The Champions League Knockout Phase Play-Offs conclude this week with Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid all carrying one-goal leads into their second-leg ties.
All are expected to book their spots in the round of 16, but while Real look decent value simply to beat Manchester City, a little more craft is required to extract the best bets when the Bavarians host Celtic and Juve visit Eindhoven.
Champions League Knockout Phase Play-Offs best bets
Bayern Munich (-2) to beat Celtic @ Evens
Juventus to beat PSV (draw no bet) @ 11/10
Real Madrid to beat Man City @ 5/6
Bet on the latest Champions League odds at Betzone
Die Roten can cut loose with onus on Celtic to attack
Bayern Munich were kept honest by Celtic in the Germans’ 2-1 first-leg win at Parkhead, but they’ve been far more effective on home turf in this season’s UCL.
Vincent Kompany’s side were registering only their second away win in this season’s competition in Glasgow from five attempts, whereas they’re 100% at the Allianz Arena.
Betzone go 1/7 about the home win, so a bit of creativity is required to find a more appealing way of backing the Bavarians and Evens about Bayern (-2) will do nicely.
The Bhoys have already been battered 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund in Germany this term and Die Roten won’t lack the goal threat to build themselves a three-goal cushion. They’ve netted at least three times in each of their last seven home games.
Tip: Bayern Munich (-2) to beat Celtic @ Evens
Juve can book last eight berth with Philips Stadion win
PSV Eindhoven are worth taking on as 5/4 favourites at home to Juventus, having already lost twice to the Italian side in this season’s Champions League.
Juve have been in good form, extending their all competitions winning streak to four matches with a 1-0 win over Inter on Sunday. They’ve also been solid on the road in Europe this term, going unbeaten (W1, D3) and keeping two clean sheets.
That adds appeal to the 11/10 draw-no-bet about Tiago Motta’s men against hosts that have won just once in their last five on all fronts.
Tip: Juventus to beat PSV (draw no bet) @ 11/10
City’s ongoing travel travails make Real value to progress
Manchester City looked much more like the team of past dominant seasons in their 4-0 weekend victory over Newcastle at the Etihad. Particularly encouraging was the performance of January signing Nico Gonzalez in a Rodri-like midfield brief.
Unfortunately for the Cityzens the second leg of their knockout phase playoff takes place in Madrid. Pep Guardiola’s side have lost nine of their previous 14 away games in all competitions, beating only Leicester, Ipswich and Leyton Orient in that sequence.
Real, buoyed by the return of starting centre-half Michael Rudiger, are good value to win at 5/6 on that evidence. Los Blancos have won seven of their last nine at Santiago Bernabeu, drawing the other two (also winning of those draws 5-2 after extra time).
