Champions League
2012-09-18 - Olympiacos vs Schalke
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League
Tuesday 18 September 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Olympiacos
Olympiacos are another one of these teams that regularly make it to the Group Stage of the Champions League but seldom make an impact beyond this stage. The draw has not been unkind to them this time around and there may be some serious hopes they can move to the last 16 for the first time since 2010.
The side are the current Greek Champions and they have made a very solid start to the defence of their trophy with 3 straight wins to move to the top of their table with a 100% record. Olympiacos have won 15 of their last 17 home games in all competitions, although both of those defeats have come in their last 5 here.
This part of Europe remains one of the toughest places to visit and earn anything from the game as Olympiacos have won 8 of their last 10 Champions League games here. They did lose back to back games here in the last 16 of the 2010 Champions League and the opening game of 2011, but Olympiacos did win their last 2 home games last season against Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal.
Schalke
It has only been a couple of years since Schalke were in the Champions League Semi Final, although they did fail to make the competition last season. There won't be too many people tipping this team to be the German side making the Semi Finals this time around and even getting out of this Group could be a tough ask.
Schalke will be facing Olympiacos, Arsenal and Montpellier in the Group, but it can be tough for them to manage both European and domestic competitions. However, Schalke did manage to do that last season when reaching the Quarter Final of the Europa League and they started this season with 7 points from their opening three League games in the Bundesliga.
The side are unbeaten in their last 7 games going back to last season when they were defeated at home by Borussia Dortmund. Schalke have also lost just 1 of their last 9 away games in all competitions, although they haven't had a great time when travelling away in Europe. Last season they were 2-2-2 away from home, while they were also 2-2-2 in their last appearance in the Champions League when reaching the Semi Final.
Head to Head
This is the first meeting between the teams in a competitive match.
Prediction
I wouldn't recommend major stakes on this pick, but I do feel there is a bit of value on picking Olympiacos to get their Champions League campaign off to a positive start in this one.
The layers have set Schalke as the favourites, but they are just 4-4-4 away from home in Europe over the last couple of seasons even while getting to the latter stages of both the Champions League and the Europa League.
Add to that the fact that Olympiacos have won 8 of their last 10 at home in this competition and you have to begin to wonder why they are such a big price to pick up the three points in this one.
Olympiacos also beat the German Champions Borussia Dortmund last season and they have beaten a team like Arsenal twice here so they won't be fearful of playing someone like Schalke.
At odds where you can almost triple your stake, Olympiacos have to be worth chancing in this one.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Olympiacos 2-1 Schalke
