The return legs of the Round of 16 kick off this week and we have 2 delicately poised matches and 2 matches that already look well and truly decided. Liverpool look set to cruise through to the next round on the back of a 5-0 away win at Porto whilst Manchester City are equally as well placed with a 4-0 away win at Basel. The other matches are looking a lot tighter, particularly that of Juventus and Tottenham who are locked at 2-2 with Spurs heading into the return leg with the edge on away goals. Similarly but less well placed, PSG will be hoping to turn the tide against Real Madrid currently 3-1 down though without Neymar, the job looks extremely difficult. Whatever happens though, it should be a thrilling ride.
**Odds from Sportsbet.com.au as of 5th March
Liverpool vs Porto
Porto will need some sort of miracle and perhaps some misfortune from Liverpool if they are to claw their way back from a 5-0 deficit. Liverpool do have their defensive lapses at times but they’ve well and truly wrapped this one up that they’d have to do some very silly things to let this one slip away. With nothing to lose, you’d expect Porto to come out blazing here which won’t worry Liverpool as it’ll open up opportunities at the other end. This could go anywhere but one thing for sure is that Liverpool are set to make it through to the Quarter Finals.
Predicted Result: Liverpool 3-1
Best Bet: Liverpool to win at $1.45
Best Value Bet: Over 3.5 goals at $2.66
PSG vs Real Madrid
It took some luck, momentum and heroics, but Real Madrid worked hard to gain a 3-1 lead over PSG I n the first leg. There’s a little more hope for PSG compared to Porto given they at least have an away goal but the recent injury to Neymar means things just got a whole lot harder. It doesn’t mean PSG won’t have their chances but with Real Madrid enjoying a comfortable 3-1 lead, they shouldn’t stuff this one up as they look to progress to another quarter final.
Predicted Result: Real Madrid 2-1
Best Bet: Real Madrid to win at $3.3
Best Value Bet: Real Madrid to win and BTTS at $4.2
Tottenham vs Juventus
This is the matchup of the week purely because of how delicately poised this one sits after the first leg. Tottenham looked well out of it early on but they managed to fight back to make it 2-2 away from home and for the most part dominated in the 2nd half and could have run away with the win. Those 2 away goals could be crucial here and there’s little doubt that the home advantage for Tottenham will be important. Juventus of course will be difficult to beat here and if things went differently they could have very easily been 3-0 or more up at half-time in the first leg. Their inability to put Spurs away will no doubt be in the back of their minds. The injury cloud of Higuain isn’t ideal albeit they have a star in Dybala ready and waiting after scoring a winner against Lazio last time out. In the end this could be a classic finish to what has been a great contest thus far. Extra time isn’t out of the question but there’s every chance both sides will be pretty tight defensively, particularly early on. Home ground advantage, a noisy Wembley and the fact Tottenham have dispatched the likes of Real Madrid at home this season should see Tottenham though, just.
Predicted Result: Draw 1-1
Best Bet: Tottenham to win either half at $1.59
Best Value Bet: Draw at $3.3
Manchester City vs Basel
Enjoying a 4 away goal lead, Manchester City can afford to take the foot off the pedal when they host Basel this week. City have been cruising all season and there’s little reason to doubt they’ll do the same here and that could spell for a difficult 90 minutes for Basel. The way City dispatch Arsenal in their last 2 games with such ease should see them comfortably through to the quarter finals here.
Predicted Result: Manchester City 3-0
Best Bet: Manchester City to win to Nil at $1.62
Best Value Bet: Manchester City to win both halves at $1.91
