Champions League Tips: Paris St-Germain to shift gears

Edinson Cavani has to impress in Zlatan Ibrahimovic's absence

Michael Lintorn expects vast improvement from Paris St-Germain and slight flaws in Bayern Munich and Schalke's displays...

CSKA Moscow v Bayern Munich (Tuesday, 17:00, Sky Sports 5)

Match Odds: CSKA Moscow 11.5n/a, Bayern Munich 1.341/3, The Draw 5.85/1

A fairly lukewarm start hasn't stopped Bayern Munich from assuming their usual spot at the top of the Bundesliga, with Borussia Dortmund's struggles and Schalke and Wolfsburg's need to feel their way into form allowing them to assume a two-point lead after six games despite being held twice.

They have been on a pretty tasty clean-sheet streak, but that doesn't tend to translate to Europe. Their shutout against Man City was their first in six attempts. They conceded away to CSKA Moscow last season, and the hosts have notched in six straight Champions League matches, despite losing the latter five.

Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 2.0421/20

Paris St-Germain v Barcelona (Tuesday, 19:45, Sky Sports 5)

Match Odds: Paris St-Germain 4.03/1, Barcelona 2.0621/20, The Draw 3.7511/4

Luis Enrique has made a positive first impression as Barcelona coach, winning six of his seven fixtures without conceding. However, results were even healthier under Tata Martino at this stage, while this is the new broom's debut crack at sweeping up an increasingly disappointing continental away record: two victories and four defeats in eight.

By contrast, Paris St-Germain's early 2014/15 efforts have attracted criticism - particularly of coach Laurent Blanc - as they have invited Marseille to set the Ligue 1 pace, yet they can be dressed up positively: they are unbeaten after ten competitive outings.

They were missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic in three of those and will be again, but haven't lost at home in the Champions League since returning in 2012 (seven wins and three draws in ten; with a 2-2 against Barcelona in 2013), and this could be precisely the task to help them rediscover their rhythm.

Recommended Bet: Lay Barcelona to win @ 2.0811/10

Schalke v NK Maribor (Tuesday, 19:45, Sky Sports Red Button)

Match Odds: Schalke 1.351/3, NK Maribor 11.5n/a, The Draw 5.79/2

Though Jens Keller has carried the air of an interim appointment ever since he was given the Schalke job, he is approaching two years in the job and has shown laudable resilience, cajoling his side's best displays when the pressure peaks; witness how a six-game winless start led to successive triumphs - the second in the derby against rivals Dortmund - or how they earned an unlikely point at Chelsea.

That momentum will swiftly be surrendered if they underestimate Maribor, who held Sporting Lisbon in their opener. The Slovenians' previous five Champions League encounters were level at the break, while Schalke hadn't led at half time in seven tries this term prior to the weekend derby success.

Recommended Bet: Back the half-time draw/full-time Schalke win @ 4.57/2