Red Devils badly in need of a win against newcomers Como

If there is such a thing as neutral football fan when it comes to the Champions League – a Chelsea supporter perhaps – then the competition has been excellent value for money so far this season.

With 147 goals scored across 36 games at an average of just over four per match in the first two rounds of fixtures, punters who like the ‘overs’ markets should be happy enough.

Going into Matchday Three, there had yet to be a scoreless draw, with only three 1-0 scorelines while both teams scored in 23 of those 36 games.

It all adds up to excellent entertainment, and tough nights at work for presenters of the goals shows on the host broadcasting networks.

Manchester United fans have become far more accustomed to tough nights than excellent entertainment this season, to the extent that a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid last week was met with a collective shrug, an optimistic look at the ‘chances created’ column, and a thought that it could have been worse.

The Red Devils will attempt to get back to winning ways away to Cesc Fabregas’ Como this evening, as Michael Carrick searches for only a third victory of a troubled campaign so far.

The United boss talked of a ‘fresh start’ after a battling draw at Leeds on Sunday, and the hope must be that a more solid midfield built around Carlos Baleba proves a platform for better things ahead.

That solidity has yet to lead to clean sheets though, with only one shut-out in 10 games across all competitions, in the 4-0 win at home to hapless Sabah when the Azerbaijani outfit did manage 11 shots on goal.

They are unlikely to find things easy against a Como side who have made a decent start to what is a first season balancing domestic duties with a European campaign.

Fabregas has been mentioned in dispatches as a possible replacement for Carrick should the trigger be pulled, and he has built an enterprising and attacking side who score goals relatively freely, but have also struggled to keep the back door shut this term.

Greek striker Tasos Douvikas has started the season in good scoring form for Como, while Bryan Mbeumo is one of the few United players who can hold his head up high after finding the net four times already, but defensive issues have undermined their efforts.

The Italians have two clean sheets from nine outings thus far, with both teams scoring in seven of those, so goals may be the route to take this evening, although the general 1/2 about both teams scoring is hardly of appeal.

With one victory and one defeat for either side so far, a draw may not be a bad result and looks the best bet at 11/4 with bet365, while the 10/3 quoted by Betway about both teams scoring in a draw also catches the eye.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes has been showing more frustration than anyone with the poor form – both personally and as a team – and seems unlikely to ever get the rest he badly needs.

The Portugal star has been booked in the last two Premier League games and might be worth backing to follow that trend at 5/1 (Paddy Power).

Patience could be a virtue in Bavaria

Arsenal keep grinding out results without hitting any great heights which is a good sign for their hopes of silverware this term.

They face a clash with another genuine Champion League contender at Bayern Munich tonight and will need to be on their mettle against a star-studded Bavarian side.

Munich dropped points in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Viking of Norway last week but then put six past RB Leipzig at the weekend.

Despite that free-scoring form, Bayern have actually been starting games quite slowly and have yet to score before half-time in either of their European matches, while that trend goes even deeper for the Gunners, who haven’t found the net in the first half in their last six Premier League or Champions League outings.

Despite the attacking riches on show, it might just be worth taking the 14/5 offered by BOYLE Sports about the first goal of the game being scored in the second half.

The aforementioned Viking make the trip to Birmingham to take on an Aston Villa side who are showing signs of shaking off their by now customary slow start.

Unai Emery has become used to moulding a new-look side most seasons, and the Europa League winners really clicked when seeing off Fenerbahce 6-0 last week, while they were also impressive in a 1-0 victory at Newcastle on Saturday evening.

Having also won their European opener, 3-2 at Club Brugge, Villa are already well on their way to securing a knock-out berth and are heavy favourites at 1/5 to move on to nine points tonight.

The Viking ship should run aground here, and with the Norwegians having conceded three times in both outings thus far, I can see Villa racking up a bit of a score, so take a home win and over 3.5 goals in the game at evens with BOYLE Sports.

Nicolas Jackson is in great form and looks a threat now that he is the main man in Emery’s attack, hitting the net four times in his last four games, including two against Fenerbahce. The Senegal striker is 13/5 to emulate that feat which also looks decent to me.

Finally, Real Madrid have also been involved in loads of high-scoring games this season, more than Jose Mourinho would like, and while he will have one eye on the weekend clash with Barcelona, three points against RB Leipzig will be the first aim.

Both teams have found the net in seven of Real’s eight games this season, including a 2-1 win over Inter and a 4-3 success against Roma in this competition.

Attacking is no problem for this Real side but Mourinho has no idea of his best defence, with Federico Valverde at right-back in the 4-1 win over Sevilla on Sunday while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries sat on the bench.

Leipzig are a basket case of a team, epitomised by 6-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt being followed by a 6-1 defeat by Bayern in their last two Bundesliga games.

They do carry plenty of attacking threat, with Christoper Nkunku in good scoring form, so the best bet here is a Real win with both teams scoring at 21/20, while I’ll also take a punt on over 5.5 goals in the game at 13/5, a shout that is definitely in keeping with the Champions League season so far.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SELECTIONS

Como and Manchester United to draw, 11/4 (bet365); draw and both teams to score, 10/3 (BOYLE Sports);

Bruno Fernandes to be carded, 5/1 (Paddy Power);

Bayern Munich v Arsenal, first goal to be scored in second half, 14/5 (BOYLE Sports);

Aston Villa to beat Viking and over 3.5 goals in game, evens (BOYLE Sports); Nicolas Jackson to score two or more, 13/5 (General);

Real Madrid to beat RB Leipzig and both teams to score, 21/20 (Betway); over 5.5 goals in game (13/5 (Paddy Power)