Our Tips for Tuesday's Football - 19/10/21

AC Milan and Porto are no strangers to massive Champions League nights and this is set to be one of their most important in recent times as anything but a win likely condemns either side to a Europa League finish in third at best.

As of now, both clubs are winless, with Atletico Madrid and Liverpool both battling it out for the top spot which leaves Porto on a point and Milan without anything on the board. However, this isn't to disregard Milan's incredible form over the past 12 months which has carried on into this season as they sit second in Serie A and just two points off Napoli, who have earned all 24 points from their faultless start in Italy.

Milan are conceding at an alarming rate at the moment though, as they're without a clean sheet since beating Venezia four weeks ago and are they are coming off the back of coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Hellas Verona.

With this in mind, we think Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mehdi Taremi will get on the score sheet, as the Swede didn't start at the weekend and now he is back to full fitness, he could get another Champions League goal. Taremi, on the other hand, already has five goals this season with one in Europe.

In perhaps the tie of gameweek three in the Champions League, Atletico Madrid will welcome the 2018/19 champions to the Wanda Metropolitano as the Spanish champions look to continue their exceptional record at this ground.

It was hard enough attempting to beat Atletico at their old ground, but ever since their move in 2017, only Chelsea have managed to beat them on home soil in Europe with the Blues beating them last season and in the 2017/18 campaign.

Moreover, Diego Simeone's men also managed to beat Liverpool here two seasons ago in the round of 16, as a current Chelsea man, Saul Niguez, got the game's only goal. Atletico would go on to win 3-2 at Anfield after extra time in an all-time classic on Merseyside.

Atletico have had a prolonged time off ever since they beat Barcelona 2-0, and this will be their first game since October 2nd, while Liverpool have gone onto thrash Watford 5-0 where Mohamed Salah once again stole the show.

Ultimately, we think the long rest and Atletico's sensational record at home will equal a low-scoring game and we're backing the home outfit to get the job done.

Elsewhere, Ajax will play hosts to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and we find it impossible to not back anything other than a game with goals where Dortmund will likely win and concede a goal or two. Simply put, they've been netting goals for fun and letting them in their own at an alarming rate too in the Bundesliga.

In fact, Marco Rose's men sit second in the table, a point behind leaders Bayern Munich and they have conceded 14 goals and scored 22 of their own from only eight games. Ajax have also been one of Europe's most prolific sides too, as they have scored an extraordinary 32 in the league and seven in the Champions League.

Erling Haaland also returned from injury last weekend against Mainz where he casually netted another two goals and we really don't see anything else here other than both teams netting with Dortmund leaving victorious.

Derby County and Luton Town will meet on Tuesday in what is a crucial clash for either side following Derby's 12-point deduction and the Hatters' attempt to close the gap on the playoffs.

Despite being on just three points, the Rams have lost just once in their past five games but in this time, they have scored only three times with three 0-0 draws and a 2-1 win over Stoke City forcing them into the drop zone.

Luton, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their past three having beat Millwall 2-0, drawn 0-0 with Huddersfield and beat Coventry City 5-0.

With such form in mind, we think Wayne Rooney's men are going to struggle here against a Luton side that have just as many goals as top-of-the-table Bournemouth. At the same time, however, Derby have only let in eight goals from 12 games, which is also the same as Bournemouth at the summit.

Only a point is separating Blackburn Rovers in ninth and Queens Park Rangers in eighth as both teams have seen a whole host of goals go in at either end in the first 12 games of the 2021/22 season. As of now, Rovers have scored 21 and let in 16, while QPR have netted 23 and conceded 20.

It is a must-win game for both sides if they are to establish themselves as early contenders for the playoff spots and all eyes will be on the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz and Andre Gray for goals, while Charlie Austin is also finding some decent goalscoring form this season.

With the two being separated by just a point and a few goals, it's hard to predict a winner but we are backing there to be goals here and for them to be spread across the two teams, so we're going for BTTS and over 3.5 goals.