It’s Matchday 3 in the UEFA Champions League – and our spotlight falls upon a Group G clash, RB Leipzig vs Red Star Belgrade.

Kick-off on Wednesday, Oct 25th, is 20.00.

Team news

Leipzig duo Willi Orban and El Chadaille Bitshiabu remain sidelined with troublesome knee issues. Fresh legs are available through Werner, Sesko and Olmo, who started from the bench last time in a 3-1 win at Darmstadt. Openda netted twice, with Forsberg also on the scoresheet.

Red Star forward Bukari is a concern. The 24-year-old has a couple of CL goals already this term and has been absent of late. They could do with him declaring he’s fit and ready.

Filippo Falco remains out but Peter Olayinka might feature if Bukari doesn’t make it.

Match odds

The betting ahead of kick-off as I write is as follows;

RB Leipzig 1/5, Draw 5/1, Red Star (referred to as Crvena Zvezda on the website) 9/1

Openda to score the first goal? 11/4. Worth a little tickle.

The two sides that complete Group G, Young Boys and Manchester City, face each other too on Wednesday evening (Stadion Wankdorf, Bern). City top the Group with two wins from two. Leipzig have one victory and a loss, while Young Boys and Red Star have both lost one, but have a point each after drawing their matchup 2-2.

RB Leipzig to win and both teams to score @ 7/5

Leipzig are very short to win this one, so we need to get a little more creative. I’ve never been one for 1/5 shots – not even in accas, frankly, because every now and again one will sensationally lose; and the benefit of a 1/5 shot in an accumulative affair is surely nominal. Just my personal view.

It’s Leipzig then to take this for me – I note that they invariably give Manchester City a run for their money as they’ve met now a few times in recent seasons, including a 6-3 thriller I witnessed at the Etihad a couple of years ago. They should have too much firepower for Red Star, but can concede one to the visitors. Being at home they’ll be tremendously keen to shore up that second-spot behind the Mancs.

Leipzig lie 5th in the Bundesliga, having lost just once, scoring 19 goals in eight matches. There’s an encouraging trend here in that both teams tend to concede – a trait I’m hoping will continue on Wednesday. Red Star’s domestic league situation is that they lie second after ten matches, having scored 29 and conceded 12.

Goalmouth action aplenty can be reasonably anticipated, fingers crossed.

RB Leipzig to win both halves @ 13/10

Again, in a match where we feel the outcome can be a decent home win, but the odds are prohibitive, we can explore this market too. Not one I’m generally keen on, but in this instance it could be just the remedy.

Is it conceivable that Leipzig can take both halves? Imagine taking the first half 1-0 for example, and then the second 2-1? That would be perfection for our purposes, landing both bets nicely – but is it feasible? For me, absolutely.

Early pressure – Leipzig have a fanatical, noisy, passionate home following. Going in at the break ahead is surely exactly where they need to be. A second period of consolidation, a few more goals perhaps, and a concession. No heroic stakes, but well worth a little flutter in my book.

City are looking relatively comfy in the Group, but the scrap for second-spot will be keenly fought.