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TACKLING THE £2,000,000 MILLIONAIRE

This week’s Millionaire is another full of continental flavour as the Champions League and Europa League dominate once more.

For a minimum stake of £2, you’re in with a chance to play for the lottery sized £2m jackpot. What are you waiting for?!

Man City v Borrusia Monchengladbach

On paper, this might normally have seemed like an easy fixture to call. That was before Monchengladbach destroyed Bayern Munich in 14 incredible second half minutes.

Let’s not forget that it was Pep Guardiola’s first Bundesliga defeat this season and his Bayern side had only conceded five league goals in 14 games before the loss to a side who have clawed their way up to third.

Manchester City meanwhile have blown hot and cold.

Three losses in the last five games isn’t in-keeping with their incredibly powerful start to the campaign and whilst the wheels haven’t exactly come off yet, failure to win here sees them go through only as Group D runners up, meaning they’ll face one of the top sides left in the competition at the knockout stage. Barcelona for a unique hat-trick anyone?!

The visitors will start with the 4-5-1 formation which served them so well against Bayern, a team that play not too dissimilar to City when the latter are on song.

They’ll be a hard nut to crack but Manuel Pellegrini will expect a reaction after an insipid performance against Stoke where City were lucky to lose by only two.

I’d expect both teams to score here but I’m tipping an away victory and more pressure on the Chilean.

1-2 and 1-3 are my selections.

Wolfsburg v Man Utd

An away fixture may just suit Louis Van Gaal who is feeling the heat at Old Trafford from the home fans.

Devoid of Wayne Rooney in the last game against West Ham, as he will be in Germany, the Dutchman could only watch as his charges labored to another 0-0 draw and one that many observers suggested they were lucky to achieve.

Since the last meeting between the two sides, United have played out five goalless draws and failed to find the net it two more, yet have only lost once in 90 minutes in all of that time.

Van Gaal is steadfast in his beliefs of how football should be played and his record in management should ensure that he is afforded that courtesy.

That said, a loss here and a win for PSV in the other game will see the Red Devils drop out of European football’s premier competition for another season.

Not a disaster because they’re never going to win it, but something else for the doom mongers to throw at him and his under performing players.

Wolfsburg have only lost twice at home, to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, the top two in the Bundesliga and will prove tidy opponents.

But I expect United to grind out a result to see them through to the knockout stages.

0-0 (again!) or 1-1 for your coupon.

Chelsea v Porto

Home advantage is unlikely to be any advantage for Jose Mourinho and his side in the final Group G game.

The Portuguese just cannot find the solutions to a multitude of problems that have beset his side this season.
To put into some king of perspective the crisis that Mourinho personally is enduring, he lost only 5 home games out of his first 250 in management. He’s now lost four of the last nine and this Chelsea team are completely devoid of any confidence whatsoever.

When was the last time a league champion, and one who won the title at a canter, found themselves in the lower reaches of the league the following season and, to be frank, deserving to be there? It’s unheard of.

It’s why the likes of John Terry, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard will be approaching this one with trepidation. Not to mention a full house at Stamford Bridge who’ve seen their team lost at home to Bradford, Bournemouth and Southampton amongst others in 2015.

Iker Casillas would like nothing more than to turn the knife a little further, the Spaniard’s career at Real Madrid on a downward trajectory ever since a falling out with the Special One.

Porto have every chance of taking the points having lost just once in all competitions this season.

They are workmanlike rather than expansive, but have ground out results when necessary, including a 2-1 victory over the same opponents back in September.

If they’re able to replicate that and Dinamo Kiev get an expected win over group whipping boys Maccabi Tel-Aviv, then Chelsea, for all of their talent, will be scratching around in the Europa League.

A situation I fully expect to occur.

0-1 or 0-2 are my predictions for this one.

The halfway point is always a good time to assess where you’re at. If you’re confident enough to keep your hands in your pocket and go for the big win, hats off to you.

If you’re a little more contemplative however, consider using our Partial Cash-Out service. Bank a portion of your ticket for some winnings over the first three games, and play on with the remainder.

JP Pick7

Olympiacos v Arsenal

The Gunners have left themselves a mountain to climb in the Champions League but Arsene Wenger’s team have been written off before and bounced back and made critics eat their words.

Without Alexis Sanchez to hustle and harass, Olmympiacos’ defence might feel they’re in for a quiet night, however Mesut Ozil continues to keep Arsenal ticking along.

The German has a particular knack for finding the right pass at the right time and his assist to Joel Campbell against Sunderland last time out was an indication of that.

Olivier Giroud looked a little off of the pace in that game but did at least find the scoresheet which is all that can be asked of your front men.

With Aaron Ramsey also adding to the tally but providing exemplary midfield duties alongside Mathieu Flamini, Arsenal’s attacking sextet bring a threat that the hosts will find difficult to deal with at times.

The north Londoners will need to be at their very best to score the goals they require to progress because only Bayern Munich (home and away) have managed to beat Olympiakos this season.

10 goals in the last four games hints at where the Greek’s strengths also lie, however they have conceded seven in the same time frame. The previous seven conceded came over 10 games, with two being scored by Arsenal.

The visitors will score two again, including an early opener to set home nerves on edge, but it won’t be enough to stop them from being another English representative in the Europa League.

0-2 and 1-2 are my selections.

Sion v Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp is the gift that keeps on giving. Rarely can a manager have made such an impact on their new club, not just in playing terms but in having all and sundry buy into a new philosophy.

Arsene Wenger taking over at Arsenal springs to mind, perhaps Jose Mourinho’s first stint at Chelsea. There can’t be too many others.

Whatever the German touches at the moment turns to gold and he has been true to his word.

High-intensity football but also players being allowed to express themselves and enjoy their work.

It’s abundantly clear that the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva have found another level to their play since Klopp took over from Brendan Rodgers. They’re not the only pair either.

Sion will want the win as much as their visitors to ensure further progression in the competition, the Swiss knowing that they can still be caught by Rubin Kazan at this juncture.

One win in the last seven and three straight losses isn’t the best preparation for what’s become a must win game, and Sion don’t score a great deal.

Neither do they concede too many and a draw suits both parties.

0-0, 1-1 or if you’re feeling lucky a 0-1 away victory for your coupon.

Tottenham v Monaco

Mauricio Pochettino was apparently none too pleased by Spurs’ failure to beat West Bromwich Albion last time out.

The draw did however preserve the Lilywhites’ record of only having lost once in the Premier League on the opening day of the season to Manchester United.

Their only two other losses have come in cup competitions, and indeed their single loss to Anderlecht in the Europa League came away from White Hart Lane.

It’s become something of a fortress for Tottenham and as they’ve climbed the table, the locals are whispering it quietly that they could be on the verge of something special again.

Harry Kane has finally found his shooting boots after a barren spell and the emergence of Dele Alli and Eric Dier in particular has to have pleased the manager.

4-2-3-1 suits their attacking style and fluid appreciation of the game and the team from the principality will find it hard to stem the tide.

Even a win for Monaco won’t be enough if Anderlecht get an expected three points against Qarabag. It would place the Belgians level on points with Spurs leaving Monaco a point behind and out of Europe even if their attempt at a smash and grab is successful.

We can at least be assured of goals, Leonardo Jardim’s side also fond of the same formation.

Nabil Dirar and Fabio Coentrao will cause the hosts’ full-backs some problems and if their service into Lacina Traore is on point, there might well be a surprise here.

I’m tipping a 2-1 or 3-1 home win as my final selection this week.

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