The Champions League returns this week for its final round of fixtures of this season’s group stage.
Of the English clubs in action, Spurs and Manchester City have secured their places in the last 16, with the latter priced as 3/1 favourites in the tournament’s outright market.
Meanwhile, it’s still all to play for regarding the European fates of both Chelsea and Liverpool.
Our football expert previews this week’s action, or you can take a look at all of our available Champions League odds.
Main selections
Tammy Abraham to score first against Lille – 5/2
Bayern Munich to beat Tottenham by a margin of two goals – 7/2
Red Bull Salzburg and Liverpool to draw – 3/1
Chelsea Vs. Lille
Chelsea are in third position but on the same number of points as second-placed Valencia, while table-toppers Ajax are two points ahead on 10 but haven’t yet qualified.
This effectively renders the last round in Group H as knockout games, with Chelsea given a slight advantage insomuch as they are playing the eliminated Lille at Stamford Bridge.
However, if Chelsea and Valencia end the matchweek on equal points, it will be the Spanish team who progress on account of the head-to-head record, so the Blues won’t be taking this lightly.
Expect a full-strength team here that includes Tammy Abraham who opened the scoring in his side’s 2-1 victory in October’s reverse fixture. He is unsurprisingly odds-on to net (4/7) but can be backed at a more profitable 5/2 to clinch the opener.
Bayern Munich Vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Some may call this fixture between Group B’s pair of qualified teams a dead rubber, but Spurs will still not want a repeat of their 7-2 drubbing when they played host to Bayern Munich earlier in the group stage.
However, there is the temptation here for Jose Mourinho to give key players a rest and provide regular benchwarmers with an opportunity for a Champions League run-out as Spurs line up as the 11/2 underdogs.
Their high of inflicting a 5-0 thrashing upon Burnley at the weekend could come crashing down here as Bayern’s quality combined with their home advantage could see the German outfit end the group stage with maximum points.
Even when factoring in the potential for Bayern to take their foot off the gas somewhat, a winning margin for the hosts of two goals appeals at 7/2.
Dinamo Zagreb Vs. Manchester City
Manchester City may already be through to the knockout stages but they enter this final group game with a cloud hanging over them, having lost the Manchester derby at the weekend and dropping to 14 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Dinamo Zagreb, meanwhile, will be battling it out with Group C’s other two teams for second spot and a point here won’t be enough for them.
This could leave them vulnerable to the prowess of City’s counter-attack and given the odds-on price of 4/1 for an away victory, the 15/2 available for a 1-2 scoreline could prove profitable.
City have an array of fringe players who are perfectly capable of causing damage but they will still need to be cautious given how much is at stake for the Croatians.
FC Red Bull Salzburg Vs. Liverpool
Liverpool’s inaugural visit to the Red Bull Arena provides the hosts with their sixth chance to defeat an English opponent, with a home draw against Blackburn in 2006 their best attempt to date.
Erling Haaland goes into the round of games as the second-highest scorer in the competition this season (8), having netted in every match so far. He’s priced at 31/20 to score at any time.
Austria has been a happy hunting ground for the English outfit and they have won their last two games there as well as running out 4-3 winners when last playing Salzburg.
Just the one point will be enough for the Reds to progress and given that Jurgen Klopp’s men are back in action as early as Saturday lunchtime, the 3/1 on offer for the draw in Salzburg seems generous.
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