The Champions League is back in action this week, as the first batch of last 16 ties are wrapped up. After some of the first leg results, not all these games are exactly hanging in the balance. Judging by the first legs, there’s a couple of mismatches among this week’s clashes.
So, these games may not be going down to the wire for qualification, but they can still be exciting. A couple of bets on each game will surely keep things interesting, and we’ve got a few ideas of what you should be looking at. Here is our preview of all this week’s Champions League action, with a betting tip on each game.
Tuesday 8th March 2016
Real Madrid v Roma (19:45) – Madrid to win and both teams to score (9/5 with Coral)
After a 2-0 win in the Italian capital in the first leg, it’s hard to see Real having any problems making it into the quarter finals here. They have to basically just make it through this game, with their fans expecting a big win. Roma have been on the wrong side of a few thrashings in Europe in the last few years, and a similar result wouldn’t be too much of a shock here. After their 6-1 defeat at Barca in the group stages, we could see Roma getting heavily beaten here. Real Madrid -3 might be worth a look, it’s priced around 15/2 with Coral.
But, our main tip for this clash is Real to win with Roma getting on the scoresheet. Real can’t afford to slip up here, their fans would be outraged. The team haven’t really kicked on under Zinedine Zidane, so he needs to send his men out to make a statement. We know that Zidane’s Real aren’t great at the back, they’ve struggled to keep clean sheets, and we think that’ll be the case again here. While the Spanish side should win easily, we see Roma getting themselves a consolation here.
Wolfsburg v Gent (19:45) – Wolfsburg -1 handicap (11/8 with Sky Bet)
Tuesday’s other game isn’t that open either. Wolfsburg won the first leg in Belgium, but their lead was cut from 3-0 to 3-2. That hasn’t changed much in the tie here, as we still can’t see the Belgians winning in Germany and overturning that defeat. This is easily the weakest of the last 16 ties, and whichever side goes through will likely struggle in the quarters. A place in the last eight for the first time would be a great achievement for either club, but their two games in the next round wouldn’t make comfortable viewing for the fans.
We’re backing Wolfsburg to make it into the last eight with a win here. After seeing how easily they rolled over Gent in the first leg, they’ll go out to attack on home soil. The home support helped the Belgians get back into the first leg, but without their fans behind them their prospects look bleak. The German hosts aren’t going great in the Bundesliga, but they should have more than enough to record an easy win in this game, given the gulf in class between the two teams. We’re going for Wolfsburg on the -1 handicap, as they pick up a much needed win.
Wednesday 9th March 2016
Zenit v Benfica (17:00) – Zenit to win (21/20 with Bet365)
This game is a lot closer than the last two, and this match is expected to be a cagey affair. Benfica got a late winner in the first leg to take a 1-0 advantage into this game, but that came with Zenit very rusty. They hadn’t played competitively in weeks, and that told as they fell way off the pace late on. The Portuguese took the upper hand as Zenit started to tire, and that’s how they gained their win. Given that Zenit have got back to match fitness in time for this one, Benfica could be in trouble here.
It’s likely they’ll come out and just try and hold on to their lead. It’ll most likely be a defensive job, asking Andre Villas-Boas’ Russian side to break them down. Despite their poor first leg showing, we’re backing Zenit to at least get back in the game with a win here. They’re well priced at evens, especially when you look back at their group stage performance. They topped their group, which wasn’t the strongest, but they were miles ahead of the rest of the sides behind them. They should be good enough to see off Benfica, too.
Chelsea v PSG (19:45) – Over 2.5 goals (23/20 with Coral)
Finally, Chelsea host PSG as they look to overturn a 2-1 defeat from the first leg in Paris. The French champions were much the better side in the first leg, but Chelsea are in great from right now, especially at home. They’ve put together a run that’s seen them move right up the league, and now they have enough momentum behind them to trouble PSG at the Bridge. Two years ago the French side took a 3-1 lead into the second leg in London, and the Blues won 2-0 to qualify. Could away goals be crucial again here?
With Chelsea’s defence, it’s hard to see them keeping a clean sheet to make the most of their goal from Paris. John Terry is likely to miss out and Kurt Zouma is also missing. They have four fit defenders, and that makeshift defence isn’t really ready for this big a task. If the Blues are to make it through, they’ll need to be on the front foot, pushing forward for goals, as PSG are almost certain to score. This should end up being a pretty exciting second leg, and we’re going with over 2.5 goals here as our main tip for this clash.