CSKA Moscova - Sporting Lisabona

Sporting is missing left back Jefferson while top player William Carvalho is a long time absentee. 

Sporting is a meaningless team when it comes to european competitions. The situation could be diferent this year as Jorge Jesus is supposed to give them a boost. However Jorge Jesus has a very turbulent record in Champions League. He is known for messing things up, big time.

The portuguese press says that Aquilani might start, changing the system to 4-3-2-1 with the triangle in the midfield inverted. So, this might be "deja vu" all over the place.

The portuguese press also worte a lot about the brothers Berezutski and Ignashevich saying the played in Lisbon in the Europa League final 10 years ago when they beat Sporting. They say they are slow and old...Slutski highlighted that situation saying it is true...and that's why he has been rotating their centre backs.

It can also be wisdom...inviting Sporting to open their play.

I think the game will be interesting. Both teams are similar in quality. Home factor and experience should prevail. 

CSKA -0.25 1.90.

Considering the first leg result and from what I saw, I believe that despite the not so high odds there is still some value in a bet for "BTS". 

In my opinion CSKA will easily score here and this automatically means that Sporting must score as well, if they want to keep their hopes for a group stage entry. Both teams have better attackers than defenders (in my opinion) and I recommend "BTS" as a bet for the game.

Bet: Both teams to score - Yes. 

Odds: 1.67 @ bet365

Stake: (8/10)

APOEL - FC Astana

After watching both Astana and APOEL, I have no doubt that APOEL is the better team. Their performances have been below par and not sure is it because all the the new players or the manager but I have been waiting for them to click. They finally did on Saturday after they beat Ermis 1-5 in the league. 

Ok, Ermis was not ready for this match as they have signed 23 new players this season including 6 during last week but psychologically a team that should score goals is not scoring and then does 5 times in a match usually opens the flood gates. Especially for Stilic and Luis Leal it was a big thing.

On paper, APOEL has a much stronger team than last season with maybe the left back position being the exception. It takes time to gel with a new manager and players and they will get better after each match. In these matches European experience goes a long way and APOEL has that. Also its Astana now who has to make the long trip to Cyprus. I also feel that the motivation is on APOEL´s side. They really want to make it back to Champions League group stages. I am not saying Astana does not but they are already in the Europa League group stages guaranteed so they have already reached their goal. Getting to CL is just extra.

I am convinced that they can beat Astana by at least 2 goals and go through. I would be even more convinced if Vander would be available and he still might but it is a race against time that one. Makrides was able to train with the team so he should be fit for this match.

APOEL will try for the 4th time in their history to be in the Champions League group stage while for Astana it will be the 1st.

The first game in Kazakhstan can be divided in several parts. The first 20 minutes were all Astana. APOEL entered the field with a pathetic approach and Astana took an early lead. Of course, 1 minute before Astana scored, APOEL had a penalty not given.

After 20 minutes and until the end of first half, Astana gave space to APOEL but the wrong decisions of coach Pacienza at the starting lineup didn't help APOEL to become dangerous.

At the second half, until 65-70 APOEL was all over Astana but they weren't really dangerous except 1-2 cases. The injury of Efrem balanced the game and at the last 20 minutes Astana was really dangerous on counter attacks and could at least scored another one.

The first game gave me the impression that APOEL is a bit better team than Astana. They have better individuals but they are not 100 "team" yet. Astana has some excellent individuals but most importantly they all defend and attack like a team, so this balances every disadvantage they have.

As guys already mentioned, APOEL had a good win against Ermis on Saturday which will help some players self-confidence like Leal and Stilic.

The coach of Astana is a good tactician and knows how to treat this game, so tactically coach Pacienza needs finally to be tactically perfect if APOEL wants to enter the group stage.

I rate the odds for HW around 1.90 fair so it is a no bet for me. Also, i am a bit pessimist regarding APOEL's chances to keep a clean sheet. They conceded at least 1 goal at 5/7 of their official games. Astana has good players upfront especially Foxy, Dzhoichiev and striker Kabananga who looked dangerous in the 20 minutes he played. So bettingwise, i could recommend G/G.

Personally, i will be romantic and bet on 3-1 correct score. APOEL managed their two first qualifications in Champions League with this score after having lost the first leg 1-0 (against FC Copenhagen and Wisla Krakow).

Partizan Belgrad - Bate Borisov

Partizan had two great chances in first leg. Both missed from A. Zivkovic. Bate scored from one real chance. 

