This week the greatest football show on the planet returns! It’s time for the Champions League knockout ties, featuring Europe’s best 16 teams having advanced from the group stage! But before we take a closer look at this week’s first four matches, including the Barcelona v PSG blockbuster, let’s talk quickly about the favourites to win the trophy. Because now might be a good time to place the so-called Outright bet, predicting who’ll be the Champions League winners. Last year’s champions Bayern are favourites at 3.75 in the Outright market to repeat their success. Premier League leaders Manchester City, who’ve won 16 games in a row in all competitions, are second, priced at 4.00. Is this the year when Pep Guardiola finally clinches Champions League glory once again? We think so…
RECOMMENDED BET: Back Man City at 4.00 to win the Champions League
Barca v Neymar-less PSG
In the summer of 2017 PSG paid a world record fee of €222m to Barcelona for Neymar. However, the Brazilian is now injured and won’t be playing against his ex-club. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, might be facing his next team, with rumours strongly linking him to the French side. Again in 2017, just a few months before Neymar’s transfer, Barcelona and PSG produced one of the most incredible Champions League matches ever as Barca won 6-1 and knocked PSG out of the tournament despite the French team having won the first leg 4-0. So what will happen this time? Barca are 2.00 favourites to win the game but if you fancy a more adventurous bet, how about 3.35 on Over 4.5 goals (that means 5 or more) to be scored in the match? And of course, there’s Messi who, as already mentioned, might be playing his last ever season for Barcelona… He’s always a good choice in the Goalscorer market and this is exactly what we have our eyes on.
RECOMMENDED BET: Get 3.80 on Lionel Messi to score the first goal in the game
RB Leipzig v Liverpool
Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool are in awful form, having lost their last 3 league games. Will they bounce back with a win on the European stage? We don’t think so… Liverpool will be facing an in-form RB Leipzig side, currently sitting 2nd in the German Bundesliga table. This season RB Leipzig have already beaten another Premier League powerhouse in Manchester United, that’s why we reckon the Germans are capable of upsetting Liverpool as well.
RECOMMENDED BET: Back RB Leipzig at 2.90 to beat Liverpool
Looking for more Champions League action? Then make sure you don’t miss out on Porto v Juventus and Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund and score big with 10CRIC!
