We have a fascinating week of European football to look forward to with action in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League from Tuesday through to Thursday. The likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester United and Roma all feature in the Champions League, while Arsenal and Celtic play in the Europa League.
There are also 12 fixtures taking place in the EFL Championship in midweek. The big match of the round takes place at Pride Park as Gary Rowett’s Derby County entertain Paul Heckingbottom Leeds United on Wednesday. Chelsea v Barca it ain’t but it should still be a good clash between two teams with hopes of promotion.
- Bayern Munich v Besiktas – Bayern Munich to Win 3-0 (13/2 at Betfair)
- Chelsea v Barcelona – Draw (12/5 at Bet365)
- Sevilla v Manchester United – Draw and Both Teams to Score (18/5 at BetVictor)
- Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma – Roma to Win 1-0 (9/1 at Betfair)
- Zenit Saint Petersburg v Celtic – Zenit Saint Petersburg to Win -1 (2/1 at Coral)
- Arsenal v Ostersunds – Arsenal to Score 3+ Goals (Evens at Betfred)
- Derby County v Leeds United – Derby County to Win 2-0 (7/1 at Coral)
Champions League
After four entertaining last 16 ties, the second batch of matches take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Manchester City and Liverpool picked up huge wins on the road, while Tottenham Hotspur came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Juventus in Turin. With the English clubs going well so far, what can Chelsea and Man Utd do in midweek?
Bayern Munich v Besiktas – 20th February
Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern welcome Senol Gunes’ Besiktas to the Allianz Arena this Tuesday. The Turkish side won four and drew two of their six group matches to surprisingly top their group and book their place in the knockout round.
Since arriving back on the scene in Munich, the experienced Heynckes has guided the Bavarians to 21 wins in 22 games in all competitions, including four out of four in CL Group B.
Although Besiktas have had a fine season in Europe so far, we can see Bayern winning this one with ease on Tuesday. Betfair are offering the top odds of 13/2 for a 3-0 home win.
Bayern Munich to Win 3-0 – 13/2 at Betfair
Chelsea v Barcelona – 20th February
Old rivals Chelsea and Barcelona go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. Antonio Conte’s men may be at home, but the bookies have Barca down as their favourites to return to Catalonia with a lead.
The Blues have made a slow start to 2018, but they will be well up for this one against Ernesto Valverde’s superstars. The current Premier League champions have lost just one of their last nine fixtures against Blaugrana, although four of the last five have ended in draws.
With neither side wanting to give anything away in the first leg, we can see this ending all square in the English capital. Bet365 are offering 12/5 for the draw at the Bridge and that looks big all things considered.
Draw – 12/5 at Bet365
Sevilla v Manchester United – 21st February
Jose Mourinho’s Man Utd begin their knockout journey with a tricky two-legged tie against Spanish side Sevilla. On Wednesday evening, the Red Devils travel to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
United made it through to the last 16 by finishing top of Group A on 15 points from a possible 18. Meanwhile, Los Rojiblancos ended their group as runners-up to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
These two have never met in a competitive match, so we don’t have anything to go on it that regard. With United on the road we don’t see much between them though and a draw seems a likely outcome. However, we do fancy Jose’s boys to get an important away goal in Seville. BetVictor have the draw and both teams to score nicely priced at 18/5.
Draw and Both Teams to Score – 18/5 at BetVictor
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma – 21st February
Paulo Fonseca’s Shakhtar Donetsk entertain Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv on Wednesday evening. The Italian side are the favourites to progress from this tie.
Shakhtar became the first team to beat Pep Guardiola’s Man City this season when they saw them off with a 2-1 home win in the final group game back in December. Fonseca’s side went on to finish second behind City in Group F. Roma, meanwhile, beat the likes of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid to top spot in Group C.
Donetsk won’t be easy to topple at home, but Roma will back themselves to do a job in Ukraine. We fancy the Yellow and Reds to leave with a 1-0 win (9/1 at Betfair).
Roma to Win 1-0 – 9/1 at Betfair
Europa League
Both Arsenal and Celtic maintained British success in Europe and got their last 32 ties up and running with victories last Thursday. The Gunners eased to a 3-0 win over Ostersunds in Sweden, while the Celts earned a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Zenit Saint Petersburg in Glasgow. Arsenal seem certain to make it through to the last 16, but will the Bhoys be joining them?
Zenit Saint Petersburg v Celtic – 22nd February
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic make the trip to Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg with a narrow 1-0 lead. Will that be enough to see the Hoops into the last 16 of the Europa League?
It was a pretty tight contest in Glasgow, settled by Callum McGregor’s superb strike with just 12 minutes to go. However, Roberto Mancini’s men are strong at home, so Celtic need will need a monumental away performance to go through.
The Bhoys have put themselves in a good position, but the hosts could be too strong for the Scottish champions on Thursday. Check out Coral’s odds of 2/1 for Zenit to win -1.
Zenit Saint Petersburg to Win -1 – 2/1 at Coral
Arsenal v Ostersunds – 22nd February
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal have all but booked their place in the next round with a resounding 3-0 away win in Sweden last Thursday. The Gunners will be looking for an even easier victory when they welcome Ostersunds to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg.
Arsenal were far too good for their Swedish opponents, with an own goal and strikes from Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil sealing a routine 3-0 win. Also, David Ospina made sure of the clean sheet with a late penalty save.
Arsenal will be looking for more goals on Thursday, and we like the look of Betfred’s odds of evens for the Gunners to score 3+ goals in the second leg.
Arsenal to Score 3+ Goals – Evens at Betfred
Championship
The race to the Premier League is really starting to heat up in the Championship. Wolverhampton Wanderers may be bulldozing their way to the title, but the runners-up spot and places in the play-off are still well up for grabs. We have a full fixture list in the second tier in midweek, with the standout match of the round coming from Pride Park between Derby and Leeds.
Derby County v Leeds United – 21st February
With Derby fighting for an automatic promotion place, and Leeds battling to stay in the play-off picture, we should be in for an entertaining fixture at Pride Park on Wednesday night.
The Rams fell to their first defeat since November last Tuesday, losing 2-0 at Sheffield Wednesday. Meanwhile, Heckingbottom started life at Leeds with a 2-1 away reverse at Sheffield United.
Derby have won four and drawn three of their last seven Championship matches at Pride Park. County should prevail in this one too, and we’re backing them to win 2-0 at odds of 7/1 with Coral.
Derby County to Win 2-0 – 7/1 at Coral