Champions League First Knockout Stage Tips Part 1

knockout stage with the fixtures being played out two at a time on successive match-days. We’re going to be taking a look at each of the key fixtures coming up and trying to get a gauge on just how things are expected to shape up. There is a lot to like about these match-ups and you get the feeling that there are a few interesting draws that really could go either way. 

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The first day’s action pits Manchester City against Barcelona - which is surely to be the most exciting match-up on paper. The bookmakers don’t see anything between the two teams in the first match with both sides trading at a 2.6 margin right now for the outright victory. 

The draw can be backed at a 3.4 margin and it’s going to be interesting to watch how the odds begin to turn as we get closer to the kickoff on February 18. City have been playing some great stuff lately but their European form has never been quite as good as their domestic form - where they tend to put four or five (or even more) past the weaker Premier League teams. 

The bookmakers are fairly clear about who they expect to progress over the two legs of the tie. That’s Barca and the bookmakers have them trading around 1.5 to head on to the next stage of the competition while City trade at an enticing 2.5 price tag that will likely attract their fans and neutral punters as well. 

This is a big statement match for City and if they can bounce Barcelona out of the competition at this early of a stage then people will know that they are for real and can likely take on anybody in Europe.