Champions League Predictions > Mar 8th - 16th

[StevieDay1983]

[StevieDay1983]

You can find the odds and ratings for the second legs of the last 16 of the Champions League right here. Tell us your predictions and thoughts on these matches down below! 

[StefanBB]

Bayern Munich vs Salzburg

Bayern Munich will play in this fixture after a 1:1 Bundesliga drawn result vs Bayer Leverkusen. Nevertheless, they remained nine points ahead of Borussia Dortmund, who also has one game in hand. Bayern Munich hasn’t been able to stop scoring goals, hitting the target in each and every one of their last six matches. They have managed to rack up 12 during that period while also conceding a total of 9. However, the hosts haven’t been too convincing over the past few weeks. They didn’t secure a first-leg advantage and need to go for a win in this one.

Red Bull Salzburg heads into the game following on from a 4:0 Bundesliga win against SCR Altach in their last fixture. The away side is marching to the new title in the Austrian top-flight, and they comfortably sit on the top. A sequence of accomplished displays from the Red Bull Salzburg defense has seen their ‘goals against’ tally amounting to 3 from their last six fixtures in total. In that period of time, their forwards have managed to score 12. The Red Bulls were excellent in the first leg, but a victory slipped from their hands at the very finish of the clash. Red Bull Salzburg manager Matthias Jaissle has to choose from a squad that has some fitness concerns. Sekou Koita (Cruciate Ligament Rupture), Noah Okafor (Hamstring Injury), and Albert Vallci (Achilles tendon rupture) won’t make appearances.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

Bayern Munich is a firm favorite in this one despite having some consistency issues over the past few weeks. Salzburg needs more experience in games like this one, and the hosts should secure the advantage already at halftime. 

Goals Market Prediction

Both teams have been involved in many efficient matches this season, and the upcoming one shouldn’t be much different. The crowd should enjoy a high-scoring game and at least four goals in total.

Bayern Munich HT-FT @ 1.60

Over 3.5 FT @ 1.80

Correct score 3:1 @ 10.00

[StefanBB]

Liverpool vs Inter

With buoyed by their previous result, Liverpool will be hoping for more of the same after a 1:0 Premier League victory versus West Ham United. The Reds stayed in the chase for the Premier League title, being six points behind Man City and having a game in hand. Their more recent scorelines show that there has been much resilience in the Liverpool backline. Liverpool has been mean at the back, resulting in the tally of goals that have gone past their goalkeeper during their last six matches, standing at 2. They have a 2:0 advantage picked up from Milano, and they want to keep it intact. Thiago (Thigh Problems) and Joel Matip (Ill) won’t be available for Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp.

Inter will come into the game following a 5:0 Serie A win as they beat Salernitana in their most recent match. That victory boosted their confidence and kept them two points behind the top-placed Milan. A tendency of at least one team not managing to score in games involving Inter has become noticeable of late. A glance at their last six meetings shows that it’s occurred five times. During these clashes, opposing sides have hit a goal total of 5 while Inter has scored 6. On the other hand, Nerazzurri go to Liverpool being two goals behind, and they need an exceptional performance on the road.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

Although they didn’t dominate in the first leg, Liverpool secured a comfortable advantage. However, we don’t think they will get complacent, and the Reds should beat their rivals once again.

Goals Market Prediction

Inter cannot wait, and they need to go attacking mode from the very start of the match. Although Liverpool has been good in the back recently, both teams should be able to find the back of the net in this one.

Liverpool to Win @ 1.60

BTTS Yes @ 1.70

Correct score 2:1 @ 8.50

[DarrenTse]

Real Madrid vs Paris Saint Germain

Real Madrid:
Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 in the last round of League and has expanded their leading beyond the 2nd as much as 8 points. The reason why Real Madrid's recent situation has improved significantly is due to Benzema's timely comeback. But what is disadvantageous for Real Madrid is that two of the three midfielders are likely to be absent from this game. Therefore, it is not optimistic whether they can Parisin the midfield.

Paris Saint Germain:
Paris Saint Germain was beat by 0-1 in the last away game of the league,which doesn’t in good state with 1 win, 2 losses in the past three rounds. However, because the leading advantage of Paris in the league is too obvious, they already focused on the Champions League against Real Madrid. Compared with Real Madrid, Paris is more complete in terms of lineup with not much impact.

