The second week of Champions League last 16 first-leg matches features the most eye-catching ties of the round in the shape of Inter vs Atletico Madrid and Napoli vs Barcelona. We’re on the hunt for more winning wagers after tipping up three from as many selections in last week’s UCL action.
Champions League round of 16 tips
Inter to beat Atletico Madrid & under 2.5 goals @ 5/2
Arsenal (-1) to beat Porto @ 19/10
Dortmund to beat PSV (draw no bet) @ 13/10
Bet on the latest Champions League odds at Betzone
Supremely stingy Serie A leaders can out-Atletico Atletico
Inter Milan are 3/4 favourites to defeat Atletico Madrid at the Giuseppe Meazza but there’s ample rationale to shoot for more in the shape of the Inter win and under 2.5 goals double at 5/2.
Grinding out a low-scoring wins has been the modus operandi associated with Atletico Madrid for ages but so mean is the Nerazzurri’s backline that the Italians should out-Atletico the visitors.
Inter have shipped just 12 times in 24 games in Serie A this term and given up just one goal across their three Champions League home games to date in this year’s competition. In their last 10 home games across all competitions, they’ve won eight, incredibly conceding just once in normal time.
Atleti have lost as many away games as they’ve won this season and weren’t able to claim victory away to either Celtic or Lazio in the UCL group stage. Inter currently lead their Serie A counterparts by a huge 26 points in the chase for the Scudetto and should prove a lot better opponents.
Tip: Inter to beat Atletico Madrid & under 2.5 goals @ 5/2
Porto no match for an Arsenal side coursing with confidence
The Premier League’s midwinter break was evidently a real tonic for Arsenal, who have come out of the rest period bouncing. Since returning to action they’ve won all five of their outings, including a home game against table-topping Liverpool, scoring a monstrous 21 goals in the process.
Porto are no strangers to home hammerings at the hands of English clubs having lost 5-1 and 4-1 to Liverpool in 2018/19 and 2021/22 and they could be in for another one here. Arsenal have thrashed West Ham 6-0 and Burnley 5-0 in their last two away games.
This assignment will clearly be a tougher nut to crack, but the hosts have already been beaten at Estadio do Dragao by a moderate Barcelona side this term, while Shakhtar Donetsk managed to register three goals in defeat. An in-form Arsenal side can prove far more fearsome guests.
Tip: Arsenal (-1) to beat Porto @ 19/10
PSV’s unbeaten home record at risk against dangerous Dortmund
Eredivisie leaders PSV are 11/10 favourites to beat Borussia Dortmund at the Philips Stadion but that price looks there to be shot at and the 13/10 about the visitors draw-no-bet makes appeal.
The Dutch side are unbeaten in 16 home games in all competitions this term, winning all bar two of those fixtures. However, the two they didn’t win – UCL draws against Sevilla and Arsenal – came against easily their best visitors and the Gunners didn’t field an anywhere near full-strength side.
Dortmund are wily campaigners at this level – as evidenced by wins away to Newcastle and AC Milan in the group stage – and the greater know-how embodied by veterans like Marco Reus, Mats Hummels and Emre Can gives them every chance of nicking the win.
