Liverpool v Porto
The first of our April 9-10 Champions League betting tips is for Liverpool v Porto. Leg one of the quarter finals in this season’s Champions League and Liverpool have home advantage as they welcome Porto to Anfield. This will be a difficult game for The Reds, and they will get nothing cheaply against an opponent who fancy their chances of bagging a semi final berth, but fans being honest with themselves will know it could have been much worse. Porto, to be completely fair to them, aren’t the strongest side left in the tournament and Liverpool are expected to get the job done over two legs.
It won’t matter how they do it but securing a lead before the return fixture is important and those camped inside the home dressing room will be aware of that. The hosts caused a shock in the last round when eliminating Germans Bayern Munich a month ago, the tie ending 3-1 on aggregate to the English side. Strangely enough, the Anfield score was 0-0 heading to Munich, but an incredible performance saw Mane score a double, one either side of a van Dijk collector’s item, and that was more than enough to better Bayern, who needed an own goal from Matip to get off the mark. The home win is favourite with all major bookies, Bet365 offering up a market best price of 1/3. One for your accas.
Underdogs Up For a Fight
Porto caused a stir in the Round of 16 when stamping out the hopes of Italian side Roma. They found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 result at the first time of asking but did the damage when enjoying the backing of a home support, rallying to win 3-1 in the return, 4-3 ending as the aggregate score. That result ruined a fair share of bets with Roma expected to progress without too much hassle. The visitors proved their stomach for a fight and will be keen to do so again.
Soares broke the deadlock in the second leg when scoring on 26 minutes and although De Rossi netted a penalty to even things up shortly after, Marega and Telles made the difference, the latter winning the tie from the penalty spot in extra-time. The spot-kick was awarded thanks to a VAR decision and it proved again just how vital technology is in the modern game, when seasons are won and lost by the narrowest of margins. The away win is 9/1 at 888Sport, a draw 21/5 with the same firm. Neither interest us.
Our Tip: Liverpool to win – 1/3 at Bet365
Tottenham v Man City
Game of Tuesday night and the standout fixture of the round as we have an all-Premier League tussle to sort through, starting in London. Many thought Spurs would follow the trend of recent campaigns and find themselves out on their ear at this point, but Pochettino’s crew are still going strong and, at this stage, there’s no reason why they can’t go on and win the trophy outright. They have the players to have a run at it and in Harry Kane the club boast one of the hottest strikers in world football, with a proven ability to score big goals.
Spurs hammered Germans Borussia Dortmund in the last round, firing their way to a 3-0 first leg lead, before finishing the job in style with a 1-0 away win. Kane was, again, the man of the moment in the rematch and he hit what proved to be the winner early in the second-half to silence a home support who had already accepted they were on their way out. Pochettino told members of the press at full-time he was so happy for his players following an important victory. Spurs’ll face a tougher test here and Bet365 offer them as 7/2 outsiders in the match betting. That’s bigger than it should be and we’re happy to have a go.
Fighting on all fronts
Manchester City already have the League Cup tucked away in their trophy cabinet at the Etihad and they are currently fighting on all fronts, priced as favourites to add both the Premier League and Champions League to their end of season haul. To achieve that they will have to hold off the attentions of Liverpool domestically, while knocking a determined Spurs out of Europe’s elite competition. Easier said than done, of course.
Man City have been at the head of the outright betting for this competition since the summer and they oozed class in the last round when dealing with a problem like Schalke, winning by a jaw-dropping aggregate score of 10-2, taking the second leg at home 7-0. Not only was that the second highest aggregate score recorded in the knockout stages behind Bayern Munich’s 12-1, it also sent out a message of intent to their rivals still in the mix. Bookies certainly took note and have the away win as jolly, trading 3/4 with 888Sport. The draw is yours at 3/1 at the same shop. As good as City are, there’s no value in that.
Our Tip: A small stake on Spurs- 7/2 at Bet365
Ajax v Juventus
This match won’t feature too highly on the watch list amongst British fans this week, but it’ll be one well worth catching the highlights of as, on paper, it looks a real 50/50. Two giants of European football, it really is anyone’s guess how this will go, and Ajax impressed us in the last round when knocking Real Madrid out of the running, winning 5-3 on aggregate. A classic, and neutrals will be hoping for more of the same. Both teams to score is 4/5 (Bet365), the home win 12/5 at Ladbrokes.
Italy On Top
Juve are favourites and that came as a bit of a surprise to us as Ajax are a side finally heading in the right direction again. It has been a difficult couple of years for followers of the Dutch side, and a feast for Juventus supporters, but this is a level playing field now. Juve hammered Atletico Madrid 3-0 at home last time out but did lose the away leg 2-0 in Spain and that puts us off backing them at a wafer-thin 11/10 (Bet365).
Our Tip: BTTS – 4/5 at Bet365
Man Utd v Barcelona
The last of our April 9-10 Champions League betting tips is for Man U v Barca What a treat we have in store here and Ole can celebrate his new permanent job by beating Barcelona and giving the La Liga side a job to do in Spain. The home gaffer played an important role in his side’s Champions League success under Sir Alex and he can do the same again from the dugout, although we’re sure he’d much prefer to pull his boots on when the music gets started.
If The Red Devils are to go through you’d expect they will have to make home advantage count. Let’s get caught up in the romance of it all and back Man Utd at a stunning 5/2 with Ladbrokes.
Be Brave
It takes a brave punter to go against the might of Barcelona and, having had their fingers burnt many times in the past, traders don’t fancy taking the Spaniards on, despite playing away from home against a side full of confidence. The visitors have threatened to win this title again in recent seasons but have fallen just short. Will this be the year they regain their rightful place on the top-step?
They hammered Lyon 5-1 at home last time but played out a goalless draw in France the match before. That puts us off backing Barca at a cosy looking 21/20 with 888sport. This is too tight a game to be taking such short odds about the visitors. Both teams to score is 4/7 at Bet365, no a 5/4 poke.