Verdict:
The two teams are close in strength. Real Madrid looks better, and there is no way back in the case of losing the first round. However, the handicap first odd did not support Real Madrid , and live odd continued to be unfavorable. Considering that themain players not yet recovered or probably absent . So it was more optimistic that Paris could remain unbeaten.

Real Madrid vs Paris Saint Germain
Prediction: 1X2 Pick: X2 

[ALEXXXXXXXX]

Jurgen klopps men Liverpool Fc plays host to Inter Milan in  2nd leg of the champions league match, At the Anfield stadium on Tuesday night.

Liverpool
Liverpool who have been victorious against Italia side over the past 4matches in the champions league heads straight to this contest with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg. goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in the 75th and 83rd minutes respectively, which puts the Red's on the driving seat to the quarter-finals  of the champions league. Liverpool made it 12straight wins across all competition with a 1-0 win over Westham. The reds have no injury concern for the crunchy tie. i see the red going for yet another victory.

Inter Milan
Inter Milan sits 2nd in the Seria A, with a win over League bottomers Salernitana. The 5-0 thumping ended a four game without a goal for someone inzaghi's men. Who have last since 2010 /11 haven't gone past this stage in the champions league round 16. They have no injury concern per say, but they must have to come up with something big if they must progress to the next round. As the already trail their opponent with 2goals down.

Pick: Liverpool win or BTTS

[StevieDay1983]

Bayern Munich vs RB Salzburg

The second legs of the Champions League last 16 matches kick-off on Tuesday night at 8pm GMT. The first preview up for these fixtures is German Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich against Austrian Bundesliga table-toppers RB Salzburg. The first leg out in Austria ended in a closely-fought 1-1 draw. That makes the home team the favourites but is there any chance of an upset win for the away club?

Bayern Munich will have been relieved to see the last minute equaliser from Kingsley Coman snatch a draw in the first leg but there is now an expectation on one of the competition favourites to push on and see this tie out now on home turf. The Bavarians have won 9 of their last 11 home matches and have scored 51 goals in just 16 home games so far this season. The German side scored 13 goals in their 3 home group stage fixtures versus Barcelona, Benfica, and Dynamo Kiev. I mentioned before the first leg encounter that Julian Nagelsmann's side have failed to beat a number of teams this season and have lost to both Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach at home already. So this tie is by no means cut and dry for the home side.

RB Salzburg are still undoubtedly gutted that they couldn't hold on to their 1-0 lead in the first leg that they had earned through Chukwubuike Adamu's opener on 30 minutes. Head coach Matthias Jaissle has seen his team struggle on a number of away trips in all competitions so far. Die Roten Bullen have lost 2 and drawn 1 of their 3 group stage games on the road and those matches were against Sevilla, Wolfsburg, and Lille. They have also failed to beat the likes of LASK, Austria Klagenfurt, Ried, and Rheindorf Altach in the league on their travels this campaign. Judging by the history books though, this game should have goals. Salzburg's last 9 visits to clubs in the German Bundesliga have produced a staggering 32 goals.

I think RB Salzburg did incredibly well to hold Bayern Munich to a draw in the first leg but, realistically, they would have needed to win that home game if they wanted any hope of progressing here. I'm anticipating Bayern Munich to put in a business-like display and progress with minimal fuss and maximum professionalism as their attacking dominance and creativity will cause problems for the visitors.

Bayern Munich HT/FT @ 1.67 with SBK

Bayern Munich to Win & BTTS @ 2.30 with Bet365

[StevieDay1983]

Liverpool vs Inter Milan

The second preview from Tuesday night's second legs in the last 16 of the Champions League is the 8pm GMT kick-off between Premier League title challengers Liverpool and Italian Serie A title contenders Inter Milan from Anfield. It was the English side who prevailed 2-0 winners in the first leg at the San Siro but was that enough to kill this tie off or is there life left in it still yet?

Liverpool are performing in the way all great teams have down the years. Bide their time over the course of the season and then start to crank up the intensity and performance levels in the New Year with the aim of reaching peak performance at the business end of the season from Easter. Jurgen Klopp's men have sealed the EFL Cup as their first trophy and with the team performing brilliantly in both the Premier League and FA Cup as well as the Champions League there is a realistic chance of the quadruple being achieved. The Reds have enjoyed the welcome news that the trio of Joel Matip, Roberto Firmino, and Thiago are all back training. Jurgen Klopp's side have now managed to keep 15 clean sheets in their last 24 matches in this competition.

