There’s an action-packed week in Europe with UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football taking place. The likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur play in the Champions League, while Arsenal kick off their Round of 16 tie in Italy against giants AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday.
There’s also a full fixture list in the EFL Championship in midweek, with all 24 clubs in action. On Wednesday night, Paul Heckingbottom’s Leeds United welcome Nuno Espirito Santo’s league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers to Elland Road in the highlight of the second tier midweek action..
- Liverpool v Porto – Liverpool HT/FT (13/10 at Ladbrokes)
- Paris-Saint-Germain v Real Madrid – Paris Saint-Germain to Win (23/20 at Coral)
- Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur – Manchester City to Win -2 (23/20 at Coral)
- Tottenham Hotspur v Juventus – 1-1 Draw (13/2 at BetVictor)
- AC Milan v Arsenal – Draw (12/5 at Betfair)
- Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Wolverhampton Wanders to Win (6/5 at Coral)
Champions League
Both Liverpool and Man City hold huge leads from their first-leg ties, while Tottenham’s tie with Juventus at Wembley Stadium is in the balance. Meanwhile, PSG find themselves 3-1 down from their first leg with Real Madrid. Liverpool and Man City’s matches look formalities, but the other two games promise to produce fireworks and could certainly go either way.
Liverpool v Porto – 6th March
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool entertain Sergio Conceicao’s Porto at Anfield on Tuesday. The Reds all but sewed up this tie in the Estadio do Dragao, but they will be on the lookout for another win on home soil. The Premier League side head into this one as the overwhelming favourites.
A Sadio Mane treble inspired Liverpool to an emphatic 5-0 win in Portugal in the first leg. The Reds are the top scorers in the Champions League so far, netting a staggering 28 goals in seven matches.
Liverpool should have no problems whatsoever in this second leg, and we’re expecting them to dazzle again. Back the hosts to be winning at half time and full time at 13/10 with Ladbrokes.
Liverpool HT/FT – 13/10 at Ladbrokes
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid – 6th March
Despite losing the first leg 3-1 in Madrid, Unai Emery’s PSG will back themselves to turn this tie around against Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid in the Parc des Princes on Tuesday.
Paris took the lead in the Santiago Bernabeu through Adrien Rabiot’s smart finish on 33 minutes. However, two Cristiano Ronaldo goals and a Marcelo strike gave Los Blancos a 3-1 win.
The Parisians have won every single league and cup match at the Parc des Princes this term, and they are favourites to win on home soil in midweek. Back PSG to win on the night at 23/20 with Coral. Without Neymar they may struggle to qualify but we think they will certainly have enough to beat Real on the night.
Paris Saint-Germain to Win – 23/20 at Coral
Manchester City v Basel – 7th March
After a stunning win in Basel, Pep Guardiola’s Man City have one foot firmly in the last eight. Still, the Premier League leaders will want to chalk up another victory at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Two Ilkay Gundogan goals and strikes by Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero gave the Citizens a comfortable 4-0 win at St. Jakob-Park. That was the 12th time City had scored four or more goals in a game this season, a stat that must frighten many an opponent.
Man City should prevail with ease at the Etihad on Wednesday, and we feel there’s good value in Coral’s 23/20 for the hosts to win -2. Basel have little to play for and an early City goal could see them wilt.
Manchester City to Win -2 – 23/20 at Coral
Tottenham Hotspur v Juventus – 7th March
The Tottenham v Juventus tie at Wembley Stadium is in the balance after the pair drew 2-2 in Turin in the first leg. Despite Juve finishing runners-up in this competition last year, Spurs head into this one as the bookies’ favourites.
Gonzalo Higuain’s brace gave the Old Lady a 2-0 lead after just nine minutes in the Allianz Stadium. The Argentine missed a penalty to make it three and it looked like Spurs were headed out. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side hit back in stunning style, with goals from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen earning Tottenham a priceless and ultimately deserved 2-2 draw.
With a lot to play for at Wembley, this tie could go either way on Wednesday. A 1-1 draw will put Spurs through on away goals, and we think the 1-1 stalemate is worth backing at strong odds of 13/2 at BetVictor.
1-1 Draw – 13/2 at BetVictor
Europa League
Arsenal’s reward for stumbling past Swedish minnows Ostersunds in the Round of 32 is a tough looking two-legged tie with Gennaro Gattuso’s AC Milan in the last 16 of the Europa League. With some big clubs left in this competition, the Gunners will have to be at their best if they are to lift the trophy and book their place in next year’s Champions League.
AC Milan v Arsenal – 8th March
Arsenal’s Europa League journey continues with a two-legged Round of 16 tie against AC Milan, with the first game taking place in Italy at the San Siro in Milan on Thursday evening.
Arsenal are well off the pace in the hunt for the top four in the Premier League, so their focus will now be on the Europa League as their best hope of Champions League football next term. The same can be said for Milan, who currently sit seventh in Serie A.
These two have not gone head-to-head since the last 16 of the Champions League back in 2012, which I Rossoneri won 4-3 on aggregate. Things could be tight in this tie, and a draw in Milan would not be a bad result for the Gunners. The stalemate is priced at 12/5 with Betfair.
Draw – 12/5 at Betfair
Championship
With just a handful of matches left to play in the Championship, things are starting to heat up in the second tier. The race for automatic promotion, battle for the play-off places and fight for survival promises to be fascinating this season. We’ll be concentrating on Wednesday night’s clash between promotion-chasers Leeds and table-toppers Wolves at Elland Road.
Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers – 7th March
After a little stumble in form, Wolves will be looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack. Nevertheless, the leaders will fancy their chances of getting the better of Leeds at Elland Road on Wednesday.
Both teams have aspirations of playing in the Premier League next season. Wolves look nailed on to be a top-flight club, while the Whites still have plenty of work to do if they want to join them.
When these two met at Molineux back in November, Wolves ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. We can see Wanderers doing the double over Leeds on Wednesday, so back the away win at decent enough odds of 6/5 with Coral.
Wolverhampton Wanders to Win – 6/5 at Coral