Wednesday's Champions League predictions including Juventus vs. Chelsea

Atalanta vs. Young Boys (Wednesday, 5.45pm)

Group F outsiders Young Boys will be hoping to follow up their surprise Champions League victory against Manchester United with another three points, when they travel to Atalanta on Wednesday night.

The two sides have never faced each other before in a major European competition, with La Dea the fifth Italian outfit that the Young Boys will face after Juventus, Napoli, Udinese and Roma.

We say: Atalanta BC 2-0 Young Boys

Even though Young Boys were able to cause an upset in their first group game, further success on Wednesday night is unlikely against a high-scoring Atalanta outfit, who will be keen to claim their first three points in Group F.

The Italian outfit will be strong favourites to win on home soil and we can see them securing a routine victory.

Zenit vs. Malmo (Wednesday, 5.45pm)

Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg welcome Swedish title winners Malmo to the Krestovsky Stadium for their second game in the group stages of the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Excluding qualifiers, this will be the first European meeting between a Russian and Swedish team since October 2007, when Spartak Moscow eliminated BK Hacken in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

We say: Zenit St Petersburg 2-0 Malmo

Both Zenit and Malmo will view this fixture as a must-win game if they are to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.

The hosts are the strong favourites to come out on top at the Krestovsky Stadium, and we feel they should have few problems in securing a routine victory on Wednesday.

Bayern vs. Dynamo Kiev (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Dynamo Kiev will seek to pull off the shock of all shocks when they travel to Bayern Munich for Wednesday's Champions League Group E battle.

Julian Nagelsmann's side trounced Barcelona 3-0 on the opening day, while their visitors played out a goalless draw with Benfica.

We say: Bayern Munich 3-0 Dynamo Kiev

Dynamo Kiev are hardly the easiest side to break down - as Benfica found out two weeks ago - but such a youthful backline may come unstuck against a rampant Bayern.

Nagelsmann's side are sweeping aside everything in their path this season and have their eyes firmly on the continental prize, so we can only back the hosts to run out comfortable winners.

Benfica vs. Barcelona (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Benfica and Barcelona will both go in search of their first Champions League group stage wins of the season when they lock horns at the Estadio da Luz in Group E on Wednesday night.

Jorge Jesus's side played out a goalless draw with Dynamo Kiev on the opening day, whereas Barca succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

We say: Benfica 1-1 Barcelona

Despite claiming a vital three points at the weekend, Barcelona are far from full-strength and are not without their morale problems either, making this a more enticing affair than it would initially seem on paper.

One can only imagine what failure to win would do for Koeman's future in the hotseat, but an in-form Benfica will sense an opportunity at the fortress that is the Estadio da Luz and are more than capable of claiming a hard-earned point from this clash.

> How Barcelona could line up against Benfica

> Barcelona injury, suspension list vs. Benfica

Man Utd vs. Villarreal (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Just over four months after losing the Europa League final to Villarreal, Manchester United will be seeking revenge against their Spanish counterparts when the two sides lock horns in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Young Boys in their opening Group F encounter, while the Yellow Submarine played out a 2-2 draw at home against Atalanta.

We say: Manchester United 1-1 Villarreal

The pressure is beginning to build for Solskjaer as Man United fans expect their side to be performing at a much higher standard, particularly in games they are predicted to win.

Wednesday's match is another fixture the Red Devils will be the favourites to win, and defeat here would seriously dent their hopes of Champions League progression.

Solskjaer is crying out for a response from his players, however they could be in for another difficult evening against a resilient Villarreal outfit, who have been hard to break down so far this term. Yet another draw between the two sides could be on the cards at Old Trafford.

> How Man United could line up against Villarreal

> Man United injury, suspension list vs. Villarreal

Salzburg vs. Lille (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Both sitting on one point after the opening matchday in Champions League Group G, Red Bull Salzburg and Lille prepare for battle in Wednesday's game at the Red Bull Arena.

The Austrian giants held Sevilla to a 1-1 stalemate two weeks ago, whereas Ligue 1 champions Lille played out a goalless draw with Wolfsburg.

We say: Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 Lille

Gourvennec is yet to endear himself to the Lille faithful and will come under increasing pressure if his side fail to win here, but they at least appear to have improved on the goalscoring front.

However, Salzburg are equally impressive in the final third and could have easily come away with three points against Sevilla but for a lack of ruthlessness from 12 yards, and we expect a pulsating encounter to end with the hosts coming out on top.

Wolfsburg vs. Sevilla (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Wolfsburg and Sevilla will both go in search of their first wins of the 2021-22 Champions League during Wednesday's Group G clash at the Volkswagen Arena.

The Bundesliga high-flyers played out a 0-0 draw with Lille on the opening matchday, while Sevilla's clash with Red Bull Salzburg finished 1-1.

We say: Wolfsburg 0-1 Sevilla

Sevilla have made a typically eye-catching start to the season under Lopetegui, but without En-Nesyri leading the line, goals may be hard to come by on Wednesday.

Wolfsburg have plenty of fond memories from past Champions League encounters on home soil, although their lack of firepower in matchweek one was alarming, and we expect Sevilla to stand firm and shade a close contest here.

Juventus vs. Chelsea (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Champions League holders Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's defeat against Manchester City, when they travel to face Juventus on Wednesday night.

The Italian giants, meanwhile, are aiming to claim their fourth victory in five matches across all competitions as well as extend their unbeaten record against the Blues to four games.

We say: Juventus 0-1 Chelsea

One of Chelsea's strengths that has been evident since Tuchel took charge has been their defensive stability. Juventus themselves are usually known for their qualities at the back, though in 2021 they have looked surprisingly vulnerable, keeping only one clean sheet in their last 21 games across all competitions.

Wednesday's encounter will be one considered by both sides as a 'must not lose' if they are to clinch top spot in Group H. A closely-fought contest is set to be played out in Turin, however we can see the Blues securing a slender victory.

> How Chelsea could line up against Juventus

> How Juventus could line up against Chelsea

> Chelsea injury, suspension list vs. Juventus