Inter Milan know that to stand any chance of progressing to the Quarter-Finals they will have to come out on the attack in this game and that could play into Liverpool's hands. Head coach Simone Inzaghi at least has the consolation of knowing his team are still competing for the Scudetto but it's a tall order here. The Nerazzurri have suffered defeat in 4 of their last 5 visits to play teams in England. The Italian side have struggled for wins in the league recently and the 2-0 first leg defeat will have only compounded that hit to the squad morale. Nico Barella will be a big miss for the Milan club and it's hard to find many positives for them heading into this game.

It's now 3 meetings in a row where Liverpool have won with a clean sheet against Inter Milan now. Liverpool are absolutely flying right now and the first leg showed that the English side boast a level of clinical finishing to their play that the Italian team is lacking right now. I can see Liverpool sealing another win to breeze through into the last 8 but I'm just not sure if they'll get that clean sheet with Inter throwing everything at them.

Liverpool to Win @ 1.62 with SportNation

Anytime Scorer@ Mohamed Salah @ 2.14 with SBK

[harry_rag]

2 hours ago, StevieDay1983 said:

Bayern Munich to Win & BTTS @ 2.30 with Bet365

Seems a fair shout, I'd rather be on a bet that involved Bayern being breached than managing a shut out. But enough about the minor markets, what about the corners? This game does involve my old pals RB Salzburg after all! 

It's hard to call this one and certainly not a game to be over ambitious with an away corners line. If it's an easy victory for Bayern then it's quite possible that neither side will rack up too many flag kicks. That said, there's one bet that appeals given the chances of either or both sides chasing a goal at some point in the game.

Buy cross-corners for 3 points at 22.5 with SPIN. Basically home corners taken multiplied by away corners taken so a repeat of the first leg's 10x5 split would be perfectly acceptable. There is a risk of something like 12-0 to Bayern if RBS can't get out of their own half or the tie is lost too early but I'll take the chance in the hope of what corner betting experts call "a bit of a ding dong".

[StevieDay1983]

2 hours ago, harry_rag said:

Seems a fair shout, I'd rather be on a bet that involved Bayern being breached than managing a shut out. But enough about the minor markets, what about the corners? This game does involve my old pals RB Salzburg after all! 

It's hard to call this one and certainly not a game to be over ambitious with an away corners line. If it's an easy victory for Bayern then it's quite possible that neither side will rack up too many flag kicks. That said, there's one bet that appeals given the chances of either or both sides chasing a goal at some point in the game.

Buy cross-corners for 3 points at 22.5 with SPIN. Basically home corners taken multiplied by away corners taken so a repeat of the first leg's 10x5 split would be perfectly acceptable. There is a risk of something like 12-0 to Bayern if RBS can't get out of their own half or the tie is lost too early but I'll take the chance in the hope of what corner betting experts call "a bit of a ding dong".

Cracking shout there, @harry_rag lad! Looking forward to seeing if this comes off. I think you'll know within the opening 15-20 minutes if this bet is coming in or not.

[StefanBB]

Real Madrid vs PSG

Real Madrid fans will want a repeat of their previous result, being the 4:1 La Liga triumph versus Real Sociedad. Los Blancos remained comfortable on the top of the table, being eight points ahead of Sevilla. Their most recent results show that much respect should be given to the Real Madrid rearguard. Real Madrid has been mean at the back, with the total number of goals that have flown into the back of their net during their previous six matches standing at 2. However, they are 1:0 down after the clash in Paris, after conceding deep into the stoppage time. Therefore, Real Madrid doesn’t have any space for calculations, and they need to attack from the very start.

After a loss in their previous game against Nice in Ligue 1 action, PSG and their traveling fans will hope for a better result here. Nevertheless, they remained on the top of the Ligue 1 table, being far from the rest of the crew. In the course of their six most recent matches, Mauricio Pochettino's Paris Saint-Germain have turned their attacks into goals a total of 11 times, therefore, earning them a goals per game average of 1.83. They want to challenge for the trophy this season, and PSG has a very tough challenge already in the first knockout round. Nevertheless, they will try to keep their narrow advantage from the first leg game.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

PSG hasn’t been very convincing on the road lately, as they booked only four wins in the previous ten outings. Karim Benzema is back for Los Blancos, but we are not confident the hosts will win. We wouldn’t be surprised if this clash ends with a draw.

