We take a look at the two champions League last 16 first leg encounters taking place on Tuesday and suggest a bet in each.
Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting markets where Manchester City ae currently trading at 22/10 favourites ahead of Liverpool at 15/4. Bayern Munich are 9/2, PSG 7/1, Chelsea 8/1 and you can get 15/1 and better the balance.
Click here for UEFA Champions League Long term Markets including Top Goal Scorer and Top English Club
CHELSEA v LILLE
Chelsea got through the group stages of the Champions League on the back of some excellent home form winning all 3 of their matches including a 4-0 victory over Juventus in their last home start. They didn’t concede a goal in the 3 home matches in the group stages. Chelsea had a 1-0 victory away at Crystal Palace in the League on the weekend and are unbeaten in their last 6 starts.
Lille won their last 3 matches to qualify for the group stages and that included away wins over Sevilla and Wolfsburg. They played out a disappointing goalless draw at home to Metz on the weekend and their League form has been scratchy only taking 4 points out of a possible 12 in their last 4 matches.
These sides met fairly recently in the 2019/2020 Champions League group stages with Chelsea winning each of the encounters 2-1.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Chelsea 1/3
Draw 4/1
Lille 17/2
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Chelsea (-1.5) at 9/10
Chelsea are justifiable short favourites for this clash and given their strong record at home and the fact that they don’t let in many goals I think they appeal as decent value to beat this handicap and win by 2 goals or more.
VILLARREAL v JUVENTUS
Villarreal only won 1 of their 3 home Champions League group matches and that was a 2-0 win over Young Boys. They lost 2-0 to Manchester United and drew 2-2 with Atalanta. Villarreal were in rampant form on the weekend winning 4-1 away at Granada CF. They are unbeaten in their last 4 League fixtures.
Juventus won 5 out of 6 of their group matches and their only defeat came on the road against Chelsea. Other away matches saw them beat Zenit and Malmo 1-0 and 3-0 respectively. Juventus’s local form has been a bit disappointing and they are coming off a pair of 1-1 draws at home to Torino and away at Atalanta.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Villarreal 15/10
Draw 2/1
Juventus 19/10
Suggested Bet: The draw at 2/1
I think this is going to be quite a cagey affair and looking at the way the bookies have priced up there shouldn’t be much between the sides. The draw for me offers the best betting value at 2/1.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change