After last night's games we now know the 16 teams that have made it
through to the knock out stages. But there are still a few matters
to be resolved regarding who will be finishing top of each Group
and who will be playing in the UEFA Cup in the New Year.

Let's get straight on with our recommended bets for tonight's
games...

Celtic v Villarreal

7.45pm, live on Sky Sports Extra
Ref: Claudio Circhetta

Standings

Celtic are already out of this season's competition and can't
qualify for the UEFA Cup either. Opponents Villarreal have
qualified for the knockout stages and will be looking for a win
that could give them top spot if Manchester United fail to beat
Aalborg.

Bookings Points

Celtic's home Bookings Points averages this season are 10.0 For and
22.5 Against.

Villarreal have higher stats in comparison. They average 30.0
Bookings Points For and 10.0 Against. (All of the figures are
available at your website).

In both of Celtic's home games in the Champions League this season
their Opponents have received the Most Bookings Points.
Alternatively in both of Villarreal's away games they have received
the Most Bookings Points.

Manchester United v Aalborg

7.45pm, live on Sky Sports 1
Ref: Laurent Duhamel

Standings

Manchester United have already qualified for the knockout stages.
They will secure top spot in the group if they match Villarreal's
result against Celtic. Aalborg are in 3rd and have qualified for
UEFA Cup.

Match Result

Manchester United drew their first game at home to Villarreal 0-0
and beat Celtic 3-0 - they are yet to concede a goal at Old
Trafford in this year' competition.

Last season Manchester United won all 6 of their home games in the
Champions League. In 5 out of the 6 games, they won without
conceding a goal.

Man Utd are just 1/5 (1.20) to win against Aalborg tonight. But
considering their ability to keep clean sheets at Old Trafford,
backing them 'To Win With A Clean Sheet' at 20/23 (1.87) is much
better value.

Also available - backing Man Utd 'To Win To Nil' is the same bet as
the one above. This is available at 4/5 (1.80) with Ladbrokes and
Paddy Power.

You can find the best odds on any market for the Man Utd v Aalborg
game here:

http://odds.sportsbettingxtra.co.uk/football/champions-league/

Lyon v Bayern Munich

7.45pm live on Sky Sports Extra
Ref: Howard Webb

Standings

Both of these teams have already qualified for the knockout stages.
A win for either side would put them through as group winners. If
it's a goalless draw Lyon go through as winners, if it's a score
draw Bayern qualify as group winners.

First Goal

Lyon and Bayern Munich's stats indicate that we are likely to see
an early goal in tonight's match.

In 4 out of 5 of Lyon's Champions League games the First Goal has
come Before 27th minute...

Lyon v Fiorentina - 11 minutes
Bayern Munich v Lyon - 25 minutes
Steaua Bucharest v Lyon - 8 minutes
Lyon v Steaua Bucharest - 44 minutes
Fiorentina v Lyon - 15 minutes

In 4 out of 5 of Bayern Munich's Champions League games the First
Goal has come Before 27th minute...

Steaua Bucharest v Bayern - 15 minutes
Bayern v Lyon - 25 minutes
Bayern v Fiorentina - 4 minutes
Fiorentina v Bayern - 10 minutes
Bayern v Steaua Bucharest - 57 minutes

There was an 'early goal' in all 3 of Lyon's home group games last
season, too.

Real Madrid v Zenit St Petersburg

7.45pm live on Sky Sports Extra
Ref: Jones Eriksson

Standings

Real Madrid have already qualified for the knockout stages but will
be looking to go through as group winners if they win and Juventus
lose to Bate. Zenit are assured of a place in the UEFA Cup.

First Card

In both of the games that Real Madrid have played at home in this
season's competition their Opponents have received the First Card.
In both of Zenit's away games they have received the First Card.

In fact in 4 out of 5 of Real Madrid's group games their Opponents
have received the First Card. And in 4 out of 5 of Zenit's games
they have received the First Card. Zenit picked up the First Card
in their previous encounter in the group stages.

And finally, a look at the best teams to follow in the 'win lose or
draw' markets this evening...

4 teams to follow tonight - at 4/1...

As we mentioned in our results email this morning, there are some
teams with 'nothing to play for' tonight. Aalborg, Celtic, Zenit St
Petersburg and BATE Borisov are all out of the Champions League
already, and can't finish any higher or lower in their Group than
their current positions.

All 4 of those teams are up against sides that still have good
reason to go for the win tonight...

Man Utd and Juventus know that home wins tonight will guarantee
them 1st place in their Groups. And Villarreal and Real Madrid will
know they need to win to have a chance of landing top-spot. All 4
teams are already qualified, but coming top of your Group means a
'favourable' draw in the next round.

It's not often that we point out accumulator bets - but if ever
there was a good time to do so in the Group stages, tonight's the
night.

Backing all 4 teams to win pay outs at 10/1 with Bet365 and around
9/1 with most bookies...

Man Utd to beat Aalborg
Villarreal to beat Celtic
Juventus to beat BATE Borisov
Real Madrid to beat Zenit

OR

The 'safer' option would be to back Villarreal (who are playing
away) and Real Madrid (who are missing players) in the 'Draw No
Bet' market. If they draw their games, those selections will be
'void' from your acca.

This pays out at over 4/1 with Bet365 and Stan James...

Man Utd to beat Aalborg
Juventus to beat BATE Borisov
Villarreal 'Draw No Bet' to beat Celtic
Real Madrid 'Draw No Bet' to beat Zenit

Having a bet? You can find the bookies with best odds on the Match
Result and Draw No Bet markets here:

http://odds.sportsbettingxtra.co.uk/football/champions-league/matches/

Best of luck!

Here's a summary of our recommended bets for tonight's games.

TONIGHT'S RECOMMENDED BETS

Wednesday 10th December 2008

Celtic v Villarreal

• Villarreal to win the 'Bookings Points Match Bet' @ 23/20
  with Blue Square

Manchester United v Aalborg

• Man Utd 'To Win With A Clean Sheet' @ 20/23 with Boylesports

Lyon v Bayern Munich

• First Goal to be scored 'Before or During 27th minute' @
  11/10 with Boylesports

Real Madrid v Zenit St Petersburg

• Zenit St Petersburg to receive the 'First Card'

You can view the full fixture list for tonight's games at our
Champions League Profit Service website (alongside the Scoreboard
on the homepage). From 7.45pm tonight - when all the games kick off
- the Scoreboard will go LIVE with all the match stats for every
game updating minute-by-minute.

www.ChampionsLeagueBet.co.uk

Password: *******

I'll write to you again in the morning with all the results from
our recommended bets for tonight's games...