Goals Market Prediction

There will be a lot of space for the visitors’ counter-attacks, while Los Blancos will score at least once here. Therefore, we don’t think either team will keep the clean sheet on Wednesday evening.

Draw @ 3.80

BTTS Yes @ 1.55

Correct score 1:1 @ 7.50

[StevieDay1983]

Manchester City vs Sporting CP

The second legs of the Champions League last 16 carry on into Wednesday night this week. Premier League leaders Manchester City host Portuguese Primeira Liga side Sporting CP in an 8pm GMT kick-off from the Etihad Stadium. It was a rather one-sided first leg with the English team prevailing as 5-0 winners out in Portugal. Will it be more of the same here or will the outsiders miraculously find a way back into this tie?

Manchester City have one and a half feet in the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League after their dominance in the first leg. Pep Guardiola's side have now scored 23 goals in their 7 matches in this competition so far and with Riyad Mahrez bagging 7 goals in his last 9 matches for the Citizens it could be worth backing the Algerian magician to score here if he's named in the starting squad. It'll be interesting to see what line-up Guardiola picks with the tie looking sealed but we all know the strength in depth is so impressive at City that even a third string side would give most teams a match. Some selections could be forced with Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake injured, Joao Cancelo is ill, and Kyle Walker is suspended. This could leave City very short on defensive options. It's been 3 wins from 3 at home for City in the Champions League so far by an aggregate score of 12-5.

Sporting CP have nothing to lose now. The damage was done in that first leg against a City team that was irresistible. Head coach Ruben Amorim knows his team face an uphill battle having lost 2 of their 3 away games in this competition so far. Defensive frailties are a concern for the team with Ajax alone putting 9 goals past them in the group stage and the first leg showed they have struggled against the attacking threat posed by City. It's a far cry from the Sporting CP performances in domestic league action where they have conceded just 16 goals in 25 matches. No matter how talented the likes of Pedro Goncalves and Paulinho may be there is still clearly a void between the defence's solidity in the league and on the European front that hasn't been addressed.

I'm not sure this will be a much easier game for Sporting CP than the first leg. Manchester City only have three fit and available defenders according to Pep which means his team will be motivated to play this game on the front foot. If that happens, even if City give a few fringe players and youngsters a start then I can see an easy win for City here as they kick Sporting CP whilst they are down.

Manchester City HT/FT @ 1.61 with Coral

Manchester City to Win & BTTS @ 2.88 with Boylesports

[harry_rag]

16 hours ago, StevieDay1983 said:

Cracking shout there, @harry_rag lad! Looking forward to seeing if this comes off. I think you'll know within the opening 15-20 minutes if this bet is coming in or not.

Made up at 12 for a loss of 10.5 x stake. Fair to say it was a little too easy for Bayern but at least Salzburg managed a couple of corners to soften the blow.

[StevieDay1983]

Real Madrid vs PSG

It's the big one at 8pm on Wednesday night in the second leg of the last 16 in the Champions League when La Liga giants Real Madrid host the behemoths from Ligue 1 in PSG at the Santiago Bernabeu. The tie is finely poised after PSG sealed a narrow 1-0 win at home in the first leg thanks to a solitary goal from Kylian Mbappe in the fourth minute of added-on time.

Real Madrid face a high pressure challenge in this game with the team needing to turn around a one goal deficit in front of their home fans. It's easy to see why it is often said that playing at home second in the knockout phase isn't always an advantage. Los Blancos will have to do it without Casemiro and there's doubts over the fitness of Toni Kroos as well. Fortunately, the strength in depth in this Real side means that Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde can slot in. Carlo Ancelotti has been there and done it in this competition a number of times. The team are flying at the top of La Liga and have won 10 of their last 12 home matches in all competitions. In fact, Real have only lost 1 match at home all season and that was the shock 2-1 defeat against Moldovan (or Transnistria if you want to go unofficial!) club Sheriff Tiraspol in the group stage.

