Champions League Betting: Thiago-powered PSG can land rare victory at Porto

Thiago Silva is in fine form - can he take PSG to European success?
Ben Lyttleton likes the look of Paris St Germain ahead of their trip to Porto as he previews the less heralded Champions League matches taking place on Wednesday night...
In the past, the idea of a Paris Saint-Germain player admitting he would rather play alongside one of his team-mates over another would cause a scandal. But when Thiago Silva said he preferred partnering Alex at the back to Mamadou Sakho, 'because he has more experience', it was greeted with a shrug. Partly because Thiago Silva has a point, partly because the Brazilian centre-back can do no wrong, so impressive has his integration been at PSG, but also because the team are now starting to look like the real deal in France.
After a slow start to the season, the PSG project under Ancelotti is taking shape. The Italian is mainly playing a 4-3-3 system, with Marco Verratti at the base of the midfield, and at the moment he is the star man. Last weekend, PSG beat Sochaux 2-0 in a mature performance; in the past, it would have pushed on for more goals, but on Saturday the players conserved their energy. This is the biggest test of their season now: Porto away on Wednesday night, followed by the clasico against French leaders Marseille on Sunday.
Porto looked distracted in their 2-2 draw at Rio Ave, with Jackson Martinez scoring a last-minute equaliser to help him banish the memory of his terrible miss on Matchday One in Zagreb. That result aside, Porto have started the season well but they do look leaky at the back. I can see PSG scoring and with Thiago Silva so imperious -­ the French team have yet to concede while he has been on the pitch - it might be tough for Porto to break through. PSG are 3.3512/5 for an away win which should send them top of the group.
Last weekend, Dinamo Zagreb beat Hajduk Split in what was their best performance of the season. Joe Simunic was outstanding at centre-back, though his partner Tonel has had a dip in form. The problem for the Croatian champions is one of creativity: Mateo Kovacic is back from injury but coach Ante Cacic is more likely to play him as a holding midfielder, so reducing his creativity. The biggest problem for Dinamo is that goalkeeper Ivan Kelava is a big doubt to play after contracting a virus. Romeo Mitrovic, a Bosnian goalkeeper who has not played a single game in 2012, will deputise.
That should hand Dynamo Kiev an advantage, even though they are in a slump of their own: four defeats in their last six, including back-to-back 4-1 drubbings (to PSG and Shakhtar). The Ukrainian side should still be strong enough to manage a narrow home win here: a 1-0 Correct Score is 7.413/2, though a safer bet is Under 2.5 Goals at 2.0811/10.
Montpellier kept their first clean sheet of the season in their weekend win over Nancy and they have promised to go for it against Schalke, who let slip a two-goal lead at Fortuna Dusseldorf. With sports director Horst Heldt branding the whole squad a failure, he will expect a response against the French champions, who have promised to go all-out for the win after losing at home to Arsenal on Matchday One. With neither defence looking too secure, and Montpellier missing left-back Henri Bedimo, there could be goals here.
Schalke are 1.625/8 to win and Over 3.5 Goals is 3.3512/5.
If Malaga found their Champions League debut easy in their 3-0 win over Zenit, life might get a bit trickier against Anderlecht. The Belgian champions frustrated Milan 0-0 at the San Siro and the big question is whether they can contain Spanish winger Isco, who is in such great form. Missing Jeremy Toulalan is a blow for the visitors, who are now third in La Liga and unbeaten this season. But goals have been harder to find away from home: while they have scored ten at home in their last three matches, they have only managed two away goals in four games so far. That's why I like the 0-0 Correct Score at 10.5n/a but also the draw at 3.412/5.
Recommended Bets
PSG to beat Porto @ 3.3512/5
Under 2.5 Goals in Dynamo Kiev to Dinamo Zagreb @ 2.0811/10
Over 3.5 Goals in Schalke v Montpellier @ 3.3512/5
Anderlecht and Malaga to draw @ 3.412/5