The Champions League returns to our screens tonight - with 4 x 2nd
leg ties taking place. We’ve previewed each encounter using our
innovative Head-2-Head feature to provide a summary of the best
betting opportunities from tonight’s games.

Starting with Arsenal’s trip to reigning Champions AC Milan…

(0) AC Milan v Arsenal (0)

1st leg results:

Goals: Under 2.5 Goals
Corners: Over 10.5 Corners
Bookings: Under 35 Booking Points
First Card: AC Milan
Time of First Goal: No Goals in the match

2nd leg Match odds:

AC Milan    Draw        Arsenal
5/4              11/5           3/1
(2.25)          (3.2)         (4.0)

Kick off 7.45pm
Live on ITV4

Stalemate at the Emirates means that a score draw for Arsenal will
take them into the quarter finals – a win by any margin will also
see the Gunners progress. AC Milan must win the match to reach the
next stage. A repeat of the 0-0 score line from the first leg will
take the game into extra time.

Match Result: AC Milan won all 3 of their home group matches this
season. Arsenal have 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss from their away trips
this season. If we take a look at the goal averages, Milan are
averaging 2.33 goals per home game, while conceding 0.66 of a goal.
Arsenal are averaging 0.66 goals for and 1 goal against. With Milan
having to win the game to go through we should expect the Italian’s
to be a little more offensive then in the 1st leg.

The Stats say:

• AC Milan to win the match @ 5/4 Tote, 6/5 Bet635 and Victor
  Chandler

Corners: 2 out of 3 AC Milan home matches have been ‘Under 10.5
Corners’. 3 out of 3 Arsenal away matches have been ‘Under 10.5
Corners’. In the 1st leg the corner count just edged over the ‘10.5
margin’ with 11. Milan average 5.33 corners for and 4.33 corners
against while Arsenal average 5.33 corners for and 2.66 corners
against. Meaning an Under the corners bet appeals tonight.

The Stats say:

• Under 10.5 Corners @ 1.65 Expekt
• Also ‘Asian Total Corners’ Under 10 @ 17/20 Bet365 (you get
  your money back if the match is ‘Exactly 10’)

(3) Barcelona v Celtic (2)

1st leg results:

Goals: Over 2.5 Goals
Corners: Under 10.5 Corners
Bookings: Over 35 Booking Points
First Card: Celtic
Time of First Goal: Before 28th minute (btw 16-30)

2nd leg Match odds:

Barcelona    Draw       Celtic
1/4              9/2          12/1
(1.25)         (5.5)        (13.0)

Lionel Messi’s winning strike gave Barcelona a 3-2 victory over
Celtic meaning only a draw is necessary to see the Catalan giants
progress into the quarter finals. Celtic must win the match by 2
clear goals if they’re to progress. A 3-2 Celtic victory would take
the match into extra time (125/1!).

Match Result: Barcelona are a very short price to win tonight’s
match. They won all of their group games at home, while Celtic lost
all their away games, without scoring a goal. In a bid to find
value, you can back Barcelona to ‘Win To Nil’ or Barcelona to win
and keep a Clean Sheet.

The Stats say:

• Barcelona to Win To Nil @ 4/5 Paddy Power, 8/11 Skybet or
  Barcelona to win and Keep a Clean Sheet @ 5/6 Boylesports

Bookings: All 3 of Barcelona’s home games have been ‘Under 3.5
Cards’. 2 out of 3 Celtic away games have been ‘Under 3.5 Cards’.
The 1st leg looked set to go under that margin until a late yellow
card for Celtic’s George Samaras.

The Stats say:

• Under 3.5 Cards @ 4/5 Bet365

First Card: Celtic have received the First Card in all of their
away matches this season. In the 1st leg between the sides Celtic
picked up the First Card. Factor in Barcelona’s ability to keep the
ball and frustrate opponents and it looks like a Celtic player will
be receiving the First Card in tonight’s encounter.