PSG will have been delighted to get that late goal in the first leg. A 0-0 draw could've been a problem for the French side coming to Spain for the second leg but they have the advantage of the aggregate lead plus away goals could be a factor. It has really cranked up the pressure on Real to not only need to score but to keep things tight at the back. Mauricio Pochettino's time at PSG appears set to end this summer so it'll be interesting to see if he can guide the team to that elusive Champions Lague trophy. If they navigate their way past this tie then there's no reason they can't be seen as potential favourites. However, PSG haven't won any of their last 4 away matches in this competition and have conceded 5 goals in their 3 away games this season so far. It doesn't help confidence levels that the team have also lost their last two away games in domestic action too. The good news though is that Mbappe is expected to be included despite carrying a foot injury.

Well, this is when the Champions League comes into its own. Two of the biggest teams in European competition closely matched with no room for error. You have to wonder how much longer PSG can go without winning this competition. I'm not overly sold on them this season but I think so much rides on the fitness of Kroos for Real Madrid. If he's missing then the challenge gets a lot harder. The issue for Real is not only having to score but keeping PSG out. I think PSG will score and I'm not sure I can see Real scoring three times if that happens.

Draw @ 3.80 with Bet365

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.72 with Bet365

[harry_rag]

1 hour ago, StevieDay1983 said:

It was a rather one-sided first leg with the English team prevailing as 5-0 winners out in Portugal. Will it be more of the same here or will the outsiders miraculously find a way back into this tie?

To paraphrase Gregg Wallace, rubbers don't get much deader than this! 

9 points each on Sporting to take the first and last corners at 10/3 with 365

Another tilt at a corners bet in a market that I'm keeping half an eye on. I'd say that 365 usually offer the best price on the underdog in games where there is a big favourite and sometimes that price appears to be value, as is the case tonight. The spreads effectively predict 9.75 corners in the game with the visitors in for 2.7 or 27.7% of them. Based on that, the fair odds for them taking any given corner would be around 13/5. I can bump that up to 11/4 if I take a pessimistic view and just over 3/1 if I take the most extreme negative view of the spread prices.

It's 5/2 best elsewhere and I'm of the opinion that it should probably be sub 3/1 and certainly not as big as 10/3.

[Heisenberg68]

Be careful for Real Madrid! 
There is only 1 goal to recover and I think that Real will qualify tonight against PSG

 

Madrid to qualify @3,30 

Edited March 9, 2022 by Heisenberg68

[DarrenTse]

Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid

Manchester United
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid on away in the first leg of Champions League.The team successfully beat Tottenham in the League last weekend, and the superstar Ronaldo returned with excellent state with scoring a hat-trick, which will undoubtedly give great morale to the team. But the defensive sides of Manchester United are still a great problem, so this round is not sure win for Manchester United.

Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid has also been in the best state recently. They have a streaking 4 wins and score 2 goals per game in past 4 rounds of league. The offensive side of Atletico Madrid has surpassed Manchester United with two world-class strikers, Grizman and Suarez. Therefore, Atletico Madrid is still with great hope on away game.

Verdict
At present, the strength gap between the two teams is actually very small. However, I think Atletico Madrid is a little better. The handicap first odd seems not give sufficient support to the host and the live odd is good for the away team. On the whole, Atletico Madrid will be unbeaten in this game.

Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid
1X2 PICK:X2

[StefanBB]

Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid

Manchester United, who won their previous game, will hope for a similar result following the 3:2 Premier League success against Tottenham Hotspur. Cristiano Ronaldo led them to the victory by scoring a hat-trick, and the Red Devils fans hope their star player will keep up in the same fashion. Matches with Manchester United have tended to be exciting encounters recently, with plenty of scoring anticipated. Over their past six clashes, the total of 20 goals has flown in for both sides combined (at an average of 3.33 goals per game), with 11 of these coming from Manchester United. Man Utd wants to stay in the competition, and they will search for another win in front of their fans.

Atlético Madrid will go into the meeting after a 2:1 La Liga win to beat Cádiz in their last game. It was their fourth straight win in the Spanish top-flight, which kept them in 3^rd place. A succession of outstanding displays from the Atlético Madrid defensive players has seen their ‘goals against’ tally amounting to 4 from their past six clashes in total. During the same period of time, their attack force has managed to score 11. However, they need to go for a victory here if they want to stay in the continental competition after failing to secure the home advantage.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

It is going to be a tight clash, and both teams have an equal chance of progressing to the quarter-finals. We expect an exciting match, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it goes into the extra time.

Goals Market Prediction

We can expect a big fight between these two teams, and both of them should be able to score. One thing is for sure – football fans should enjoy this game.

