The Champions League returns from its festive hiatus with two games of the League Phase left to play and 26 of the 36 teams still in with a good shout of making the knockout stages.
Juventus look too short in Belgium, while high-flying Lille can push table-topping Liverpool closer than the odds suggest and rock-bottom Young Boys can grab themselves another consolation goal at Parkhead.
Champions League Week 7 picks
Club
Brugge vs Juventus – Draw @ 9/4
Lille (+2) to beat Liverpool @ Evens
Celtic to beat Young Boys & both teams to score @ 4/6
Bet on the latest Champions League odds at Betzone
Back Serie A stalemate specialists to share the spoils in Bruges
Juventus’ storied European pedigree is the only possible explanation for their 6/5 favouritism away to a Club Brugge side that are unbeaten in their last 18 games in all competitions, winning all bar three of those.
The Old Lady’s favouritism is even more dubious given their incredible propensity for drawing games this season. Juve have shared the spoils in 15 of their 29 games on all fronts, including six of their last seven on the road.
Another draw here looks fair value at 9/4 with the hosts in near irresistible form and the visitors having lost just twice all season.
Tip: Club Brugge vs Juventus – Draw @ 9/4
Underestimated underdogs Lille can push Liverpool close at Anfield
The Champions League has been a walk in the park for Liverpool so far this term to the extent that it’s difficult to argue with their 1/4 favouritism in the win-draw-win market when Lille visit Merseyside.
However, that short price has the knock-on effect of making the visitors an even money bet to win with a (+2) handicap and that makes some appeal.
Les Dogues arrive at Anfield on a 21-match unbeaten run in all competitions that includes wins over both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have settled for 2-2 draws in two of their last three home league games and conceded in victory over freefalling Leicester in between those stalemates.
Tip: Lille (+2) to beat Liverpool @ Evens
Both-teams-to-bag the value add in battle of Bhoys against Boys
Celtic would have a perfect three wins from three Champions League home games this season were it not for Cameron Carter-Vickers’ bizarre own-goal against Club Brugge.
That form makes them just 3/10 to beat League Phase rock-bottom side Young Boys and that’s understandable – the Swiss side have shipped a woeful 22 goals so far.
Giorgio Contini’s side have at least begun to bag belatedly, finding the net in their last three UCL ties against Shakhtar, Atalanta and Stuttgart.
Celtic have shipped at least once in each of their League Phase games at Parkhead, so backing the Wankdorff outfit to bag in defeat looks a decent way to boost the Bhoys win odds to X/X.
