UEFA Champions League Last 16 Leg 1 Betting Preview

There are eight cracking Champions League last-16 contests to look forward to this week with the first-leg ties to be played over Tuesday and Wednesday.

Setting The Scene

Premier League champions Liverpool are one of three English teams in action on Tuesday night with the Reds heading to Galatasaray. Tottenham travel to Atletico Madrid, while Newcastle host Barcelona and Bayern Munich meet Atalanta in Bergamo. On Wednesday, Arsenal take on Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, while Chelsea meet PSG and Manchester City face Real Madrid in two European glamour ties. Bodo/Glimt’s meeting with Sporting completes the last-16 line-up. 

Tip 1: Newcastle to beat Barcelona @ 19/10 with bet365

Just the mention of Barcelona brings memories of the great Barca teams who enjoyed so much Champions League success, but the current incarnation of the Catalans is a long way off the golden years. Hansi Flick’s men sit at the top of the La Liga table, but the numbers suggest that their points tally is outstripping their performances and they have struggled when meeting good opposition this season. 

PSG, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Sociedad, Seville, Atletico Madrid and Girona have all beaten Flick’s men this term and Newcastle look a great bet to add their name to that list. If the Magpies can get anywhere near the level of performance, which has seen them beat Benfica, Athletic Club and PSV in the Champions League this term, they will be huge runners at 19/10 on Tuesday night.

Tip 2: Kasper Hogh over 1.5 shots on target in Bodo/Glimt v Sporting @ 6/4 with Skybet

Bodo/Glimt continue to defy the odds and the Norwegians were still 10/11 chances to qualify from their Champions League playoff tie with Inter when holding a 3-1 advantage over the Italians. There was no fluke about that result and it wasn’t one isolated good performance. Kjetil Knutsen’s men have beaten Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, as well as taking points in matches against Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham in Europe this term. 

Forward Kasper Hogh, who has scored four goals in his last four Champions League appearances has been key to that success and there could be more to come. The 25-year-old is averaging 2.83 shots and 1.30 shots on target per 90 minutes in the Champions League this season, but ten of the 11 efforts which have troubled the opposition goalkeeper have come on home turf. Back Hogh to get over 1.5 shots on target against Sporting. 

Tip 3: Chelsea to beat PSG & Manchester City to beat Real Madrid double @ 6.4/1

The dominance of English teams in Europe may still be underplayed by the prices and a double of Chelsea to PSG and Manchester City to get the better of Real Madrid pays just shy of 13/2. PSG were fortunate to pick up a 1-1 draw with Newcastle in the league phase of the competition and Chelsea will surely feel they can reach the level of performance produced by the Magpies. Manchester City dominated Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in their 2-1 December victory and the Citizens can repeat the trick. There is an idea that PSG and Real are going to come good in the knockout stage of the event, but that view may be misplaced