Champions League 2017/18 Betting Outright

Champions League Tips

2017/18 Football – Europe – Champions League Betting Preview Outright The draw for the Champions League knockout stage was made on Monday and there was no shortage of exciting ties to look forward to. We may have to wait until February until we get to witness them but the prospect of Tottenham against Juventus, Barcelona versus Chelsea and the tie of them all, Real Madrid taking on PSG is enough to whet the appetite. Real are, of course, attempting to make even more history by winning it for the third successive season but there are a number of serious contenders – not least an old foe in Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City team who have been immensely impressive for much of this campaign – the draw has been kind to them as they will face Basel in the round of 16. But who’s going to win it all?!

The Group Stage

There were very few shocks in this year’s group stage, perhaps emphasising just how big the gap is becoming between the elite clubs and those in behind. The two biggest surprises not to make it through to the knockout phase were Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid – two clubs who have contested finals in recent seasons. Neither hit those heights this time around but they will both be missed in the final stages. Napoli would also have been disappointed by their showing as City and Shakthar Donetsk proved to be too good for them over the course of the six group matches. Other than that it was very much as you were. The biggest story was arguably the resurgence of the Premier League clubs as all five English outfits qualified for the next round, four of which finished top. Another notable mention has to go to PSG who – predominantly for their huge spend in the summer – were under pressure to hit the ground running, and they did just that. Neymar, Mbappe and company set a new record with their 25 goals in the group stage, enough to see them top a group containing Bayern Munich. Qualification is simply not good enough nowadays though and there credentials will be put to the test in their tie with the champions.

The Contenders

Whilst there are 16 teams who have made it through to the knockout stages and conceivably only four phases away from winning the whole thing, there is realistically only half a dozen teams likely to achieve that feat. Let’s start with the champions.

Real would have been disappointed to finish in second spot in their group but they had to settle for similar last year and we all know how that ended. Zidane’s men have not reached the same levels as the previous campaign just yet but they should never be underestimated and the games against PSG will definitely not phase them. The champs will be hoping that some of their injured stars return to the fold early in the new year to give them the best chance of putting the upstarts in their place.

City qualified top of a potentially tricky group with relative ease, only losing their 100% record in their final group game. The wins over Napoli were their two standout performances and some of the football delivered in those games were scintillating. Two games against Basel should hold no fears and with an 11 point cushion in the Premier League they will also benefit from much needed rotation later in the season. Could they reach their first ever Champions League final?!

Ernesto Valverde has wasted no time in changing Barcelona’s style since taking over in the close season. The 2015 champions have struggled defensively in the latter stages in each of the last two seasons and their new coach has identified, attempting to make them more resolute. The sale of Neymar has no doubt played a part in this but it could be for the best as the mercurial Messi will always give them a chance going forward and if those in behind him can continue playing as they for the majority of the season they would be a huge threat. Chelsea will be good barometer as to their chances as Conte will attempt to exploit any weakness in that defence.

PSG were ruthless in five of their six group games and there’s no doubt that Neymar and Mbappe have added further threat to what was already a formidable attack, but it was their final group game against Bayern Munich that may yet prove most telling. Emery and his players would still have been scarred by their capitulation in the second leg of their last 16 tie against Barcelona last season and it’s the other Spanish giant they face 12 months on. There would be no better opponent to see off as they look to shelve the tag of underachievers and bottlers. Do that and they would become an overwhelming favourite to win the whole thing.

Bayern’s season never got off to the start they had hoped for as they trailed Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and were humbled 3-0 away to PSG in their crunch Champions League encounter. Carlo Ancelloti was relieved of his duties as a result of this and replaced with the evergreen Jupp Heynckes. The club legend has had an immediate impact as they have soared to the top of their domestic league and finished their group stage campaign with a comprehensive 3-1 win over the Parisians. Ironically enough, having finished second they have been handed a kinder draw as they will face Besiktas for a place in the quarter finals. Interestingly, Bayern are the only German club to make it past the group stage.

Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool may all feel they have outside chances of going deep into this tournament, and Chelsea as well if they can see off Barcelona. All are capable on their day but they appear to be a level behind the very best Europa has to offer and it’s unlikely that they can make it to the final two as a result.

Verdict

It is certainly shaping up to be an excellent knockout phase with plenty of intrigue and side stories to keep up entertained throughout. Spain and England are mobhanded but despite making up half of the last 16, only City, Barca and Real have what it takes to go all the way. Bayern have not been at their absolute best, it’s fair to say, but they should not be underestimated and may just be able to peak at the right time if, as expected, they get past Besiktas. Heynckes was also the last man to least them to the promised land. At the current odds they stand out as being real value and showed how good they can be when dispatching PSG on match day six. A little luck with the draw and they can make it to Kiev in May.

I was split as to whether or not to include a second choice and after some deliberation felt that Real Madrid’s price was all wrong. Although they have not been at their brilliant best for the whole first half of the season, their squad is still packed full of quality and the same personnel who led them to this title in 2016 and 2017. It could be that they are out of the running for La Liga come their ties with PSG and if they can through to the last eight then their odds will rightly tumble. It would come as no surprise to see their experience tell against Emery’s men, either.

Bayern Munich 11/2 @ Betvictor

Real Madrid 8/1 @ Ladbrokes