Draw @ 3.30

BTTS Yes @ 1.90

Correct score 1:1 @ 6.00

[StefanBB]

Ajax vs Benfica

Ajax was phenomenal in the group stage since they recorded as many as six victories, and it is a pleasure to watch them this season. Although they haven't been very confident lately, the hosts celebrated three wins in a row. Ajax hasn't had any problems with scoring, hitting the target in every one of their last six matches. They've managed to rack up 12 during that period and have conceded a total of 8. However, Ajax needs to tighten its defense, as RKC and Cambuur managed to score two goals each against them. Mohamed Ihattaren (Fitness), Sean Klaiber (Cruciate Ligament Rupture), Maarten Stekelenburg (Groin Surgery), Jay Gorter (Thumb Injury), and Remko Pasveer (Fractured Finger) will be missing for Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.

In their last game, Benfica drew 1:1 in the Primeira Liga tie with Vizela. That hiccup saw them being far from the title battle, as the Eagles are nine points behind Porto, who has a game in hand. Benfica has been effective going forward of late, having scored 12 goals in their last six matches. This doesn't mask the fact that Benfica can also improve defensively after being scored against in 5 of those same clashes. Darwin Nunez is playing perfectly this season, and many big clubs are interested in signing this guy. Benfica manager Nélson Veríssimo has to contend with reduced team options currently. Haris Seferovic (Leg Injury), Rodrigo Pinho (Cruciate Ligament Rupture), and Lucas Veríssimo (Ruptured cruciate ligament) can't be considered.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

Ajax has been in a better form lately, and they are firm favorites in this clash. They remained undefeated in Lisbon, and we expect them to meet expectations and deliver a victory on Tuesday evening.

Goals Market Prediction

Both teams have participated in many high-scoring matches this season, and this one shouldn't be much different. Their latest encounter went over a 3.5 margin, and we expect a similar outcome in this one as well.

Ajax to Win @ 1.40

Over 3.5 FT @ 1.90

Correct score 3:1 @ 10.00

[StevieDay1983]

Manchester United vs Atletico Madrid

The next batch of Champions League last 16 second leg matches get underway on Tuesday night with an 8pm GMT kick-off between Premier League side Manchester United and La Liga club Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford. These two sides battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Spain a few weeks back leaving the tie finely poised with both teams just a single goal away from qualification or elimination.

Manchester United might have had a turbulent season so far but the fact remains that Ralf Rangnick's men are 5th in the Premier League table and still very much in the Champions League. The Red Devils have only won 1 of their last 4 matches across all competitions but will have been boosted by the dramatic 3-2 win at home over Tottenham in the league on the weekend. A hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo showed that the Portuguese talisman is still very much a great player. It's also worth nothing that Ronaldo has an exceptional scoring record against Atletico Madrid having scored 13 goals in 15 home matches against the Spanish team. Both teams have scored in 6 of the 7 matches that United have played in this competition.

Atletico Madrid will be disappointed with not getting a win at home over United in the first leg. Joao Felix's 7th minute opener looked like it might have been enough to seal a narrow 1-0 win but Anthony Elanga's equaliser just 10 minutes from full-time breathed new life into this tie. Los Indios have won 4 league games in a row and you feel Diego Simeone's side are starting to go into business mode for this decisive closing phase of the season. Atletico have only managed to keep 2 clean sheets in their previous 12 matches but they will need the defence to step up here. The team have conceded in each of their last 6 games in European competition. They have also managed to win 2 of their last 3 away games in the Champions League.

This tie could not be more finely balanced. If Atletico Madrid had held on to that clean sheet win in the first leg then that would've made it very difficult for Manchester United. You can't help but feel that Elanga's goal shifted the momentum of the tie and was a gut punch for the Spaniards. It's tricky to call this one and I feel we might need to go to extra-time and even penalties to decide it.

Draw @ 3.30 with Bet365

BTTS @ 2.00 with William Hill

[StevieDay1983]

Ajax vs Benfica

The second of the two Champions League last 16 second leg matches taking place on Tuesday night is between Dutch Eredivisie club Ajax and Portuguese Primeira Liga side Benfica in an 8pm GMT kick-off from the Johan Cruyff Arena. The first leg ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw out in Portugal with the hosts pegging the visitors back twice. Will that have been enough to help them qualify here though? It will for one of these teams.

