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Manchester United to nick win, Manchester City to toil? Charlie Nicholas makes Champions League predictions

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Charlie Nicholas correctly tipped Champions League wins for Arsenal and Chelsea so how does expect the Manchester clubs to get on?

The Soccer Saturday pundit nailed all but one correct result in his last two rounds of European tips and got off to a fine start on Tuesday as Arsenal kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive with a 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea swept aside Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Manchester City are already through and will be focused on topping their group, while Manchester United host PSV on Wednesday looking for a win that will keep them on track to make the last 16.

Here's how Charlie rates their chances....

Juventus v Manchester City

Raheem Sterling celebrates with team-mates after scoring  for Man City
Image: Raheem Sterling could be the main threat for Manchester City, thinks Charlie

It's another awkward one and I'm not sure which side will go out and look to take control of this game.  

It will be interesting to see what Manuel Pellegrini does with Yaya Toure after hauling him off at half-time against Liverpool and without him the likes of Paul Pogba make Juventus the better team in the middle of the park. 

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I'm guessing David Silva will struggle to make it, while Pellegrini has to make another decision on Sergio Aguero following his latest lay-off. City might have to look to work on the counter-attack, which they can do with the pace of Raheem Sterling, who suits that sort of game more, as Juve attempt to squeeze.

Charlie predicts 1-1 with Raheem Sterling to score first (40/1 with Sky Bet)

Manchester United v PSV

Manchester United's Memphis Depay celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League play-off tie v Club Brugge
Image: Memphis Depay could be given a chance to impress against his former club

PSV are an unpredictable creature, they've got talent and caused United problems with the amount of crosses they managed to get into the box in the first game, something they'll look to test them with again.

There's absolutely no doubt that David De Gea is the main reason why United are winning matches at the moment. Chris Smalling has been also been excellent at the heart of a strong structure put together by Louis van Gaal.

I'm going for United just to nick it, probably in the last five minutes as they seem to be developing a habit of doing, with Memphis Depay, who looks better in Europe, to haunt his former club.

Charlie predicts 2-1 and Memphis Depay to score first (25/1 with Sky Bet)

Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb

Olivier Giroud scored Arsenal's opening goal against Everton
Image: Charlie tipped Olivier Giroud to be key for Arsenal

It's a must-win scenario for Arsenal. They also have to get the last couple of games out of their system. They have their excuses with injuries in the Premier League but there are no excuses for the poor Champions League performances they produced earlier on in the campaign.

I do expect them to win but can't see it being in the style I like to see from Arsenal. It needs to be a performance containing aggression and commitment to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Just get the win and pray that Bayern Munich do the job against Olympiakos. Then it all comes down to the decider in Greece.

Charlie predicts 2-0 and Olivier Giroud to score first (15/1 with Sky Bet)

RESULT - 3-0

Maccabi Tel Aviv v Chelsea

Eden Hazard reacts after missing a penalty during the UEFA Champions League group G match between Chelsea and Maccabi Tel-Aviv
Image: Eden Hazard (left) has struggled for goals this season

This is another awkward one. Everything for Chelsea is a grind right now.

Nobody can say beating Norwich 1-0 on Saturday was a turning point. I know some Chelsea players have tried to make it out to be that, but I see this being another workmanlike performance.

It's been 22 games since Eden Hazard last scored for Chelsea and I see he's talking up himself and playing down suggestions of a fall-out with Jose Mourinho. I actually think he is looking a bit more like himself again and I'm backing him to end his drought here.

Charlie predicts 0-1 with Eden Hazard to score first (17/1 with Sky Bet)

RESULT - 0-4 

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