Manchester City and Leicester set to struggle in Champions League top tips
Manchester City vs Monaco - Bernardo Silva anytime
Manchester City are in far better shape now then during the second half of their Champions League group stage campaign. Throughout October and November it seemed that wins were sporadic and often hard fought. Since the turn of the year, the Citizens have lost just one of their nine matches, keeping a clean sheet in 5 of those. That is as many clean sheets as they managed in their previous 25 games.
Although Manchester City seem to have settled their back line, it will unlikely be enough to contain a free-scoring Monaco. The young French side have already scored over 100 goals across all competitions. They have not failed to score on the road since December - albeit that match was in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen.
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Much focus has been on Falcao’s near miraculous return to form and youngster Kylian Mbappe for his prowess in front of goal. But it could be Bernardo Silva that finds a way through on goal tonight. The Portuguese is at his best away from home boasting a higher WhoScored rating in away games than at home. He has also scored in 3 of his last 4 away matches and found the back of the net in his last game in England (against Spurs at Wembley). Bet on him to score anytime at 5.00 with Bet365, but be sure to search for the best free bet offers.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Atlético Madrid - Over 2.5 Goals
Bayern Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid last met in the 2014/15 Champions campaign. Both fixtures ended in unremarkable 1-0 wins for the home side with Atleti going through on penalties. It would be tempting to assume the goals will be at a premium tonight.
On current form, Atletico Madrid’s defence is not the impervious wall it once was. They may have boasted the meanest defence in the group stage, but have managed to keep just one clean sheet in their last 5 away games — to Deportivo Alavés.
Bayer Leverkusen may sit seventh in the Bundesliga but it’s not due to a shortage of goals at home. They have scored in each of their last 8 home games. In the Champions League, they’ve only failed to score in 1 of their last 13 matches, scoring 2 or more on 6 of those occasions. You can bet on over 2.5 goals with Bet365 at 2.35.
FC Porto vs Juventus - BTTS - No
Wednesday night sees two of the greatest European goalkeepers go head to head - Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon. Casillas currently holds the record for the most clean sheets in Champions League history with 54. And while some may see them as ‘past it’ due to their longevity in the game, it doesn’t seem to be slowing them down. Each kept 3 clean sheets in their 6 group stage games.
In 2017, Casillas has kept a clean sheet in 4 of his 7 appearances in Liga NOS with one of his more impressive performances coming just this weekend in Porto’s 4-0 win over Tondela. His counterpart, Buffon, has conceded just a single goal in his last 6 appearances - an injury time conciliatory goal.
Both teams boast formidable attacking talent, but the experience of both keepers should see at least one of them keep a clean sheet tomorrow night. Bet on both teams to score - No at 1.70 with Bet365.
Sevilla vs Leicester - Sevilla win to nil
Leicester are in free fall. They didn’t cover themselves in domestic glory at the start of the season but did redeem themselves in their opening Champions League fixtures. However a 5-0 loss to Porto in their final game highlighted that the Foxes just couldn’t keep their heads in it if they didn’t see anything to play for. It seems to be a large part of their problem in the Premier League this season.
They defied the odds last season, but they have to know they are unlikely to do it again in the Champions League this season. They’ve been on a lengthy run of poor form, so will they be able to motivate them for a tough game against a team sat just behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga? A team that knows how to win games in European competition.
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Leicester are currently on the longest run of games without a goal (6) in Europe’s top 5 leagues. That isn’t just down to Jamie Vardy’s form - but it certainly doesn’t help. Last season’s record breaking striker has scored in just 1 of his last 26 games for the reigning Premier League champions. Largely overlooked in their Champions League campaign was the fact that out of their 6 games, Leicester failed to score twice, and managed just a single goal in 2 of their games. Bet on Sevilla to win to nil with Bet365 at 2.10.