Ajax are a team that look like they could really cause some shockwaves this season in this competition but the first leg was also a reminder that they are a team that can be exposed. Erik Ten Hag's men had a 100% record in this competition before the first leg but that draw has now inflicted a hit on the Dutch side's confidence levels. The team is leading the Eredivisie and have progressed to the Final of the KNVB Cup without conceding a goal. Home form is still seeing them score goals at will having hit 8 goals across their three home matches in this competition so far. Both teams have scored in the club's last 4 matches in the Champions League though.

Benfica were looking like a team all at sea. Interim head coach Nelson Verissimo has seen his team fail to find consistency in the league which has left them in 3rd place and some way behind rivals Porto and Sporting CP. Elimination from both the Taca de Portugal and Taca da Liga means the Champions League is their only hope of a trophy now. As Aguias did well to pull themselves back into the first leg two times after falling behind 1-0 and then 2-1. There was a risk their heads could have dropped and Ajax could've had this tie sealed by now. The team have only won 1 of their 5 away games in this competition this year. They have also lost 5 of their last 6 away games in the knockout phase of this competition. Their games have been action-packed with both teams scoring in 9 of their last 10 games.

I fancy Ajax as dark horses to win this competition and they are looking in just as good a position as they were when they reached the semi-finals back in 2018/19. Benfica still feel like a team that aren't functioning to their full potential. I'd be astonished if Ajax didn't win this game and progress to the Quarter-Finals. Benfica face a really tough challenge after missing the opportunity of winning the first leg.

Ajax HT/FT @ 1.99 with SBK

BTTS @ 1.65 with Betway

[StefanBB]

Lille vs Chelsea

Lille enters this match after a 0:0 draw in Ligue 1 against Saint-Etienne. Although they extended their unbeatable run, Les Dogues failed to celebrate for the third time in a row. Their more recent scorelines show that things are going according to plan in the Lille defense. Lille have been miserly, with the total number of goals that have flown into the back of their net during their past six games standing at 2. However, the hosts trail two goals in this tie, and they need to put a substantial effort to make a surprise. The Lille boss Jocelyn Gourvennec will be grateful that she doesn't have to worry about her condition before this game, thanks to a completely healthy group that is available for selection.

Chelsea comes into this match following a 1:0 Premier League win over Newcastle United in their most recent match. It was their fourth straight win in all competition, which kept them in 3^rd place in the Premier League. A run of effective performances by the Chelsea defensive unit has seen the number of goals they’ve conceded amounting to 3 from their previous six clashes overall. During the same time, their forwards have scored 13. The Blues have a comfortable advantage from the first leg, but they shouldn’t allow any signs of complacency.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

Lille continues to be inconsistent, while Chelsea entered the winning streak. Although they had some issues against the Magpies in the latest Premier League round, they should get back home from this trip with a win.

Goals Market Prediction

Both sides have shown a defensive solidity lately, and we shouldn’t expect to see too many goals in this one. These two teams should produce two goals in total, like in their first-leg encounter.

Chelsea to Win @ 1.90

Under 2.5 FT @ 1.85

Correct score 0:1 @ 7.50

[StefanBB]

Juventus vs Villarreal

Juventus is hoping to win again after their last result, a 3:1 Serie A success against Sampdoria. Bianconeri celebrated for the fourth time in a row and got only three points behind Inter. Juventus hasn’t been able to stop scoring goals, hitting the target every time they’ve gone out to play in their last six matches. They’ve managed to rack up ten during that period while also conceding a total of 5. The home fans hope their team can continue its run and celebrate in another important game on Wednesday evening. Leonardo Bonucci (Calf Injury), Weston McKennie (Metatarsal Fracture), and Federico Chiesa (Cruciate Ligament Rupture) are not available for Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Villarreal will go into this clash following a 1:0 La Liga win against Celta Vigo in their most recent match. The Yellow Submarine stayed in the race for the continental spot, as they are currently 7^th in La Liga. A sequence of very capable performances by the Villarreal defense has seen their ‘goals against’ tally amounting to 4 from their previous six fixtures overall. In that period of time, the number of goals they have scored themselves is 11. However, they failed to secure the home advantage in the first-leg match that finished in a 1:1 draw. Villarreal boss Unai Emery has a number of players out of action. Rubén Peña (Shoulder Injury), and Paco Alcácer (Muscle Injury) are among those who cannot be considered.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

The Italian team is in a much better momentum, and it seems they got their campaign on track. We believe they will meet the expectations and proceed to the next round in the Champions League.

