Charlie's CL predictions

Charlie Nicholas provided a 22/1 scorecast winner on Tuesday and has predictions for Wednesday's Champions League action.

Tipped 1-0 Leicester with Mahrez to score first at 22/1 on Tuesday
Tipped 1-0 Leicester with Mahrez to score first at 22/1 on Tuesday

On Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola takes Manchester City back to his former club Barcelona, while Celtic will hope to build on a credible point against City when Borussia Monchengladbach visit and Arsenal host Ludogorets. Here's what the Soccer Saturday pundit is predicting for the five fixtures. Click on each verdict for the Sky Bet odds

Arsenal v Ludogorets

I think the feeling in the team is that there's a little bit more steel about Arsenal after those hard-fought wins against Burnley and Swansea. It doesn't always have be spectacular and the momentum keeps building. 

They've shown an ability to dig in a bit, even though there's still a defensive vulnerability, to win games where they might have previously dropped points.

Where Arsenal are really strong is when Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott run beyond Alexis Sanchez and take defenders into areas where they're not really comfortable.

Matchday three always seems to be a pretty uncomfortable one for Arsenal, though. It's often been when they tend to get the strongest sides in the group and it's make-or-break, but I'm expecting a comfortable night in the Soccer Special studio, with just a win or two probably needed to make qualification certain.

Charlie predicts: 4-0 and Alexis Sanchez to score first (18/1 with Sky Bet)

Celtic v Borussia Monchengladbach

It sounds crazy when you're in a group with Barcelona and Manchester City but this is the key game for Celtic being at home, when third place is the realistic target. 

To get third place it's probably a must-win situation, but I'm concerned because they have to force it a bit more. It's a different sort of pressure with that atmosphere and you're now expected to win.

Gladbach are more equipped to be defensive-minded. I know they struggled with a 0-0 at the weekend and they're missing a couple of players, but they are solid.

They'll be a lot more organised than Manchester City's defence and wary of Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele's pace.These games are different because Gladbach will frustrate, make the game a stop-start one, with the expectation of the fans very different.

Charlie predicts: 0-0 (14/1 with Sky Bet)

Barcelona v Manchester City

I watched Man City at the weekend and they did play very well against an Everton team who sat in but while they missed a couple of penalties they didn't create that many chances.

Here's where the key situation is: Pep Guardiola went with a back three in preparation for Barca, with the three defenders picking up their three forwards, then the full-backs tucking in when they lost the ball.

I think Pep will be thinking he's vulnerable because of Barca's three amigos and his weakness is in whole will be picking them up. 

Is it going to be Aleksandar Kolarov or Gael Clichy? What I think he might do is bring back Vincent Kompany if he is going to play a narrow back three. That's his best hope.

They can get at Barcelona defence with Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling on the break and then I can only see goals.

Charlie predicts: 3-2 and Luis Suarez to score first (55/1 with Sky Bet)

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