CL Best Bets – Tuesday
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
Group Table
The Banker: Inter Milan vs. Barcelona
Barcelona have been imperious so far in the Champions League, winning three games out of three. They have scored ten and conceded two in what looked like one of this year’s most competitive groups. A predictable 4-0 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven was followed up by a 4-2 masterclass away at Tottenham.
Their 2-0 win at home to Inter was pretty routine, although Inter did have their moments, and Ernesto Valverde’s side look value at odds against to virtually guarantee top spot in the group with a win.
This match is a repeat of the 2010 semi-final where Inter, then managed by Jose Mourinho, stunned Barcelona with a 3-1 win and a heroic 1-0 defeat with ten men to qualify for the final. But Inter, though they are improving, still lack experience in huge Champions League games like this.
After a sticky start to their league campaign, Barcelona have now won three on the spin, though they had to do it the hard way away to Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, winning 3-1.Barcelona look good value to win the Champions League this year, and they can continue their perfect start at the San Siro.
Best Bet: Barcelona to win at 11/10
Prediction: Inter 0-2 Barcelona
The Solid Bet: Napoli vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Tuesday night’s Champions League card includes two very attractively-priced outsiders. First up are Napoli, who face Paris Saint-Germain at the intimidating cauldron that is the Stadio San Paolo.
PSG appeared to have proven themselves as more than flat-track bullies, but their Champions League performances this year have led to huge concerns over whether they can qualify from this year’s most difficult group. They were outplayed in a 3-2 defeat at Anfield and were lucky to escape with a draw from their first fixture against Napoli.
Napoli were incredibly impressive against Liverpool, even though their winner came with almost the last kick of the game. They restricted Liverpool - who boast arguably the most cohesive front three in club football - to no shots on target.Napoli sit a point ahead of PSG in the group with Red Star Belgrade at home and Liverpool away to come. A draw would suit them better than PSG. And with Napoli’s new found defensive resilience under Carlo Ancelotti, it would be wise to keep the draw onside while still backing Napoli to get a good result.
Best Bet: Napoli Draw No Bet at 1/1
Prediction: Napoli 2-1 PSG
The Outsider: Atletico Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund are stealing a march on their rivals in the Bundesliga. They are unbeaten from their first ten games and sit four points ahead of Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Even more remarkable is their goals tally of 30.
They have continued this excellent form into the Champions League, and the 4/1 available about them to beat Atletico Madrid looks a standout price in the light of their 4-0 home win in the reverse fixture two weeks ago.
Atletico’s fabled defence, which has remained tight in La Liga, was ripped apart by Dortmund’s front four - and Dortmund will be blessed with the return of star striker Paco Alcacer for the trip to Madrid.
They sit three points clear of Atletico in Group A, and while a draw would be a very good result for the German side, it is simply not in Dortmund’s nature to defend.
Atletico looked vulnerable against similar calibre opposition to Dortmund last year in Europe - namely Arsenal, Chelsea and Roma, and there is nothing tempting about the 4/5 available on Diego Simeone’s side.
Best Bet: Borussia Dortmund to win at 4/1
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
The First Goalscorer: Tottenham vs. PSV Eindhoven
This is make-or-break game for Tottenham. Two defeats to Inter and Barcelona and an unlucky draw away to PSV Eindhoven has left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread. But should Barcelona beat Inter, a win in the reverse fixture against PSV could put Mauricio Pochettino’s side right back in the mix.
Tottenham have been defensive awful this year. Almost all of their goals conceded have come from individual errors, and this was the case away to Wolves at the weekend, where they conceded two penalties and almost threw away a 3-0 lead.
That game’s first goalscorer was Erik Lamela, who has thrived Christian Eriksen’s absence. He has notched five goals in his last nine games for Tottenham and looks by far the best value to score first at 13/2.
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 PSV Eindhoven
Best Bet: Erik Lamela to score first at 13/2
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