While there is a full Championship programme in midweek we are focussing on the crucial Champions League play off matches where there’s plenty to get our teeth into as we seek out some top-value accas. We’ve got one for all tastes so take your pick based on your aversion (or otherwise) to risk and let’s see if we can bag you a very healthy profit from the midweek action.
Easy Winner – 5/2 (Sky Bet)
- Arsenal to beat Besiktas (8/13) – Arsenal have been in – and come through – the predicament of Champions League play offs on numerous occasions and we feel they have the squad and confidence to make short work of Besiktas in Istanbul on Tuesday, making this a real banker.
- Salzburg to beat Malmo (1/4) – Salzburg are a young and very athletic squad who are getting better every season. Swedish side Malmo are going to struggle when they visit the Austrians who have already won 8-0, 5-0 and 6-1 in their domestic league this campaign and who got the better of Ajax in last season’s Europa League.
- Napoli to beat Athletic Bilbao (3/4) – Athletic Bilbao finished a very respectable fourth in La Liga last season but we don’t think they will be well-equipped enough to cope with this tough trip to Napoli. Rafa Benitez has got a tremendous squad of players and having beaten Arsenal, Marseille and Borussia Dortmund on home soil last season we think they’ll make short work of Bilbao here.
Medium Risk – 9/1 (BetVictor)
- Arsenal to be winning at half time (5/4) – Arsenal showed against Manchester City in the Community Shield that they can start games very well and with so much at stake from this match we fancy they will get off to a flyer against Besiktas, putting the tie to bed by half time.
- Maribor v Celtic: both teams to score (5/6) – Celtic only remain in the Champions League after the ejection of Legia Warsaw, and though they should win this match we think they will also concede at least one goal.
- Lille v Porto: over 2.5 goals (5/4) – With two fairly well-matched sides, both managers will be sending their sides out to take the initiative and we anticipate an open game with plenty of goals.
Long Shot – 44/1 (Sky Bet)
- Arsenal to win both halves (3/1) – A pattern is clearly emerging here: Arsenal are going to do the business in Turkey. They are too experienced and high on confidence to be intimidated by what is sure to be a fiery atmosphere and we think the Gunners will cruise to a solid victory.
- Napoli to win to nil (2/1) – Napoli are defensively solid and with such a tactically astute manager we think they will ensure they stop the visitors grabbing an away goal. Backing the Italians to win to nil looks great value to us.
- Salzburg v Malmo: over 4.5 goals (11/4) – As mentioned above, Salzburg have been banging them in for fun in recent weeks and we fancy they will hit a big score here. Backing over 4.5 goals covers the Swedes getting a consolation goal in what should be a very high-scoring affair.