Champions League Betting: The Kane in Spain...

Real Madrid v Tottenham
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 2

Spurs fly to Madrid hoping perhaps to put in a performance like they did that night in Milan. The Santiago Bernabeucould be for Harry Kane what San Siro was for Gareth Bale. Deliver here and Tottenham's striker will ascend to a new, even greater status.

Tottenham are a better team than they were in 2010. But as holders this Real Madrid are better than that Inter. Last season's Champions League triumph, Madrid's third in four years, felt like the beginning of a cycle, not the end. Inter were at the end. An old team that had achieved everything without the same manager, nor motivation.

Spurs lost on the night although Bale's second half hat-trick didn't half scare Inter and laid the foundations for a memorable win at White Hart Lane later in the year. Bale's form soon earned a move to the Bernabeu. Disappointingly for him, the Welshman is not fit to face his old team and has been eclipsed by Isco over the last year. Isco came off the bench and essentially won the game for the Spanish champions in Getafe, setting up Cristiano Ronaldo, who netted his first league goal of the season.

With the exception of their performances in San Sebastian and Dortmund, Madrid haven't been totally convincing this season. Not since the Super Cups anyway. Betis won at the Bernabeu and Tottenham's impeccable form on the road this season means there are grounds for optimism. Madrid have tended to be a complacent in the group stages in each of the last two years. They finished runners' up to Dortmund last season and had spells behind to Sporting at home and Legia Warsaw in Poland.

The problem for Spurs is we have seen no such instances in the Champions League this term. Spurs are available on Double Chance @ 3.05.

Manchester City v Napoli
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 3

Watching Manchester City at the weekend left a lot of people thinking this team has what it takes to maybe even win the treble. The Citizens are the most prolific team in Europe right now and have scored more goals than any English team at this stage of a season since Everton in 1894.

Under Pep, City look good value to win the Champions League @ 8.80 and are also available as a first time winner @ 2.52. But we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. On Tuesday night, Guardiola says City will play "one of the three or four or five best teams, playing football and in results" in Europe. He's talking about Napoli.

The Partenopei are the only side to have made a perfect start to the season in Europe's top five leagues, winning all eight of their games in Serie A. They too are breaking goalscoring records. Napoli went into Saturday's game with Roma, averaging more goals per game than any side in Europe, including City.

"I encourage you and the fans to come next Tuesday because they will watch an amazing game," Guardiola said. "Two teams with the same idea, high pressing, win the ball (high), short passes, dynamic in front. I'm pretty sure it will be a good game and I am very pleased to face one of the coaches I admire more (in Maurizio Sarri)."

Sarri doesn't have the resources or players Arrigo Sacchi did at Milan or Guardiola does today. But his outlook on football and the orchestral style of football his teams play has drawn comparisons with both. This double-header is the must-see tie of the fortnight.

Monaco v Besiktas
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport Extra 4

It was entirely logical to expect Monaco to encounter some difficulty after losing five of their first team players in the summer. Leonardo Jardim is on his third rebuilding job as Monacomanager and despite a better than expected start to the season, it's becoming clear that the current side is a work-in-progress.

Friday's 3-2 defeat to Lyon was Monaco's fourth in all competitions and while Fabinho and Radamel Falcao were absent, the player the French champions are missing most is Bernard Mendy. Left-back has become a problem position since his sale.

The mistakes Jorge is making in the role are what you might reasonably expect from a 21-year-old still learning his trade. Terence Kongolo hasn't convinced either for the moment and we might end up seeing Djibril Sidibe swap sides while the two summer signings figure it out.

The uncertainty in defence hasn't helped veteran goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, although in truth, he has no one to blame but himself for Lyon's winner, a more than saveable Nabil Fekir 94th minute free-kick. Subasic has been carrying an ankle injury and says he isn't yet 100% fit, which might persuade Jardim to replace him with Diego Benaglio for Tuesday's match against Besiktas.

The Turkish champions stumbled to a shock defeat at Genclerbirligi on Friday and fell eight points behind Galatasaray in the Super Lig. You wonder, as with Monaco, if the game came too soon after the international break. Whether that was the case or not, Jardim will surely not make the mistake of underestimating the Black Eagles. Besiktas have built on last year's experience in the Champions League and are on maximum points at the top of the group after wins against Porto and RB Leipzig.

Intent on leaving a mark on this competition, they will be confident of upsetting Monaco particularly after wins in Naples and Oporto over the last year. Senol Gunes' side are worth a punt on Double Chance @ 2.36.