Champions League | Man City and Liverpool eye quarter-final spot | Preview and Odds

With half of the Champions League last-sixteen ties done and dusted, the remaining eight sides will battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals this week.

After heroic wins for both Man United and Tottenham last week, all eyes will now be on Man City and Liverpool to see if they can reach the latter stages of the tournament.

Our football betting expert picks out the best bets from the pick of this week’s elite European action.

Man City v Schalke 04

Man City have one foot in the quarter-finals after a late winner from Raheem Sterling in Germany saw Pep Guardiola’s side take a 3-2 win back to the Etihad.

City won’t rest on their laurels though, and they have been lethal at home this season in all competitions. With Sergio Aguero on form and banging in goals right now, he’ll want to continue his good form in the closing stages of the season.

It’s easy to see why they are 2/15 favourites to win this one.

Schalke gave them a scare in the first leg, but it’s doubtful they’ll have the quality to cause City problems. The Germans are languishing in 16th place in the Bundesliga, and it’s unlikely they’ will hold much hope for progression now.

They are 16/1 to defeat the home side.

While City are all but through to the quarter-finals, they rarely show mercy for lesser teams at home and I think they will win both halves, which can be backed at evens.

Juventus v Atletico Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo will have his work cut out to win a fourth successive Champions League trophy this season, as Atletico Madrid take a 2-0 lead to Turin this week.

Diego Simeone’s side showed great character to stun Juventus at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, and they are close to securing a spot in the final eight.

Atletico have charisma in abundance, and given they haven’t lost in Italy for more than seven years, they will be confident of progression. I think they will go backs to the wall, so 4/1 is a fair price for them to win the match.

Juventus, whose last two defeats in the competition have come at the hands of Spanish sides, are 8/11 to win on the night, and 11/4 to qualify.

This match is too tricky to call. While the Old Lady need to get off to a strong start, Atletico have a formidable defence and it only takes one early goal from them to all but guarantee progression.

I think both teams to score is good value at evens, while the draw on the night at 5/2 is what I’ll be going for.

Bayern Munich v Liverpool

Liverpool were frustrated by Bayern Munich’s resilience a few weeks ago at Anfield as the Bundesliga champions left Merseyside with a 0-0 draw.

The Germans now have the edge in the tie and with a devastating frontline featuring Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller to name a few, Bayern are favourites to win on Wednesday at 11/10.

Liverpool’s form has been indifferent since the turn of the year. A number of goalless draws have led critics to questions their mentality, but Jurgen Klopp will be out to impress when he returns to his homeland.

Their problems have come in front of goal when facing rigid defences, so their front three of Salah, Firmino and Mane will need to be back on form to see past Bayern. They are 5/6 to win on the night.

Given Liverpool are so focused on their Premier League title quest, I think Bayern will edge this one and progress with a closely-fought win, but I can see this match being more open than the first leg, with so much at stake.

I can’t see past Bayern in front of their own supporters, so I’ll go for them to win and both teams to score at 3/1.

Barcelona v Lyon

After a goalless draw in France, this tie hangs in the balance, and while Barcelona are still favourites to progress, they will need to be wary of Lyon’s attacking threat.

This Lyon side came away from the Etihad with a 2-1 win earlier this season, and held them at home to a 2-2 draw too after leading twice.

From Nabil Fekir, Moussa Dembele, Memphis Depay, and Houssem Aouar, they have pace and prowess to give the La Liga champions something to think about.

It’s asking a lot of Bruno Génésio’s side to win at the Nou Camp, which is 11/1, but 4/1 to go through is a good price.

That said, Barcelona have been in good form recently. They defeated Real Madrid twice in the space of four days in Copa del Rey and La Liga action, and will be up for this season-defining game.

Lionel Messi’s hat-trick at Sevilla and Luis Suarez’s double against Real Madrid are examples of their attacking threat, which is why they are 2/9 to go through on Wednesday night.

I can’t see anything but a Barcelona win, despite Lyon’s exciting young team. Messi is 9/4 to score first, which is a great bet considering his habit of stepping up for Barca when it matters most.

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