CL Best Bets – Tuesday
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals - First Legs
Tuesday, Apr. 9
Games scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET
Liverpool vs. FC Porto
Liverpool pulled out the perfect draw in the Champions League quarter-finals to keep their quest for a European and domestic double going. They beat FC Porto 5-0 away from home in last year’s last 16 and they are hot favourites to progress to the semi-finals this time around.
The Reds did all the work away from home last year, and [...]s make them 2/7 favourites to win at Anfield here.
Porto came through by far the softest group in this year’s competition, and although they edged past a talented Roma side in the last 16, it is hard to see how they can come through this tie.However Liverpool have been squeaking through recent matches. They needed a penalty to beat lowly Fulham, were fortunate to beat Tottenham and had to wait late to win at Southampton. All that suggests that a relatively low-scoring game is likely, albeit with Liverpool triumphing.
Jurgen Klopp’s men managed to keep Bayern Munich at arm’s length for most of their tie, and they will know that a solid win to nil should get them through here. And at 10/11, that looks a fair price.
Tip: Liverpool to win to nil at 10/11
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 FC Porto
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City
Manchester City crumbled at this stage of the Champions League last season as Liverpool blew them away at Anfield with a 3-0 first leg win. And although City are a season more experienced and are facing a less talented side, it would take a brave man to take Pep Guardiola’s team at 10/11 to win at Tottenham.
It seems strange to say it, but if this game was being played at Wembley, you would be a lot more confident about City. But Tottenham, having endured nearly two years away from North London, are playing only their second ever match at the redeveloped White Hart Lane, and the general good feeling engendered from that could make this match a lot harder for City.
City are the best team in England and are rightful favourites for the Champions League, but they will approach this game differently from how they would approach a league match at Tottenham. If the scores are level late, particularly if it is a score draw, City will happily play safely and take the result; in a league game, they would push on and try to win the match.
Their recent matches have been relatively low-scoring, with most of City’s goals coming in the first half as they conserve energy for what will surely be a draining run-in. At 14/5 a draw looks a really big price here.
Tip: Draw at 14/5
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Manchester City
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