Champions League Group A betting preview

This season’s Champions League kicks off on Wednesday 18^th September when the first batch of group games gets underway. Here, we preview Group A; which pits Porto, Dinamo Zagreb, Paris Saint-Germain and Dynamo Kiev together. Check out all the free bets available for this Group.

Porto: To win the group: 15/8, to qualify for knock-out stage:  4/9, to not qualify: 

2004 Champions League winners Porto qualified automatically for this season’s group stages after winning the 2011/12 Portuguese Superliga, whilst also holding on to their top seed status.

They will be looking to improve on last year’s Champions league performance in which they failed to make the knock-out stage after finishing 3^rd in Group G.

Manager Vito Pereira is now into his second season in charge after succeeding Andre Villas-Boas in 2011 and has done an exceptional job in carrying on their title winning form.

This summer’s transfer window came with a lot of speculation surrounding Porto’s key players Hulk and Joao Moutinho, but after a summer long saga both players remain contracted to Porto. Brazilian striker Hulk was constantly linked with a big-money switch to Chelsea or to the Russian Premier League, whilst a transfer deadline day swoop from Tottenham for Portugese starlet Moutinho failed to materialise.

Porto have started the defence of their Superliga title in good form, recording two wins out of three, including a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Guimaraes.

They start their group campaign with an away trip to Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb. [Match betting: Porto: 10/11, Dinamo Zagreb: 11/4, Draw: 12/5] (Source: Oddschecker.com)

Paris Saint-Germain: To win the group: 11/10, to qualify for knock-out stage:  2/9, to not qualify: 7/2

Football’s biggest spending club of the summer will be looking to have an instant impact on the Champions League as they prepare for their first appearance in the competition since 2005.

The club finished runners-up in French Ligue 1 in 2011/12, therefore qualifying automatically for the group stage.

A summer spree of transfers has seen a number of Europe’s top players move to the French capital. These include the stellar signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as well as Brazilian centre back Thiago Silva, Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and Dutch full-back Gregory Van der Wiel, all of whom pack bags of Champions League experience.

With the experience of ex-Chelsea and AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti at the helm – coupled with their new big name signings – Paris Saint-Germain could prove a dangerous team in this year’s competition.

However, they will have to improve upon a stuttering start to their league campaign as the team has failed to deliver the performances many were expecting of them; drawing their first three games this season, whilst currently sitting 8^th in Ligue 1.

Their Champions League experience begins with a home tie to Dynamo Kiev. [Match betting: Paris Saint-Germain: 8/13, Dynamo Kiev: 9/2, Draw: 14/5] (Source: Oddschecker.com)

Dinamo Zagreb: To win the group: 25/1, to qualify for knock-out stage:  6/1, to not qualify: 1/9

Dinamo Zagreb – Croatian champions for the past five seasons – qualified for the group stages of this year’s competition after comfortable aggregate wins in the 2^nd, 3^rd and play-off rounds of qualifying against Ludogorets, Sherrif Tiraspol and Maribor respectively.

Last year saw them crash at out this very stage, finishing bottom of Group D and failing to even make the Europa League.

They have started the defence of their league title in fine form, recording 6 wins out of 7 and currently occupying top spot in the Croatian HNL.

Striker Milan Badelj scored a crucial goal in the first leg play-off round against Maribor, but has since left the club for German side Hamburg, his last contribution effectively sealing qualification for the lucrative group stage of the Champions League.

To reach the last 16 of the completion will be a steep ask, but manager Ante Čačić will be confident his side will provide a stern test for teams, especially at their home stadium of the often intimidating Stadion Maksimir.

A home trip against Portuguese champions Porto is their first game of this season’s competition. 

Dynamo Kiev: To win the group: 7/1, to qualify for knock-out stage:  6/4, to not qualify: 1/2

After finishing runners up in the Ukrainian Premier League last season, Dynamo Kiev overcame the challeneges of first Feyenoord, and then secondly Borussia Monchengladbach; in order to progress to the group stages of the competition.

The victories would have done much to erase the memories of last season’s play-off defeat to Rubin Kazan.

A narrow 4-3 aggregate win in the play-off round against Borussia Monchengladbach came after a second-leg scare, with the German side clawing their way back into the tie with a 2-1 victory, just one goal away from levelling the tie and forcing extra-time.

However, Yuri Syomin side’s victory was rewarded with not only their passage into the group stages, but also second seed status in the group stage draw.

The transfer window saw the arrivals of Taye Taiwo, Niko Kranjcar and Miguel Veloso as the team looks to fill the gap left by the retirement of striker Andriy Shevchenko.

An away trip to big spenders Paris Saint-Germain is the first port of call for the Ukranian team in this season’s Champions League.

Check out our full range of Champions League betting previews here. If you fancy a free bet for any Champions League match, visit Betfred who are offering new customers a free £50 bet on any event!

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