at the halfway point, with Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City top on maximum points, and Red Bull-powered RB Leipzig five clear in second.
However, there is reason for optimism for 1991 European Cup winners Zvezda, who have scored four group game goals so far, including one apiece in England and Germany.
The Serbians still have a chance of progressing to the last 16 of the Champions League with a win, but a battle for the Europa League with Swiss side Young Boys is perhaps more likely.
Their defence will be severely tested by Leipzig, though, who despite a two-game barren run, have shown themselves to be a potent attacking force this season.
Like Zvezda, Die Rotten Bullen have scored and conceded in all three group games, and they know a win on Tuesday will be enough to guarantee Champions League knock-out football in 2024, should Young Boys fail to beat City.
Both Teams To Score – Lazio vs Feyenoord @ 4/7
Lazio are another team who have witnessed goals at both ends in all three Champions League games.
But after a solid start that saw a sensational late equaliser at Atletico Madrid – scored by goalkeeper Ivan Provedel – followed by a 2-1 win at home to Celtic, the Biancocelesti were ripped apart 3-1 in Rotterdam by Feyenoord, only managing a late consolation through Pedro.
Feyenoord’s firepower has been evident for all to see this season, with the Dutch club scoring in all 13 games since a goalless draw in their opening Eredivisie match on August 13th.
Since then, Arend Slot’s side have scored 42 times, with Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez responsible for over a third (15) of them.
That run of 13 games has only seen them keep four clean sheets, though, and in front of a baying Stadio Olimpico crowd on Tuesday urging Lazio on to a vital victory, their defence should be under siege.
Both Teams To Score – AC Milan vs PSG @ 8/13
Milan have failed to score in four of their last six games and are yet to register a goal in the Champions League this season. That’s not great reading for a BTTS pick, but the Rossoneri have little chance but to go for it at San Siro with their qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
Rafael Leao is now 10 games without a goal for club and country, and Tuesday represents the ideal opportunity to right the wrongs of the last six months.
PSG’s only away game in this season’s Champions League saw them thrashed 4-1 by Newcastle United, while they have been leaky on the road in Ligue 1, too, keeping just one clean sheet in five league games.
The Parisians can continue to play a patient game in Milan, with Kylian Mbappe always a threat if the home side decide to take the initiative on Tuesday.
Both Teams To Score – Colchester United vs Swindon Town @ 4/9
Where else to start than Swindon’s sensational 7-4 home defeat to National League side Aldershot Town on Saturday? The Robins were three down in the first nine minutes, and it was seven before the hour-mark.
Michael Flynn’s men finally found their own shooting boots in the latter stages of the second half, scoring four in the last 20 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to salvage any pride as they exited the FA Cup on the same day they entered.
Tuesday evening provides an opportunity to quickly avenge the weekend’s humiliation – if that’s possible – with Swindon sat 10th in League Two.
Only Crewe Alexandra (35) have scored more goals than Swindon’s 33, though only Notts County (28), Wrexham (27) and Crewe (25) have conceded more in the top half of the league.
Colchester suffered their own FA Cup heartache on Saturday, though in very different circumstances as they were narrowly beaten 3-2 at League One Shrewsbury Town.
That was the fourth time in the last five Colchester games where both teams have scored, and ninth in the last 12.
Against a Swindon side who have just been hit for seven by a sixth-tier club, the U’s will be confident of scoring in a seventh consecutive home game.
Both Teams To Score – Reading vs Bristol Rovers @ 8/13
The final fixture in this BTTS fivefold sees Bristol Rovers travel to Reading in League One, with both clubs experiencing off-field drama lately.
The Gas are still searching for a new manager after the departure of Joey Barton last month, while the Royals are set to face more sanctions as a result of financial issues that have already seen them docked four points.
Chaos at boardroom level has been mirrored on the pitch with Reading on a five-match losing run in League One, and they have failed to pick up a league win since September 16th.
However, a 3-2 win over MK Dons in the FA Cup on Saturday has offered some welcome respite.
Goals haven’t been hard to come by at home for Reading as they have only failed to score in two of their 10 games at the Select Leasing Stadium across all competitions.
Rovers rattled seven past Whitby Town in the FA Cup on Saturday as life without Barton continues to take an upward trajectory, following a 2-1 win over Northampton Town also recorded under interim manager Andy Mangan.
Both teams to score has won in Rovers’ last five games, and the form looks good for them to make it number six on Tuesday.
We provide Accas throughout the week and have multiple columns of this type every Saturday. Make sure to check out all of our Football Accumulator Tips at the Acca hub page.