UEFA Champions League Picks - 23 November 2011

Rob Alexander picks out a decent bet from Wednesday's Champions League fixtures

Arsenal and Chelsea will be hoping to fair better this evening than their Premier League counterparts from Manchester did last night and earn their spots in the last 16 with one match to spare.

The Gunners have a home match against Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund that they will be confident of winning but can also afford to draw if Marseille beat Olympiakos in the other match in Group F. The German side will be no pushovers but Arsenal will be determined to repeat the sort of performance that earned them a 1-1 draw in Dortmund.

Chelsea top Group E at the moment but have been in poor form of late and face a very tough tie away to Bayer Leverkusen that they must win to guarantee qualification. A defeat for Chelsea would see them likely sit in second place in the table needing to avoid defeat to Valencia at Stamford Bridge in the final game to make the last 16.

Group G has been one of the most competitive in this season's competition, with a 3-1 for Zenit St Petersburg over FC Porto the biggest victory for any side in the group. Surprise table topper APOEL Nicosia travel to St Petersburg this evening to play Zenit and can guarantee qualification by avoiding defeat, which they have done so far in both away matches. Shakhtar Donestk and FC Porto both need a win tonight in their match to keep their hopes of qualification alive.

FC Barcelona and AC Milan have both qualified from Group H and play each other tonight at the San Siro to decide who will top the group. Milan recorded a draw at Camp Nou and will be determined to get one over the best side in Europe by robbing them of top spot. In the other match BATE Borisov host Viktoria Plzen with both sides looking for their first three points in the group.

Wednesday Pick

Shakhtar Donestk v FC Porto

The Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donestk have not lived up to expectations in this season's Champions League, with their normally excellent home form being ruined with two draws against Zenit and APOEL. They must win at home tonight to maintain any hopes of reaching the knockout stages of this season's Champions League.

FC Porto, last year's Europa League champions have not performed well on the road and face another long trip to test their mettle. They were fortunate to beat Shakhtar in the opening match of the group stage, emerging with a 2-1 victory after the Ukrainian side ended the match with nine men.

I'm backing FC Porto to make amends for their poor away form by at least holding Shakhtar to another home draw and ending the Ukranian sides hopes of qualifying for the last 16. Porto's superior attacking qualities should be telling in a match both sides feel they need to win.

Bet 2 points on FC Porto +0.25 at 1.78 with betinternet. FC Porto 0 (draw no bet) at 2.15 at bet365 also offers some decent value.