Goals Market Prediction

Juventus failed to keep the clean sheet six times on the previous eight occasions, while Villarreal’s offense is pretty talented. The visitors will try to secure a positive result on the road, and that’s why we think both teams will find the back of the net in this one.

Juventus to Win @ 2.00

BTTS Yes @ 1.85

Correct score 2:1 @ 9.00

[StevieDay1983]

Lille vs Chelsea

The final night of the last 16 second legs in the Champions League is upon us on Wednesday night when French Ligue 1 side Lille entertain Premier League club Chelsea in an 8pm GMT kick-off at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. It's going to take a mammoth effort from the home team to turn around the 2-0 deficit they suffered in the first leg and the away side know that scoring once will all but end the tie.

Lille have struggled to adapt to life after Christophe Galtier who departed the club after leading them to a shock Ligue 1 title last season. His replacement, Jocelyn Gourvennec, has done the best job he can and can take credit for guiding the team into the knockout stages of the Champions League. Unfortunately, league form hasn't been great with the team down in 6th place with qualification for European competition next season looking in doubt but recent results have shown improvement. It's now 5 league games unbeaten for Les Dogues with clean sheets kept in each of those matches. They did also keep clean sheets in 50% of their group stage games so there is hope.

Chelsea hold a commanding two goal lead from the first leg with a goal each from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic being enough to give the club the first leg win at home. Thomas Tuchel has had to field a range of uncomfortable questions about Roman Abramovich's sanctions and the impact it's having on the club but he remains adamant he will remain at the club for the rest of the season and "drive a 7-seater" if he has to in order to get his players to games. The Blues have managed to win 10 of their 11 games, if you include victories in extra-time, showing that Tuchel's siege mentality approach is working a treat. The club have also won with a clean sheet in 10 of their 14 matches in this competition under Tuchel's management.

Well, the bad news for Lille is not only that a single goal conceded would almost certainly kill this tie off but they have lost their last three encounters with Chelsea. I find it hard to not only see Lille qualifying for the Quarter-Finals but even winning this game. I can see Chelsea picking off their attacks and coming away with another victory. I wouldn't be surprised if they did it keeping a clean sheet as well.

Chelsea to Win @ 1.99 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.90 with Bet365

[StevieDay1983]

Juventus vs Villarreal

The last game from the last 16 second legs in the Champions League that I'm taking a look at is the clash between Italian Serie A club Juventus and Spanish La Liga side Villarreal in an 8pm GMT start from the Juventus Stadium. The first leg produced a rather closely fought 1-1 draw with Daniel Parejo equalising for the home team after Dusan Vlahovic had given the away side a first minute lead. How will this one pan out?

Juventus might not be the team of talent that it was when it reached the 2014/15 and 2016/17 finals of the Champions League but they still look like a team that could cause some problems for other teams during this competition. Massimiliano Allegri has the team firmly embroiled in the title race and with the trio of Giorgio Chiellini, Paulo Dybala, and Federico Bernadeschi all returning to the squad for this game he will feel his team can progress to the Quarter-Finals. The team will have to buck a trend of recent history with Juventus suffering elimination in 4 of their last 5 knockout ties in this competition. Both teams have also scored in 6 of the last 8 matches Juventus have played so we could see goals here.

Villarreal will certainly come into this game as underdogs but will also be glad they are still in this tie. It was looking ominous in the early stages of the first leg but a draw gives the team a chance. Head coach Unai Emery is a master of European knockout matches and with his team in 7th position in the league he knows they need the confidence boost of reaching the Quarter-Finals of this competition. The Yellow Submarine will be hoping that star striker Gerard Moreno is fit to play after a month long spell on the sidelines. Keeping clean sheets is a rare thing for this Villarreal defence on the road with the team conceding in 8 of their last 9 away games played. Both teams have scored in each of the team's away games in the Champions League so far.

This is a fascinating game coming up and it's no surprise the first leg ended in a draw. There is very little separating these two teams but Allegri rightly stated that the return to fitness of those three key players mentioned above could be the difference. Villarreal shouldn't be written off in Europe under Emery and he'll push them all the way but I feel Juventus should have enough to sneak through.

Juventus to Qualify @ 1.62 with Unibet

BTTS @ 1.98 with SBK