Champions League Betting Tips PT 2

Bayern are available at a slim 4/9 margin which makes them more of an acca bet (likely combined with Real Madrid playing the following day) than an outright wager. 

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Match-ups played in Eastern Europe or Russia can be especially difficult for some clubs and its always a test of skill and tenacity when you’re playing out there in the dead of winter. Expect Bayern to bring their A-Game but rest assured that Shakhtar have a built in advantage at the outset. 

On Wednesday, punters will find a slightly lower-profile day with Basel vs Porto kicking off and little existing between the two sides. Basel put together a series of really good performances in the Group Stage when many figured they had little chance of actually progressing this far, much less beating out some quality sides. Porto will be seen as a good opportunity for them to go even further as the draw could have been even more difficult, all things considered. 

Despite Basel being the host side in this one they are trading as the slim underdogs here with Porto getting the edge at 11/8 while they trade at a 2/1 margin. The draw sits at a 9/4 price tag and will likely be a popular wager with the neutral punters on the day. 

In the second fixture of the opening Wednesday round, we have one of the biggest mismatches of the knockout stages as Schalke face off against defending champions Real Madrid, who have made short work of many of their opponents both domestically and in European competition this season. You’ll find Real Madrid priced at an extremely short 2/5 price tag while their counterparts can be backed at a 6/1 listing. 

You’ll notice that Real get the edge even over Bayern Munich (whose opponents also trade at 6/1) simply because the bookmakers feel as though they are more likely to kill off games easier. The draw is available at an 18/5 margin here and that looks pretty unlikely unless Schalke can put together one of their better performances and get a real result on the big stage. It would certainly be a great day for the home support and would put them in control of the fixture heading into the second round.