Champions League Knockout Stage Latest Odds Pt 1

There are some really exciting Champions League fixtures to look forward to in the New Year once Europe’s premier football competition gets back underway in mid-February. Virtually every match-up is a tantalizing prospect with even the more middling teams matched up with equal sides with the only relatively lopsided fixtures being Schalke 04 vs Real Madrid and Olympiacos vs Manchester United - both feature a prominent name alongside a side with a less prominent recent slate of showings in Europe. 

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE BET WITH LADBROKES!

The fact remains, however, that every team in the next stage could plausibly win their match-up - even Manchester United have looked anything but solid at times and the Greek outfit may be able to make it happen when it truly counts - particularly if they can escape Old Trafford with a draw or better. 

Manchester City vs Barcelona is likely the glamour clash of the round and there is a lot to look forward to in this two-legged fixture. It is also the most evenly matched fixture in regards to the odds with most major bookmakers pricing Manchester City as the slim 6/4 favourites against Barcelona’s 8/5 listing in the first match of the tie. The draw trades at 11/5. 

The Catalan Club are the betting favourites to ultimately emerge from their group with odds of about 4/9 against City’s 13/8 - that’s likely the appealing wager for their fans and with the type of form they have been able to flash in the Premier League, you reckon they’ll be able to get the business done at home at least. It all really depends on which City side shows up on the day and, if they can get through Barcelona, you reckon it will give them plenty of confidence that they can actually go on and win the thing. 

Their cross-town rivals Manchester United are trading at even money to beat Olympiakos in the next match while the Greek side will travel in the first fixture and can be backed at a 5/2 margin. The draw is 11/5 in this one (as it is with most of the fixtures at the start of the next round). United are significant favourites to progress on to the next stage with a very short 1/6 price tag against the Greek side’s 7/2.