Will Real Madrid move one step closer to defending their title? Will Tottenham make a push for their first Champions League title? Will Manchester City’s form continue? Will Liverpool’s dominance continue into the next round? Could Gigi Buffon win his first Champions League title with Juventus? These are some of the burning questions facing the teams in the first batch of second leg games in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Reputable and legally sanctioned soccer betting sites host multiple options for wagering on these games, but before you place your final bets, check out our preview of the first few games.
PSG will be hosting Real Madrid in the second leg. Los Blancos are up 3-1 on aggregate, though the Parisians have an away goal that could prove vital. Unfortunately for PSG, they will be without their star player, Neymar. Still, they have a loaded roster that can carry the weight, but Neymar’s presence will be missed on the pitch. If Real Madrid manage to score a goal in this game, PSG’s fate will likely be sealed. Defenders will be need to be wary while in the box, so as to avoid giving any careless penalties away. If they can shut down Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Isco and Marco Asensio, they could advance, but that is no easy task. PSG are up against the wall here, which is disappointing given the hype surrounding the team at the beginning of the season. Oddsmakers are split on this one, but we see Real pulling off the victory.
Liverpool will be hosting Porto at Anfield and they have a comfortable 5-0 lead to sit on. 5 away goals is more than enough to put a team to bed, so Liverpool’s main concern should be avoiding injuries and working on their defense. They shouldn’t brush off Porto, but it is highly unlikely they will concede 5 goals at home. Jurgen Klopp’s men should coast into the next round with ease.
Tottenham hosts Juventus in their second leg. The first match in Turin was an exciting fixture that ended 2-2. Those away goals for the Spurs will come in handy, but Tottenham’s defense will need to be strong in order to make them count. If they can concede any away goals, the Spurs’ Champions League aspirations may be snuffed out. Tottenham have been on the verge of breaking through, and this is their opportunity to finally make it through. Juventus have gotten closer than Tottenham, though legendary goalkeeper Gigi Buffon has yet to win a Champions League trophy. He may be retiring soon, so this may be his last chance to bring the trophy home. Juventus has some quality players in Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Mario Mandzukic among others. This game should be extremely competitive. Sportsbooks have the Spurs as winning, which may come as a surprise to some, but their form has been solid in recent games.
Manchester City is looking to continue their dominant run with a victory at home over FC Basel. They scored 4 away goals in the first leg and have been playing phenomenally in the English Premier League. Some oddsmakers have them winning the Champions League altogether, which is what the club set out to do when they brought in Manager Pep Guardiola, but this is the first year they actually look like they have a shot. This game will likely be a cakewalk, so betting on them to win is a safe wager.
Fans in the United States can find US friendly soccer betting options through licensed offshore sportsbooks. These sites allow you to bet on each game (whether on the point spread or over/under on goals) as well as make prop bets. Check out the sportsbooks to see which wagers are available for the upcoming games.