The top 2 teams in each Group will qualify for the Knockout Stages,
and the 3rd place team in each Group will go into the UEFA Cup. You
can view all the current Group standings at our website - where you
can also match-up the stats for any 2 teams to find the best bets
on any game.

Log In at: www.ChampionsLeagueBet.co.uk

With your Password: *******

Tonight's bets

We've highlighted our 4 'recommended bets' for tonight's game for
you below. Starting with the live ITV1 game at Stamford Bridge...

Chelsea v Cluj

7.45pm live on ITV1
Ref: Peter Fröjdfeldt

Standings

Chelsea have 8 pts from 5 games and are 2nd in the Group A table, 1
point behind Roma. Bordeaux are 3rd with 7 points, and Cluj are
bottom on 4 pts. Chelsea need to win to be sure of qualification
for the Knockout stages.

Match Result

Chelsea have won both their home games so far, and are yet to
concede a goal. They beat Bordeaux 4-0 and Roma 1-0. When Chelsea
played Cluj away in Romania, the score was 0-0.

As those results show, Chelsea have a good record for keeping a
'Clean Sheet'. They haven't conceded any goals at home so far,
winning both games at Stamford Bridge 'To Nil'.

Last season Chelsea kept a 'Clean Sheet' in 4 out of 6 home
Champions League games. Cluj have scored in 1 of their 2 away games
so far.

Chelsea are just 1/6 (1.16) to get the win they need tonight. But
considering their strong defensive record, backing Chelsea 'To Win
With A Clean Sheet' at 4/5 (1.80) is much better value.

Also available - backing Chelsea 'To Win To Nil' is the same bet as
the one above. This is available with bookies such as Ladbrokes,
Paddy Power, Bet365 and Totesport.

Alternatively you could consider a small bet on a 'Correct Score'
based on Chelsea winning 'To Nil', to boost your odds. Chelsea to
win 2-0 is 11/2 (6.50) and other 'To Nil' score-lines are available
at bigger prices.

You can find the best odds on any market for the Chelsea v Cluj
game here:

http://odds.sportsbettingxtra.co.uk/football/champions-league/

Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk

7.45pm live on Sky Sports 2
Ref: Michael Riley

Standings

Barcelona are guaranteed top spot in Group C - and Shakhtar will
finish 3rd - whatever happens tonight. That means the 'Match
Result' betting is best avoided.

Bookings Points / Cards

The bookies have set their marker 'low' for the total amount of
Bookings Points and Cards in the game - you can bet 'Under' or
'Over' 25 pts or 2 Cards.

However, Shakhtar have a strong record for 'high' bookings games
and this opportunity to bet 'over' such a low marker looks good
value...

Shakhtar have got 'Over 25 Bookings Points' on their own in both
their away Champions League games this season.

And 100% of their away Champions League games for the last 2
seasons have had at least 40 Bookings Points in total. Here are
those totals:

Shakhtar - Away games Bookings Points totals:

Champions League 2007/8
60 pts
50
40

Champions League 2008/9 to date
40 pts
70

As the Team Stats on our website show, Shaktar's away Bookings Pts
averages this season are a high 35.0 For and 15.0 Against.

Barcelona have lower stats in comparison. But it's worth noting the
reverse fixture earlier this season (Shaktar v Barcelona) finished
with a total of 80 Bookings Points - 4 yellow cards for each team.

Tonight, betting 'Over 25 Bookings Points' or 'Over 2.5 Cards' will
pay out if there are 3 or more yellow cards in the game.

And Bet365's 'Asian Total Cards' market ('Over 2 Cards') will even
give you your money back if there are exactly 2 yellows.

Also available - 'Over 2.5 Cards' at 11/10 (2.10) with Bet365.

Plus, check with bookies such as Betfred, Blue Square and Expekt
for bets on 'Over 25 Bookings Points'. At the time of writing you
can bet 'Over 25' at Evens (2.00) with Betfred. You can search for
the latest odds here:

http://odds.sportsbettingxtra.co.uk/football/champions-league/

The stats also point to a bet on the Corners in this game...

Corners

Both teams have 100% records here. Both of Barcelona's home games
have been 'Under 10.5 Corners' so far this season - and 2 out of 2
Shakhtar away games have gone 'Under' too.

Barcelona are averaging 6.50 Corners For and 2.0 Corners Against at
home. Shakhtar's away averages are 4.50 For and 5.0 Against.

In fact, both teams have strong 'Under 10.5 Corners' form overall
this season, both home and away.

5 out of 5 Barcelona games have been 'Under 10.5 Corners' in the
Champions League this season. And 4 out of 5 Shakhtar games have
also been 'Under'.

It's also worth noting that the outcome of this match has no impact
on the final group standings. Neither team needs to win - and that
could have an effect on how many corners each team gets.

Roma v Bordeaux

7.45pm live on Sky Sports Xtra
Ref: Herbert Fandel

Standings

There's still all to play for at the top of Group A. Roma are 1st
at the moment, but they need to win to guarantee they finish there.
Bordeaux are 3rd in the table - they need to win tonight to qualify
for the Knockout Stages.

Goals

There is another 100% record on show in this game. There have been
at least 3 goals scored in both of Roma's home games so far - and 2
out of 2 Bordeaux away games have also gone 'Over 2.5 Goals'.

In fact, 4 out of 5 of all Roma's Champions League games, home and
away, have gone 'Over 2.5 Goals' this season.

Both teams' games are averaging a total of 3.5 goals per game this
season. The stats on our website show Roma average 2.0 Goals For
and 1.50 Against at home, and Bordeaux away average 1.0 For and 2.5
Against.

Also, both teams have a good incentive to win tonight - and that
could lead to a 'high goals' game.

Here's a summary of our recommended bets for tonight's games. 
  
TONIGHT'S RECOMMENDED BETS
 
Tuesday 9th December 2008

Chelsea v Cluj

• Chelsea 'To Win With A Clean Sheet' @ 4/5 with Boylesports

Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk

·         'Asian Total Cards - Over 2' @ 3/4 with Bet365

·         'Under 10 Corners' @ Evens with Stan James and Betdirect
(and a saver bet on 'Exactly 10 Corners' @ 15/2)

Roma v Bordeaux

• 'Over 2.5 Goals' @ Evens with Bet365

All the info you need online...

You can find the best odds on any Champions League bet here:

http://odds.sportsbettingxtra.co.uk/football/champions-league/matches/

And you can follow all your bets live tonight on the Scoreboard at
our website. Goals, Scorers, Corners and Bookings are all updated
minute-by-minute...

Log In at: www.ChampionsLeagueBet.co.uk

With your Password: *******

I'll write to you again in the morning with all the latest results
- and our recommended bets for Wednesday's games...