Barcelona v Man Utd
It’s time for the first of our April 16 -17 Champions League betting tips; which is for Barcelona v Man U. The second leg of the Champions League quarter finals takes place on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th April with each of the four games, split evenly between the two nights, shown at 8.00pm GMT on BT Sport. Barcelona enjoy home advantage going into this one and also have the benefit of an aggregate lead, having banked a 1-0 at Old Trafford last week.
Shaw scored an own-goal on 12 minutes and the bulk of those inside the Theatre of Dreams expected the floodgates to open, with Barca running riot. It didn’t work out that way. The locals are picked to complete the double and make sure they progress with a win at the Camp Nou. Backers will get 4/9 with Ladbrokes or the draw, which would suit home fans, stands out at 18/5 at the same firm.
Revenge is Sweet
Manchester United know that, although they performed well in the first leg, they shot themselves in the foot by conceding an away goal. If they had kept it at 0-0 there would’ve been all to play for going to Spain, making a straight shoot-out for a place in the semis, but they now have an uphill struggle on their hands to beat Barca on the road, scoring at least two goals to secure their safe passage without the need for extra-time.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to admit his team were already out but did accept the size of the challenge that lies ahead. He picked out a nervy start from his defence as an important factor in the defeat but credited the way they settled into the contest following the goal. The gaffer told fans and members of the press his team were still in the tie, and it looked like he believed it too. Can Man U win away from home? Bookies don’t think so and offer a chunky 6/1 (Bet365). That’s too big and, as lovers of the value, we’ve got to have an interest play. Best backed as a single to interest stakes.
Our Tip: Man U to win – 6/1 at Bet365
Juventus v Ajax
The Italian champions put themselves in the driving seat when playing out a shrewd draw in Holland last week, holding on for a 1-1 finish. Ronaldo did what he does best, scoring an important opening goal on the stroke of half-time and it looked like Juve would hold on to secure a vital away win, but they couldn’t manage it, a lapse in concentration early in the second-half allowing Neres to draw his employers level.
A result that suited Juventus, but there’s still much work to do in this tie. Another draw is 13/5 at 888sport, the home win preferred at 8/11 with Bet365. One for your accumulators. Taking both teams to score again is worth a second look with 4/5 going, best price when playing at Bet365.
Fighting Back
Ajax will be delighted they kept themselves in the contest by hitting back when they were expected to roll over in front of their own fans. The Dutch kings have come a long way in a short time and weren’t about to be stopped by a single goal. Yes, they are on the ropes, but this is a team experienced in hauling themselves off the canvas and fighting back.
Lesser clubs would’ve faded into memory, but Ajax are battlers and we’ll see another example of that in Italy. The away win has been scored out as a 17/4 shot by William Hill. Not a bet for us, of course, but we certainly wouldn’t be in a rush to put anyone off as it’s very easy to get caught up in the visiting side’s fairytale.
Our Tip: Juventus to win – 8/11 at Bet365
Man City v Tottenham
The one all-Premier League tie of the quarter finals but at the conclusion of this round we will lose at least one English side, but will it be Manchester City or Tottenham? The Premier League champions are fighting with Liverpool to retain their top-flight crown and are well ahead of Spurs in the division, but they suffered a 1-0 defeat last week when going down in the capital. Can they overturn the deficit and keep alive their dreams of finally getting their hands on Champions League glory? Bookmakers think so and they are convinced they are on the right path.
The side from the Etihad Stadium kept their dreams of a clean-sweep alive when booking their place in the FA Cup final. With the League Cup already in the bag, and a place in the FA Cup final, it’s now up to the high-earners to finish the job and retain their Premier League glory, after pushing themselves into the last four of Europe’s elite. Fancy them to beat Tottenham at home in 90 minutes? You will have to make do with the 2/7 available at Bet365. Tight and that’s a price that may just put a few off. The locals are 4/6 – top price at William Hill – to qualify.
Finish the Job
Tottenham were written off despite home advantage in the last round, but they showed their spirit when defying the odds and recording a memorable win over Man City in front of a packed arena. They will feel they made a real statement of intent that night and there’s no reason why they can’t go to Manchester and finish the job, knowing they only have to defend and keep their opponents at arm’s length for 90 minutes. Easier said than done, of course, but the betting would suggest they are already out, and we know that’s not the case.
Son Heung-Min scored the only goal of the game in the first leg when bulging the net on 78 minutes to stun the away support. It was a well-deserved win at an impressive new stadium and the atmosphere was electric. There’s no doubting the fact it played a part in Tottenham’s win and they will struggle to recreate that effort away from home. Harry Kane will miss the match and that puts us off a bet on Spurs at a chunky 10/1 with Ladbrokes. The striker so often makes the difference and he will be missed.
Our Tip: Man City to qualify – 4/6 at William Hill
Porto v Liverpool
The last of our April 16 -17 Champions League betting tips is for Porto v Liverpool. Porto lost 2-0 at home and that is expected to put an end to their campaign, barring a monumental fight back on their own turf. There were always going to be up against it when paired with The Reds, who are fighting for the Premier League title, but giving them a two-goal head-start looks like mission impossible.
There will be few fancying a bet on the underdogs but those who expect them to save face with a win can them at 3/1 with Unibet. That bet stands regardless of if they go through to the semi-finals or not, but we won’t be snapping at the attractive lure.
Fast Start
Keita scored for Liverpool inside five first-half minutes at Anfield and that helped settle the crowd and those on the pitch. With a cushion behind them The Reds were able to go on and grab a second and they only had to wait 20 minutes to get it, Firmino netting the winner, a goal that will surely send them through to the next round.
More was expected on the night, on the back of such a strong start but, in the end, two was more than enough and put them in a commanding position. They don’t need the win but we expect Liverpool to finish the job with a victory at a punter-friendly price, Bet365 traders offering 21/20, a quote that will help boost the returns of your multiples.