Champions League Knockout Leg 1 Betting Preview

The Champions League knockouts get underway on Tuesday, with eight spots in the last 16 up for grabs. Seven of the eight matches will be shown on TNT Sports across Tuesday and Wednesday, with Amazon Prime broadcasting Benfica’s rematch with Real Madrid. 

Champions League Play-Off Round fixtures

• Galatasaray vs Juventus
• Benfica vs Real Madrid
• Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta
• Monaco vs PSG
• Qarabag vs Newcastle
• Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan
• Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid
• Olympiakos vs Bayer Leverkusen

Real’s reunion with Jose Mourinho is the standout fixture from the bunch, as Benfica thwarted Real’s hopes of making the top eight in the League Phase. A dramatic late-goal from keeper Anatoliy Trubin gave Benfica the 4-2 win they needed to sneak into the top 24, and make the knockouts. Holders PSG once again have to take the scenic route to the final, however, they’ve been handed Ligue 1 opposition, as they were at this stage last season.

However, the European champions’ domestic struggles makes their trip to a Monaco side who were unbeaten at home in the League Phase a potential banana skin. Newcastle were the only side among the Premier League’s six representatives to miss out on the top eight. They make the arduous journey to Azerbaijan, to meet a Qarabag side who have been arguably the story of the competition so far. The beaten finalists in each of the previous three seasons, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund, also feature in the first knockout round. 

Tip 1: Serhou Guirassy to score anytime for Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta @ 21/20 with bet365

Guirassy heads into this clash in fantastic form, having netted five goals across his last three games for Borussia Dortmund. The former Stuttgart forward was the Champions League’s joint top-scorer last season, netting 13 times as Dortmund made the last eight. Guirassy has been quieter in Europe this term, but he has scored three goals across home meetings with Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal. With Dortmund meeting an Atalanta side who are firmly in that band of clubs outside Europe’s elite, Guirassy has the ability to be a real difference maker in this tie.

Tip 2: Club Brugge Draw No Bet vs Atletico Madrid @ 7/4 with bet365

Club Brugge shocked Atalanta at this stage last season with home and away wins and they could trouble an inconsistent Atletico Madrid side on Wednesday. The Spanish outfit were beaten 3-0 at Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, while they were beaten at home by Bodo/Glimt in their last European outing. Brugge have won five of their last six games, and their only home defeat in the last round came against Arsenal. The Belgian side beat Marseille and Monaco, while they held Barca to a 3-3 draw. 

Tip 3: Inter Milan to win and both teams to score at Bodo/Glimt @ 15/8 with bet365

Inter Milan have won six games on the spin after beating Juventus 3-2 on Saturday night. Cristian Chivu’s side have won 11 of their last 13 games, and they should have too much for Norway’s champions. However, Bodo/Glimt have scored in nine of their 10 Champions League games this term. Their only blank came in a 1-0 home defeat to Monaco, in which the Norwegian side won the xG battle.