Champions League Last 16: Expert Betting Tips
The Champions League returns this week, with the first batch of last-16 games taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday sees RB Leipzig host injury-hit Real Madrid, while Manchester City travel to FC Copenhagen.
Then on Wednesday, Bayern Munich will look to bounce back from a tough weekend when they face Lazio in Rome and Real Sociedad will aim to be the latest side to upset Paris Saint-Germain when they travel to the Parc des Princes.
Tip 1 - RB Leipzig's Lois Openda to score against Real Madrid @ 31/20
Real Madrid took a big step towards winning the La Liga title with Saturday's 4-0 win over Girona but did not come through that game unscathed, with Jude Bellingham, who scored twice, twisting an ankle.
Bellingham will miss Tuesday's trip to RB Leipzig and Die Bullen will be confident of troubling the record 14-times winners, with Real also without key defenders Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and David Alaba.
Die Bullen finished second behind Manchester City in Group G but pushed the Citizens hard, with forward Lois Openda netting three times across their two meetings.
Openda has scored in his team's last four games and has the pace and skill to test a makeshift Real rearguard.
Tip 2 - Manchester City to beat Copenhagen and both teams to score @ 41/20
Holders Manchester City cruised through Group G but, while usually in control, did show vulnerability by conceding in all three away games.
They have kept just two clean sheets away from home in the league this season and Copenhagen have the talent to test them.
The Lions beat Manchester United on their way to progressing from Group A, but the scheduling of this game works against them, with the Lions still in the Danish Superliga's winter break.
That division resumes this weekend and they have recently been getting minutes in the legs by playing in the mid-season friendly tournament, the Atlantic Cup, in the Algarve.
After scoring against Bayern Munich, United and Galatasaray during the pool stages, impressive young coach Jacob Neestrup will fancy his side to grab a goal, but City's class should pull them through.
Tip 3 - Bayern Munich to beat Lazio and over 2.5 goals in the game @ 27/20
Lazio could be on the end of a backlash when Bayern Munich visit the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
Saturday saw Thomas Tuchel's side beaten 3-0 by Bayer Leverkusen to slip to five points behind Die Werkself in the Bundesliga title race and some tough talk from their senior pros after that game hints that they will be a lot better in Rome.
Lazio beat Cagliari 3-1 on Saturday, the third game in their last four in all competitions to have featured over 2.5 goals.
That tally has also been achieved in Bayern's last three and they also have Harry Kane to call upon.
The English striker netted four times during the pool stages to help his side top Group A, while Lazio were runners-up to Atletico Madrid in Group E and could again be second best in this tie.
Bayern were terrible on Saturday but they should be able to come through their first-leg tie against I Biancocelesti.
Tip 4 - Real Sociedad Double Chance against Paris Saint-Germain @ 5/4
Real Sociedad could be a surprise package in this season's Champions League and face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16.
With the Ligue 1 title all but wrapped up, Luis Enrique's side can target a good run in Europe.
They finished second to Borussia Dortmund in Group F and look to have got a favourable draw against Sociedad.
PSG have failed to make it past the first knockout round since reaching the semi-finals in 2020-21. Admittedly, they often get the toughest draw possible, but will feel the tables have turned after being paired with La Real.
Sociedad have failed to win any of their last four in all competitions, but edged last season's beaten finalists Inter Milan to take top spot in Group D.
Although significant underdogs both on the night and to progress, Imanol Alguacil's side know how to execute a game plan and they could prove awkward visitors to the the Parc des Princes.
