The early-season football action throws up some intriguing encounters across Europe on Wednesday as the second round of the Carabao Cup and the second legs of the UEFA Champions League play-offs take centre stage.
Our tips focus on a game from each of these competitions as Slovan Bratislava host Midtjylland and Ipswich Town travel to AFC Wimbledon, while there is also La Liga drama with Atletico Madrid’s meeting with Espanyol at the Metropolitano Stadium.
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Bet of the day
Slovan Bratislava to win v Midtjylland @ 15/8
After a 1-1 draw in Denmark in the first leg, the Champions League play-off between Slovan Bratislava and Midtjylland is finely poised going into the pivotal second leg and the Slovakian outfit could make home advantage count to make history on Wednesday.
The Sky Blues have impressed at the Tehelne pole this season with five wins from five home matches in all competitions and three of these victories have come in the qualifying stages of this competition, winning to nil against both Celje and APOEL.
Midtjylland have started their domestic season unbeaten with four wins and two draws from their six Superliga matches. However, they have not won a two-legged play-off tie across the last four seasons and failed to take a lead to Slovakia after a 1-1 home draw.
Vladimir Weiss’s men will have a raucous support behind them and, after going unbeaten in their 11 competitive fixtures so far this season, the hosts will be brimming with confidence as they look to secure Champions League football for the first time since the 1992/93 season.
Special of the day
Atletico Madrid to win to nil and Julian Alvarez to have 1+ shots on target v Espanyol @ 13/10
Atletico Madrid are hoping to rival city neighbours Real for the La Liga title this season and they will be expected to take all three points with relative ease against an Espanyol side who have lost both of their opening two league fixtures to nil this season.
Diego Simeone’s men have taken four points from their opening two matches and got off to a winning start at the Metropolitano Stadium last time out, securing a 3-0 win over last season’s surprise package Girona.
Atletico have made waves in the transfer market this season and one man looking to make an impact will be former Manchester City star Julian Alvarez. The Argentine registered 96 shots on target last season for the Premier League champions – the third most in the squad – and he looks a good bet to test the goalkeeper again on Wednesday.
Long shot of the day
AFC Wimbledon to win v Ipswich Town @ 11/2
Ipswich drew the short straw upon their return to the top flight – with successive defeats to giants Liverpool and Manchester City to start the campaign – and they could be in serious danger of falling to lower league opposition in midweek for another defeat.
The Tractor Boys have only progressed past the second round of the Carabao Cup in one of the last eight seasons and they famously lost to non-league Maidstone United in the FA Cup last term.
League Two Wimbledon meanwhile have won four of their opening five matches of the season, including winning both of their two home matches so far this campaign, and will see this tie as a huge opportunity to claim a Premier League scalp.
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