The Champions League is well and truly back!
A quartet of football games for sports betting fans to savour as the ultimate competition in the game reaches the round of 16.
The chance of recovering from slip-ups is now much slimmer than it was before and a first leg advantage can prove invaluable.
But are my betting tips equally invaluable to you?
FC Basel vs Manchester City (February 14, 03:45 GMT+8)
A quartet of football games begin with a side chasing an unprecedented quadruple.
Pep Guardiola fooled no-one (and also gave a discouraging message to the club’s youngsters) when he said he did not have enough players to fill all the substitute berths in their recent 1-1 Premier League draw at Burnley.
He was rightly derided.
Rarely has a side ever had such depth in talent and this Manchester City team should be on a different planet to Basel.
The Swiss have caused some upset to English clubs in the Champions League but not this time.
My 2 x 🌟🌟 tips are First Half Asian Handicap -0.75 Man City @ 2.21 and Asian Handicap -1.50 Man City @ 2.09.
Juventus vs Tottenham Hotspur (February 14, 03:45 GMT+8)
This has all the hallmarks of an absolute thriller.
It is Massimiliano Allegri’s 201st match in charge of Juventus, during which time he has twice guided the ‘old lady’ of Turin to Champions League finals.
You could argue the class of 2018 falls short of some of his previous teams but they remain a potent outfit.
Spurs, in many ways like Juve, lack the financial resources of some of Europe’s giants but can take on and beat anyone on their day – a 3-1 success over European champions Real Madrid in early November was proof of that.
I’m going out on a limb on this one.
A 🌟🌟 tip of 1X2 draw @ 3.30 and a 🌟 bet of correct score 1-1 @ 6.00.
FC Porto vs Liverpool (February 15, 03:45 GMT+8)
There is much to laud for both these clubs.
There is also a fair few vulnerabilities to point out.
They are both, first and foremost, sides who love to attack and can be cavalier (that is meant as a compliment).
It is because of that I’m plumping for a 🌟🌟🌟 bet of over 2.75 goals @ 2.04.
Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain (February 15, 03:45 GMT+8)
The ultimate clash of the round.
Reigning champions Real, record 12-time European champions, against opponents who, like Madrid, can also now bankroll success and sign anyone they desire.
Unlike Real, who have struggled all season both domestically (out of the La Liga title race and the Copa Del Rey), PSG have dominated in Ligue 1.
It’s the Galacticos against their French equivalent.
For the Parisians now have their own in Neymar and young hot-shot Kylian Mbappe.
If PSG prevail over two legs this could be seen as the beginning of the end for the current Real side and their recently turned 33-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yet I expect the best player on the planet will turn it on for this one and show PSG defender Thiago Silva – who this week said this is a meeting of the ‘two best sides in the world’ – that his claim is somewhat premature.
I’m edging Real to see off the perennial Champions League underachievers.
A 🌟 tip of First Half 1X2 Real Madrid @ 2.98 and a 🌟🌟 tip of 1X2 Real Madrid @ 2.48.
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A short explanation on how our (🌟) bets are worth:
🌟🌟🌟 = £20
🌟🌟 = £10
🌟 = £5
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
