After several entertaining UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg ties, we’ve got four big second legs to look forward to next week. Three of the games are looking all-but decided but we fancy there could well be a twist or two yet. Arsenal and Barcelona will be hoping to overturn huge deficits, whilst Real Madrid head to Napoli with a 3-1 lead, and Benfica travel to Borussia Dortmund with a 1-0 lead. Interestingly Real’s record following 3-1 first leg results is only 50/50, so that could be an interesting nigh given their current form.
We’ve also reached the last 16 stage of the UEFA Europa League. After Tottenham Hotspur were knocked out by Gent, Manchester United are the only English representative left – they face the long trip to Russia to face Rostov on Thursday.
- Arsenal v Bayern Munich – Bayern Munich to Win (13/10 at Betfred)
- Napoli v Real Madrid – Real Madrid to Win -1 (17/5 at Coral)
- Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain – Barcelona to Win to Nil (11/5 at Coral)
- Borussia Dortmund v Benfica – Borussia Dortmund to Win -1 (19/20 at Coral)
- Rostov v Manchester United – Manchester United to Win (3/4 at Sky Bet)
Champions League
Unai Emery’s Paris Saint-Germain and Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich look destined to reach the last eight, as they both secured massive first leg victories. PSG beat five-time winners Barcelona 4-0 at the Parc des Princes, whilst Bayern thumped Arsenal 5-1 at the Allianz Arena. Elsewhere, Benfica earned an impressive 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, whilst Real Madrid beat Napoli 3-1.
Arsenal v Bayern Munich – 7th March
On Tuesday evening, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal welcome Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich to the Emirates Stadium looking to overturn a 5-1 deficit. As unlikely as it seems, the Gunners will no doubt have a go at the German champions, and an early Arsenal goal could make this one interesting (for highly optimistic home fans at least!)
Despite going in 1-1 at the break after a decent first half showing at the Allianz, the London side capitulated woefully in the second half, leaving their Champions League hopes in tatters. Two Thiago Alcantara strikes and a goal each by the familiar faces of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller was enough to give FC Hollywood an emphatic and deserved win.
It was men against boys in Munich, and we can see Bayern qualifying for the last eight yet again in style by winning in London, as well. Betfred are offering very decent odds of 13/10 for the Bavarians to leave the Emirates with another victory over Arsenal.
Bayern Munich to Win – 13/10 at Betfred
Napoli v Real Madrid – 7th March
Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid travel to Naples on Tuesday to take on Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo. Goals from Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Casemiro have given Real a comfortable 3-1 lead to take to Italy with them.
It’s been a strange 2017 for Zidane’s men, having already been beaten three times this year. They also nearly lost on Wednesday night, coming from 3-1 down with 10 men to draw 3-3 at home with Las Palmas. As for the Light Blues, they have lost three of their last four in all competitions, and face an uphill task trying to turn this tie around.
Not only are Real the overwhelming favourites to go through, they are also fancied to come out on top on the night. We believe it will be a comfortable evening for the 11-time European Cup winners & current holders, and we like the look of Coral’s 17/5 for Los Blancos to win -1. Real’s form is questionable but so is Napoli’s and so we fancy the extra quality and experience of the Galacticos will be the difference.
Real Madrid to Win -1 – 17/5 at Coral
Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain – 8th March
On Wednesday night, Luis Enrique’s Barcelona will be setting out to try and overturn a 4-0 scoreline against Unai Emery’s Paris Saint-Germain at the Camp Nou. That would be a Champions League first, which shows that Barca are really up against it. However, if any team are capable of doing it, it’s certainly Barca. Can Enrique’s superstars make this interesting, or will PSG ease into the last eight?
Things just went from bad to worse for Blaugrana in Paris, but nobody could say that the Parisians did not deserve it. As Barca tried to find away way back into it, PSG just picked them off on the break. It was a memorable night for Angel Di Maria in particular, as the former Real Madrid man netted twice in a standout performance.
Although we believe PSG will go through on the night, we do fancy the home side to make life difficult for them. The standout bet in this one is Barcelona to win to nil, which is available at 11/5 with BetVictor.
Barcelona to Win to Nil – 11/5 at Coral
Borussia Dortmund v Benfica – 8th March
The most intriguing tie of the round is the Borussia Dortmund v Benfica match, as only one goal separates the sides going into the second leg. Rui Vitoria will be hoping his side can build on Kostas Mitroglou’s first leg goal. However, Thomas Tuchel’s men have yet to be beaten on home soil in the regular season and will fancy their chances.
Although Dortmund have had an up and down season, they have remained pretty solid at the Signal Iduna Park. They may be a goal down, but the Bundesliga side are still the clear favourites to qualify. As for Benfica, who sit top of the Primeira Liga, they have won their last five successive games in all competitions.
However, we can see Dortmund turning things around on their own patch. BVB have won by more than a single goal at the Westfalenstadion five times this term, and we feel there’s good value in Coral’s 19/20 for the hosts to win -1 on Wednesday.
Borussia Dortmund to Win -1 – 19/20 at Coral
Europa League
With Southampton knocked out at the group stage, whilst Tottenham Hotspur fell in the knockouts, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are left flying the English flag on their own in the UEFA Europa League. After finishing runners-up to Fenerbahce in Group A, United made light work of Saint Etienne in the Round of 32. They now face Russian side Rostov, who have already beaten Bayern Munich in Europe this season.
Rostov v Manchester United – 9th March
Manchester United will head to Russia full of belief that they can bring home a positive result. Although Rostov are no mugs, as they proved during the Champions League group stage, they are certainly there for the taking for the Red Devils.
First and foremost, United will be looking to score at the Olimp-2 Stadium. Jose’s boys have scored in each of their last 12 away matches, netting a superb 21 times along the way. Since losing at Chelsea in the Premier League back in October, United have only been beaten twice in their last 26 league and cup fixtures.
Even though these two have never met, we can’t see United slipping up in Russia. With a 2017-18 Champions League place up for grabs, United will be taking this tournament very seriously now they have reached the latter stages. We fancy a Manchester United win in Rostov-on-Don, with Sky Bet offering the best odds of 3/4. We expect this one to be a cagey affair and 1-0 to the visitors looks a decent correct score bet at longish odds.
Manchester United to Win – 3/4 at Sky Bet