S.P.Read Esq: Chelsea v Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the Champions League match at 7.45pm tonight between CHELSEA v MACCABI TEL-AVIV and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

Chelsea’s problems are well documented and they could well do with a resounding victory at Stamford Bridge tonight in their first Champions League Group match of the season.

Not a 1-0 and then ‘park the bus’ type victory – more of a 4-0 or 5-0 romp against Maccabi Tel-Aviv which, under normal circumstances, they should be capable of and the market points to an easy win.

But surely in the current climate even the heavy hitters at long odds-on must take a deep breath before touching Chelsea at around 2/9 on the fixed odds?

The Chelsea concerns set in even before the Premier League started with lacklustre pre-season form and they now look a shadow of the team that stormed to title success last season.

The meltdown is pretty unfathomable. It’s pretty much the same side so it can only really be put down to complacency.

After tonight’s game Chelsea have a short period to get ready for Saturday’s lunchtime showdown against London rivals Arsenal (in action themselves tonight away to Dinamo Zagreb) and a defeat for the Blues at the weekend could really accelerate pressure on Mourinho – not to mention further dent the confidence in the side.

So a big win for Chelsea tonight is pretty much essential. The Israeli champions Maccabi Tel-Aviv are making their first appearance in the group stages for 11 years after beating Basel on away goals in a play-off.

Chelsea will be without Radamel Falcao who has a minor injury and Asmir Begovic will deputise for Thibaut Courtois in goal.

Mourinho has swung some big changes in his starting XI of: Begovic; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Baba Rahman; Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard and Remy.

Terry and Costa are both on the bench and Baba Rahman makes his debut.

Chelsea v Maccabi Tel-Aviv
UEFA Champions League Group Stage
19:45 BT Sport 2 / BT Sport 2 HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Never played)

I think, at last, we’ll see some positive play from Chelsea tonight and I’m happy to buy total goals in the match at 3.15 with Star Spreads.

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• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.