All eyes will be on Liverpool tonight for their Champions League tie against German champions Bayern Munich in what is arguably the most eagerly-anticipated fixture within the last 16 stage.
Liverpool, who reached last year’s final, will hope to go one step further this year in winning the Champions League but come up against a Bayern side who are no stranger to winning this trophy themselves.
The Bavarian side ran out winners in 2013 against a Borussia Dortmund side managed by none other than current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, and the former Dortmund manager will be keen to ensure his current side get the better of Bayern this time round.
Manchester City are the final English side to play in this year’s Champions League knock-out rounds and they’ll travel to Bundesliga strugglers Schalke.
Our football expert is here to run his eye over the best bets for this week’s fixtures.
Liverpool v Bayern Munich
Playing at home for the first leg is often seen as a disadvantage in the Champions League, but given Liverpool’s form at Anfield, there is every chance Jurgen Klopp’s men can take a big lead into the Allianz Arena.
In last year’s Champions League, Liverpool scored 13 goals in three first leg matches, and Bayern Munich will have to be alert if they are to prevent the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino from getting on the scoresheet.
The trio will look to exploit a vulnerable Bayern defence who are yet to keep a clean sheet since the turn of the year, and I can see there being lots of goals in this one. I’m very confident of a Liverpool win and I’ll be backing the home win and over 2.5 goals at a great 7/4 price with Grosvenor Sport.
Schalke v Manchester City
With a win over Newport County last weekend in the FA Cup, Manchester City’s quest for an unprecedented quadruple is still on.
The Citizens rested some key players on the weekend and with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling all fresh, coupled with Schalke’s dismal league form, there should only be one winner in this tie.
Schalke are winless in four league matches and it is difficult to see how they can turn that form around against arguably the best side in Europe. They’ll be welcoming the 3/1 Champions League favourites to the VELTINS-Arena and any result that keeps Schalke in the tie going into the second leg would be a good result for the hosts.
Manchester City should be far too strong for this Schalke side and I expect a comfortable victory for Pep Guardiola’s men. I expect Leroy Sané to inflict damage on his former club by getting on the scoresheet and I’ll back a wincast with the German to score anytime plus a Man City win which can be backed at 13/8.
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