Partizan played well in first half. Bate dominated the game in second half imo. It was important factor red card for Jeftovic at the end of first half. 

Partizan rested some of their best players. A. Zivkovic, D. Brasanac, V. Bozinov, Oumaru, Vulicevic against Borac Cacak for the weekend . Fabricio played only first half. 

 I dont have info about Bate's game for the weekend, only that they demolish Neman and rested seven players. 

I am expecting home win and goals here. Partizan will attack, and if they score early, we can see open game. Bate can score for sure in Belgrade. Stadium is sold out. About 30000 fans are expected. 

  Partizan win 2.10 @Bet365 5/10 Over 2,5 2.51@ Pinnacle 3/10

Guides of the playoffs of the Champions League for today!

Basel x Maccabi Tel Aviv: The two teams have met the preliminary stages of the Champions League in 2013. At the time, the Swiss took the lead against the Israelites. The luck of the Maccabi may be different this time, or the traditional Basel, which, in the latest issue, knocked out Liverpool, will again make nice? BET: 1

Celtic x Malmo: The confrontation, which promises to move the route of national champions, involves two teams that have already decided the biggest competition in the world clubs. Celtic was champion in 1967 and was vice Malmö in 1979. The two can return to the glory days? BET 1

Rapid Vienna x Shakhtar Donetsk: Two traditional teams had to sweat to reach the last stage before groups will duel for the vacancy. Rapid Vienna stunned the champion Ajax, while Shakhtar became the favourite Fenerbahçe. BET: over 2.5

Skënderbeu Korçë x Dinamo Zagreb: None duel involves a national domain larger than Skënderbeu and Dinamo Zagreb, which puts face to face five-time champion the Albanian and Croatian leagues. Now both want to show their strength away from their fields and raise larger flights on the continent. BET: 2

Valencia x Monaco: Another clash involving two former finalists, Valencia and Monaco are also fighting to the end for a place in the group stage. The two teams have a best result, second place. Could you to improve retrospect? BET: 1

FIA confirms that it will not take more new teams in Formula 1 in 2016

Because no one team besides Haas Racing met the necessary requirements to join the category.

After extending for one month the deadline to sign up for new teams to enter Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) confirmed that no other racing team will enter the category in the biennium 2016 and 2017. So the only new team confirmed for the grid is the American Haas Racing.

Two teams, unrevealed showed interest to participate, however, according to an aide FIA, none of them met the requirements to enter the category. Thus, the process was worth for the next two years, is officially closed.

"No applications were able to meet the criteria of the FIA ​​for new teams, even taking every opportunity to present their proposals. The round of applications is officially closed, "said the aide to the site" Motorsport.com ".

Although the process apply to the next two years, is not ruled out the entry of a new team for 2017. If a major automaker, such as Renault, which is in the process of defining about its future in the category, or even Audi, always speculated the category may decide to enter a team, the FIA ​​can open a special process so that these manufacturers can participate in Formula 1.

Barca today begins the road to win his fifth title of 2015, the Supercopa of Spain

FC Barcelona now faces the road that aims to reach the fifth of the six cups that can conquer in 2015. In this case it is the Supercopa of Spain, where he will face the Athletic Club of Bilbao. The first episode of this double confrontation comes tonight from ten in San Mames. The leg will be played next Monday at the Camp Nou, also from ten at night.

Barca go into the match in San Mamés with holders exhausted by the enormous effort that had to do to crush the Seville on Tuesday in the final of the European Super Cup template. The match was decided after 120 minutes of play in the Seville minced no fuss when play every ball. The result of that intensity Emery team, several Barca players, plus tired, battered and bruised back. Nothing serious to miss a game that is an end, but as Luis Enrique to take note and apply today a batch of rotations to oxygenate a few of their regulars thinking around.

In goal there could be relief with the return of Bravo to ownership for a tournament that the club agreed as champions, competition in the Chilean was a starter. On defense we have to see if Luis Enrique Bartra commitment and Mathieu after his mistakes against Sevilla. On average, Iniesta is doubt after the blow it suffered in Tbilisi, while above the unknowns focus on whether Messi will be reserved entry, as in other leg of the Super Cup, and Pedro, deputy in Georgia.

Athletic Bilbao - Opposite an Athletic who want once and for all win a title against Barcelona and ended 'burned' last Cup final. The Atletico know that their choices are to win today a rival battered by the end of the Super Cup. So they'll put pressure on Barca, knowing that your physical is not one hundred percent.