there is just one game left for the sides in the champions league to secure their passage through to the knockout phase of the tournament and the two english sides playing on tuesday are in very different positions. we take a look at the biggest games of the night in europe and offer up the latest live odds comparison as well as our big champions league predictions and betting tips, so read on for the lowdown.
liverpool v basle betting tips
liverpool are enduring an abysmal season and are currently third in group b but they will be delighted that they have their fate in their own hands and a game at anfield in which to seal their progression through to the knockout phase of the champions league. they have won just one of their five group matches and few would have predicted they would struggle so badly. they lost the reverse fixture in switzerland and so will be out for revenge here but they may well struggle against a competent basle outfit who know a draw would see them progress at the expense of the reds.
liverpool have improved a little of late and will be buoyed by their home win over stoke at the end of november and they have to be confident, although their opponents are riding high at the top of the swiss super league. basle play some neat, fast football and if they are able to withstand the probable early onslaught they could certainly get something from this one. however, whatever liverpool’s status this season, the fact remains that anfield is a tough place to go under the floodlights when the crowd and players are 100% up for the game and an emotionally charged anfield could prove too much for the visitors.
the reds are priced at odds of 8/11 with bet365 and we think that may be a price worth taking but overall we prefer to play it safe and back both teams to score here in a game we predict will have plenty of thrills and spills. btts looks good at betting odds of 9/11 in a game in which our correct score prediction is a 2-1 home win.
our prediction: liverpool to win, 8/11 (1.73) with bet365
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galatasaray v arsenal betting tips
arsenal are already through to the next round of the champions league and so in that respect the pressure is off. however, they would love to avoid a top, seeded side in the new year and to do that they will certainly have to top the group. to achieve that they need to win here and hope that borussia dortmund lose against anderlecht, while if the gunners somehow go goal crazy and record a huge win they could also sneak top spot should the germans draw their game.
the turkish hosts have nothing to play for and, with one point from their previous five games, are set to finish bottom of group d regardless of what happens this week. that may allow them to play without pressure although they may also choose to rest some key players as they continue to tussle with besiktas and fenerbahce at the top of the turkish super lig.
the odds men are clearly predicting an away win, with arsene wenger’s side priced at betting odds of 23/20 whilst the home team are out at 13/5 and the draw is 11/4. overall we quite simply have to agree with the bookmakers and arsenal have far too much class to slip up here. we predict they will record a relatively straightforward win and backing them to win -1.5 goals may be worth considering, although whether it will be enough to see them avoid the champions league big guns in the next round remains to be seen.
our prediction: arsenal to win, 5/4 (2.25) with betway
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monaco v zenit st petersburg betting tips
champions league group c is one of the most interesting going into the final round of group matches with no obvious giant and three sides that all have a chance to finish top and thus who have a great shot at making the last eight in the new year. monaco are currently sitting on eight points, one ahead of their russian visitors and one behind bayer leverkusen who play benfica.
on home soil monaco are firm favourites to make it through, available at odds of 6/4 to win on the night, although a draw would also be enough to see them make the round of 16. a stalemate is on offer at 12/5 with zenit out at 21/10 and on balance we have to favour the home side. the game in russia finished 0-0 and we could see another cagey affair here as monaco sit back whilst zenit are unlikely to commit too many men forward early on. a repeat of the 0-0 is a possibility at long betting odds but overall we predict a narrow home win, with draw/monaco not a bad bet to consider.
our prediction: monaco to win, 6/4 (2.50) with bet365
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benfica v bayer leverkusen betting tips
benfica are eliminated whilst leverkusen are sure to progress, although the germans need a win to be certain of topping the group. portuguese football is relatively weak at the moment and whilst a visit to benfica would, even in recent years, represented a major test, this season the germans will fancy their chances. indeed, leverkusen are clear favourites at odds of 7/5 with benfica on offer at 2/1 and the draw priced at betting odds of 13/5.
the reverse fixture ended 3-1 to the germans and whilst we don’t see a repeat of that scoreline, given leverkusen are sure to be desperate to win and finish at the summit of the group we think they should get the victory without too many problems.
our prediction: bayer leverkusen to win, 27/20 (2.35) with betway
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