The Stats say:

• Celtic First Card @ 4/6 Betfred

(1) Manchester United v Lyon (1)

1st leg results:

Goals: Under 2.5 Goals
Corners: Over 10.5 Corners
Bookings: Over 35 Booking Points
First Card: Lyon
Time if First Goal: After the 28th minute (btw 46-60)

2nd leg Match odds:

Man Utd   Draw        Lyon
2/5           10/3         9/1
(1.4)        (4.3)       (10.0)

Manchester United have that all important away goal thanks to
Carlos Tevez’s late strike against Lyon. A 0-0 draw would see
United progress. A repeat of the 1-1 score line from the 1st leg
would see the tie go into extra time. A victory by any side would
see them progress. A high scoring draw (2-2 or more) would see Lyon
through thanks to the away goal rule.

Goals: With Lyon having to score to have any chance of progressing,
we may see a more open encounter this time. United’s style is not
to go for a 0-0 draw, meaning an Over 2.5 Goals scoreline could be
possible. If Lyon take a lead in the match, United would need to
score twice to go through. 2 out of 3 United home games have gone
‘Over 2.5 Goals’. 2 out of 3 Lyon away matches have gone ‘Over 2.5
Goals’.

The Stats say:

• Over 2.5 Goals @ 21/20 Bet365, Evens Stan James

Scorers: Lyon’s highly rated forward Karim Benzema (a reported
United target) has scored 4 goals in this season’s competition. His
goal in the first match was his first home goal - his others have
all come away from home. 

(2) Sevilla v Fenerbahce (3)

1st leg results:

Goals: Over 2.5 Goals
Corners: Under 10.5 Corners
Bookings: Over 35 Booking Points
First Card: Fenerbahce
Time of First Goal: Before the 28th minute (btw 16-30)

2nd leg Match odds:

Sevilla          Draw        Fenerbahce
4/9              16/5            7/1
(1.44)         (4.2)           (8.0)

Fenerbahce snatched a late winner when these two sides met in an
entertaining 1st leg. A draw or win will see the Turkish team
through. A win for Sevilla 1-0, 2-1 will see them qualify on the
away goals rule. The only way the match can go into extra time is
if Sevilla win 3-2.

Goals: Sevilla are averaging 3 goals per home game and with their
need for victory tonight could lead to a high scoring affair. All 3
of their home group games were ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ and 2 out of 3
Fenerbahce away games went over the goals too. These teams look
like they could produce another high scoring encounter tonight.

The Stats say:

• Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.73 Expekt, 8/11 Stan James and Paddy Power

Bookings: The bookies are expecting a high card affair between
these teams, just like in the 1st leg were there were 6 Yellow
Cards. With that in mind most bookies have set their margin around
the 4.5 Cards mark (49.5 Booking Points). If we take a look at the
stats Sevilla currently average 20 points for and 23.3 points
against. Visitors Fenerbahce average 31.66 points for and 23.3
points against. So a high figure is to be expected in tonight’s
encounter. Also 2 out of 3 Sevilla games have gone ‘Over 35 Booking
Points’ while all of Fenerbahce’s away games have produced over
that margin.

The Stats say:

• The best available markets are ‘Over 4.5 Cards’ @ 4/6 Bet365
  or ‘Over 49.5 Booking Points’ @ 3/4 Expekt

* * * * *

With betting markets changing rapidly throughout the day keep track
of all the Best Odds on our brand new Free Odds Comparison site at:

odds.sportsbettingxtra.co.uk/

Also keep track of all your Champions League bets tonight at:

www.ChampionsLeagueBet.co.uk

The only place you need to go to settle all your Champions League
bets, covering the most popular betting markets like Goals,
Corners, Bookings, First and Anytime Goalscorers…

We’ll be back tomorrow with a review of tonight’s action, as well
as previews for Wednesday night’s games…

Best wishes,

Matt Nesbitt
Champions League Service
www.ChampionsLeagueBet.co.uk