With a spot in the the UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals at stake, it’s now or never for some big clubs trailing heading into the Round of 16 second leg.
Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund (Dortmund lead 1-0 on aggregate)
Chelsea grabbed with a much-needed EPL win over Leeds on the weekend, but few fans walked away thinking it could be the start of a magic run. The Blues still aren’t clicking under Graham Potter who could soon be out of the job if his side bomb out at this stage. Conversely, Dortmund are humming. The German club have won 11 on the bounce across all competitions, and represent good value here to cause an upset in West London.
Tip: H2H, Borussia Dortmund @ $3.75
Chelsea's statistics under Graham Potter 📊 🫣 pic.twitter.com/kSTtjU1s5B
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 2, 2023
Benfica vs Club Brugge (Benfica lead 2-0 on aggregate)
The Portuguese league leaders appear primed to book a spot in the Champions League Quarter Finals for the first time since 2015-16. Boasting a two goal cushion and returning to Lisbon, they start as solid favourites against a Brugge side who cannot seem to buy a result at present. The Scott Parker-coached Belgian outfit have won just twice across their last 16 games (all competitions), and will do well to get a draw here let alone a two-goal win or better to force a result.
Tip: Handicap, Benfica -1.0 @ $2.20
Tottenham vs AC Milan (AC Milan lead 1-0 on aggregate)
An intriguing clash. Spurs perhaps unsurprisingly start favourites at home but, like Dortmund, Milan represent good value away from home. Not only have the Italian side won four of their last five, but conversely Antonio Conte’s side have proven utterly unpredictable in recent months. Defeat to Wolves and Sheffield United in the last week has shown that punters will likely struggle to have any real faith in their current output.
Tip: Double chance, Draw or AC Milian @ $1.88
TOTTENHAM ARE ELIMINATED FROM THE FA CUP IN THE FIFTH ROUND 😱
Their trophy drought continues ⏳ pic.twitter.com/R8NcyPR4Wb
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 1, 2023
Bayern vs PSG (Bayern lead 1-0 on aggregate)
A massive match — arguably the biggest of all eight Champions League games if you consider Real Madrid are all but through against Liverpool. Bayern edged the first leg away from home and are in the box seat to progress, but won’t be counting their chickens. Kylian is officially back having banged in five goals in his last three games and — having just broken the record as PSG’s greatest ever goalscorer (at the age of just 24), looms as they key in this Munich clash.
Tip: Anytime goalscorer, Kylian Mbappe (PSG) @ $2.40
2012: Lionel Messi becomes Barcelona's all-time top scorer aged 24 ⚽
2023: Kylian Mbappe becomes PSG's all-time top scorer aged 24 ⚽
Following in his footsteps 👣 pic.twitter.com/GLwVIRFb6M
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 5, 2023
FC Porto vs Inter Milan (Inter lead 1-0 on aggregate)
A tough one to split here. Both clubs are second in their respective league tables, but both are considerably behind the respective leaders given their propensity to drop points where they probably shouldn’t. Porto will need to get on the front foot given they’re behind after the first leg (courtesy of a Romelu Lukaku winner). Home advantage could prove the deciding factor here.
Manchester City vs RB Leipzig (1-1 aggregate)
RB Leipzig did well to prevent a City victory in the first leg but, returning to Manchester for the second leg, face an altogether tougher task. With Arsenal maintaining their buffer against City atop the Premier League, City’s biggest shot at a big title this season could be in the Champions League, and motivation for this one is high as it remains the key missing piece of Pep Guardiola’s CV at the club. The City juggernaut should prove too strong for Leipzig at home.
Tip: Handicap, Man City -1.0 @ $2.15
Napoli vs Frankfurt (Napoli lead 2-0 on aggregate)
With a two-goal buffer heading back home to Naples, the Italian league leaders are seemingly all but through to the quarter finals. Could they be the dark horse this season — the first huge surprise winner since Porto in 2003-04? The markets certainly suggest so. Starting the Champions League campaign as $67 outsiders, Napoli are now into $7 with Palmerbet.
Tip: Handicap, Napoli -1.0 @ $2.55
Free-flowing Napoli football 😍#UCL pic.twitter.com/jxWypA5vRu
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 28, 2023
Real Madrid vs Liverpool (Real Madrid lead 5-2 on aggregate)
Which Liverpool will show up at the Santiago Bernabéu? The one that was humiliated in the Round of 16 first leg, or the one who humiliated Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday? Who knows, but one thing for sure is that the Reds are experiencing a renaissance of sorts at this stage of the season, winning four of their last five EPL games (and drawing the other). The problem is, in this Champions League encounter, the tie is all but over. Los Blancos have a three-goal buffer — a hurdle Jurgen Klopp’s men will need a minor miracle to clear away from home.
— Man Utd 2-1 Barcelona
— Barcelona 1-0 Real Madrid
— Real Madrid 5-2 Liverpool
— Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd
— Real Madrid ? LiverpoolSo you're telling me there's a chance? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/DjswOfIBZZ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 6, 2023