With the opening four last 16 first legs all played, the next four UEFA Champions League last 16 ties get underway next week. The first round of matches brought us shocks and plenty of goals. Let’s hope for another fantastic midweek of football and certainly a better result for City and Leicester than Arsenal managed in Munich!
On Tuesday, Bayer Leverkusen host Atletico Madrid, whilst Monaco travel to Manchester City. Then on Wednesday, Porto and Juventus square off, with struggling Premier League champions Leicester City making the trip to Sevilla.
In the UEFA Europa League, Manchester United travel to France to play Saint Etienne in the second leg of their last 32 tie on Wednesday. The following day, Tottenham Hotspur entertain Gent at Wembley. United won their game 3-0, whilst Spurs suffered a surprise defeat, so that pair are in very different positions coming into their second leg contests. Can both make it through to the next round?
- Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid – Atletico Madrid to Win (5/4 at Sky Bet)
- Manchester City v Monaco – Manchester City to Win -1 (31/20 at BetVictor)
- Porto v Juventus – Draw (21/10 at Ladbrokes)
- Sevilla v Leicester City – Sevilla to Win and Both Teams to Score (5/2 at Betfair)
- Saint Etienne v Manchester United – Manchester United to Win -2 (15/2 at Ladbrokes)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Gent – Tottenham Hotspur to Win -1 (10/11 at Bet365)
Champions League
With some eye-opening results in the first bunch of last 16 fixtures, it will be interesting to see what the next four will throw up. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich were the big winners in the week – with PSG beating Barcelona 4-0, and Bayern seeing off Arsenal 5-1. There was also a solid 3-1 win for Real Madrid over Napoli, whilst Benfica beat Borussia Dortmund 1-0.
Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid – 21st February
On Tuesday, Roger Schmidt’s Bayer Leverkusen and Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid go head-to-head at the BayArena. Leverkusen, who sit ninth in the German Bundesliga, made it through to the last 16 as runners-up to Monaco in Group E.
As for Atletico, they won Group D ahead of Bayern Munich, taking an impressive 15 points along the way. Simeone’s men, who currently lie fourth in La Liga, head to Germany as the bookies’ favourites. With both teams struggling in their domestic leagues, this tie may provide a welcome respite.
Last year’s CL finalists, Atleti, will be looking to go far once again this term, and we believe they will be too strong for the struggling Bundesliga outfit on Tuesday. Therefore, we feel there’s decent value in Sky Bet’s 5/4 for Atletico Madrid to claim an away win.
Atletico Madrid to Win – 5/4 at Sky Bet
Manchester City v Monaco – 21st February
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will be eager to secure a handy first leg win when they welcome Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night. However, with the Red and Whites flying high at the top of the Ligue 1 table, it won’t be an easy night for the Citizens.
Nevertheless, since being thumped 4-0 at Goodison Park in mid-January, City have hit back with four wins and a draw. Meanwhile, Monaco have won eight of their last 10 French league games, and will be looking to take home a positive result from their trip to Manchester. With both sides confident and in fine fettle, we could be in for a fascinating contest.
Although Jardim’s men beat Tottenham Hotspur home and away in the group stage, we believe Man City have what it takes to claim a first leg victory, with BetVictor’s 31/20 for Pep’s boys to win -1 being a standout bet. City are on the up at the moment and Pep’s vast European know-how should see them record a comfortable win.
Manchester City to Win -1 – 31/20 at BetVictor
Porto v Juventus – 22nd February
On Wednesday evening, Porto welcome Juventus to the Estadio do Dragao in what promises to be a mouth-watering fixture in Portugal. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are unbeaten in 16 home league and cup matches this term, whilst Juve have lost just four times all season. It’s worth noting that all four of those defeats have come away from home.
Even though this is a tough one to call and could go either way, the Old Lady head to Porto as the favourites with the bookies. Massimiliano Allegri’s troops beat Sevilla to top spot in Group H. Meanwhile, Porto secured their passage through to the last 16 by following Leicester City from Group G.
With both teams in excellent form, these two are extremely hard to split. Because of that, we’re backing this one to end all square at the Estadio do Dragao. Ladbrokes are offering 21/10 for the draw and that looks generous to us.
Draw – 21/10 at Ladbrokes
Sevilla v Leicester City – 22nd February
The last of our Champions League previews comes from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City gear up for their first ever CL knockout game. Of course, Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla are the favourites, but can the Foxes cause an upset?
Despite languishing in 17th place in the Premier League table, Leicester will be looking to continue their fine form in the Champions League by bringing home a positive result in Spain. The Foxes won four of their six group fixtures and took to the Champions League like a duck to water. Meanwhile, Sevilla have had a fine season in La Liga so far, and will fancy their chances of sealing a big win on Wednesday.
In truth, Leicester will do well to keep the scoring as low as possible, although an away goal could also do them the world of good. Therefore, we think Betfair’s 5/2 for Sevilla to win and both teams to score stands out in this tie.
Sevilla to Win and Both Teams to Score – 5/2 at Betfair
Europa League
Only two British representatives remain in the UEFA Europa League, with just Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur flying the English flag. United progressed to the Round of 32 by finishing runners-up to Fenerbahce in Group A. Spurs, however, qualified for the Europa League after dropping out of the Champions League at the group stage.
Saint Etienne v Manchester United – 22nd February
Jose Mourinho takes his Manchester United side to Saint Etienne for the second leg of their last 32 tie on Wednesday. The Red Devils have the tie pretty much all sewn up, having beaten the French outfit 3-0 at Old Trafford on Thursday evening.
United were dominant throughout, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s hat-trick enough to take a handy lead to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. That result means Jose’s men have lost just one of their last 23 matches in all competitions.
Mourinho won’t want to take any chances here and will look to keep United’s momentum going. As such, we can see them qualifying for the last 16 in style. Ladbrokes are offering 15/2 for the away side to win -2, a price we believe is worth having a small punt on.
Manchester United to Win -2 – 15/2 at Ladbrokes
Tottenham Hotspur v Gent – 23rd February
Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur host Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s Gent at Wembley for their second leg on Thursday. Despite falling to a 1-0 first leg defeat in Belgium, Tottenham are still the strong favourites to qualify.
It was a pretty inept performance from Spurs at the Ghelamco Arena, falling to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of Jeremy Perbet’s second-half goal. Fortunately for the Lilywhites, not too much damage was done in Belgium. They don’t have an away goal but with only a single goal deficit they are very much in the tie.
Despite having a pretty torrid time at Wembley in the Champions League, we can’t see Pochettino and co. having too many problems in the national stadium next Thursday evening. Spurs will be looking to win by more than one goal on the night, and we like the look of Bet365’s 10/11 for Tottenham to win -1.
Tottenham Hotspur to Win -1 – 10/11 at Bet365