Champions League Tips: Trust Napoli in tie of the round

Napoli will lean on Rafael Benitez's cup expertise again

Faith in home teams should be rewarded in Champions League qualifiers at Napoli, FC Copenhagen and Steaua Bucharest...

Napoli v Athletic Bilbao
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 5

This is an absolute travesty of a qualifier, as it ensures that either Napoli or Athletic Bilbao - two of the most evocative teams in this season's edition - won't make the group stage.

Napoli are 1.9210/11 favourites to earn a first-leg advantage owing to an exceptional Champions League record at the San Paolo this decade: winning six out of seven matches and drawing the other against Bayern Munich. Dortmund, Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal feature on their illustrious list of victims.

Though Athletic Bilbao lost Ander Herrera to Man United and were unconvincing travellers last term, this writer isn't keen to back the Azzurri at odds-on. A more handsomely-priced option is the half-time draw/full-time Napoli triumph at 5.49/2. Rafael Benitez's men were level at the break in three of their previous six Champions League home outings, as were Athletic in six of their last 11 fixtures.

Recommended Bet: Back the half-time draw/full-time Napoli win @ 5.49/2

FC Copenhagen v Bayer Leverkusen
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports Red Button

FC Copenhagen have made a dismal start to the Danish Superliga campaign, taking five points from five games, but they rarely disappoint as hosts in Europe. Indeed, Chelsea, Plzen and Real Madrid are the only sides to have conquered them in their last 17 Champions League home ties. Barcelona and Juventus have visited and failed to win in that time, while they felled Dnipro in the last round.

Leverkusen's summer has been mixed, the sales of Emre Can (Liverpool) and Sidney Sam (Schalke) balanced by the signings of Hakan Calhanoglu and Josep Drmic and savvy loan recruitment of centre backs Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Tin Jedvaj.

However, it is arguable that you shouldn't back them at odds-on in an away Champions League clash even if they are facing Bangor City, having won just one of their last 17 road trips in the competition.

Recommended Bet: Lay Bayer Leverkusen to win @ 1.824/5

Red Bull Salzburg v Malmo
Steaua Bucharest v Ludogorets
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports Red Button

The evening's two least glitzy qualifiers are ripe for a home win double. Red Bull Salzburg have won 17 of their last 20 as hosts, with visitors Malmo eating a 2-4 away defeat to Sparta Prague in the last round. Steaua Bucharest have delivered four victories from four at the Stadionul Steaua in 2014/15 - half of those in the Champions League - while Ludogorets' record overseas in the competition is P6 W1 D2 L3.

Recommended Bet: Back Red Bull Salzburg and Steaua Bucharest to win in a double @ 2.75n/a