It’s Matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League and a few tempting fixtures highlight the midweek slate.
Pregame narrative: Reigning Serie A champion Inter Milan hosts Arsenal, while Atletico Madrid will travel to France to tussle with Paris Saint-Germain.
Check out the best Champions League picks for the upcoming week.
Champions League picks
Full Champions League Matchday 4 betting markets
Prediction: Red Star Belgrade vs. Barcelona Over 3.5 goals between
When: Nov. 6: 3:00 p.m.
Barcelona will arrive at Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade licking its chops after outscoring its opponents 21-to-2 over a recent five-match stretch, including a 4-0 drubbing of Real Madrid.
After a disappointing loss to Monaco to open Champions League play, Barcelona rebounded to defeat BSC Young Boys and Bayern Munich by a combined 9-to-1 scoreline.
Raphinha has led the Barca attack with four goals and one assist through three UCL fixtures.
Conversely, Red Star Belgrade enters with its defensive efforts in the Champions League being akin to a screen door in a submarine.
Through three matches, it has conceded 11 goals and scored just twice. It is dealing with a few injuries, but healthy players probably wouldn’t have reversed any results outside of perhaps its home opener against Benfica.
The vast discrepancy in talent between each side is enough to envision Barcelona scoring at will versus Belgrade.
Champions League picks: Brest should stay hot
Prediction: Brest to beat Sparta Prague
When: Nov. 6: 3:00 p.m.
After a 2-1 victory over Sturm Graz in the club’s first-ever Champions League fixture, Brest defeated RB Salzburg 4-0 before drawing 1-1 with Bayern Leverkusen in its most recent UCL fixture.
The Brest attack has succeeded against weaker teams which could be the case here. Abdallah Sima and Ludovic Ajorque have been the main reason with three goals and two assists, respectively.
They’ve been critical in lifting Les Pirates to seven points in three matches, only two behind the competition’s leaders.
Following its qualification through the UCL playoff qualifiers, Sparta Prague defeated RB Salzburg 3-0 on Matchday 1 before drawing Bayern Leverkusen 1-1 and being trounced 5-0 by Manchester City.
For Prague, the match will be its third in eight days.
Defenders Imanol Garcia de Albeniz and Elias Cobbaut transferred to Prague during the summer but due to injuries, have combined to make just one appearance. Neither is expected to play against Brest.
The matchup between two of the more unheralded clubs competing in the Champions League will provide each with a platform to showcase their abilities on the world stage.
Though Brest will be travelling to Prague, expect the Cinderella story from the northwest of France to overrun an out-of-form opponent.
Matchday 4 SGP
Prediction: Inter Milan to win and Over 2.5 goals
When: Nov. 6: 3:00 p.m.
Arsenal travels to the San Siro for its fourth match in just 11 days.
Through three Champions League fixtures, Arsenal is one of five teams to have not conceded a single goal. However, key defenders Jurrien Timber and Gabriel are questionable after picking up injuries versus Liverpool, while summer arrival Riccardo Calafiori remains weeks away.
Martin Odegaard also remains unlikely as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.
Inter Milan is also playing its fourth match in 11 days when it lines up versus Arsenal.
Also similar to Arsenal, Inter is one of the five Champions League which hasn’t conceded, including a 0-0 draw with Manchester City on the opening matchday.
Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez lead the strike force, having each scored once through their first three UCL fixtures.
After a congested run of fixtures for both squads and injuries to Arsenal’s backline, expect the Gunners to implement a game plan focused on containing Inter Milan’s wide attack.
The contrast between Mikel Arteta’s hybrid 4-2-3-1 system and Inter manager Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 will be on full display as each side looks to spring attacks on the flanks from what is sure to be a crowded midfield.
Player to pop: Dusan Vlahovic
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has begun the campaign capitalizing on each opportunity opposing defences have provided.
The Serbian striker has scored twice and supplied an assist through the first three matches, though he’ll hope to bounce back after a disappointing game against Stuttgart.
With fellow attacker Nicolas Gonzalez potentially returning from injury and Vlahovic in the midst of a strong run of form, expect Juventus to pin the stern Lille defence back while targeting its star striker in the penalty area.
