Champions League Wednesday tips
There are four more Champions League round of 16 second-leg matches to be played on Wednesday with three Premier League teams in action.
Two of last Tuesday’s Champions League first legs resulted in hammerings while the other two have left their ties hanging in the balance, meaning plenty of drama should unfold in Wednesday’s return legs.
Tottenham were hammered 5-2 by Atletico Madrid in the shock result on the coupon but Bayern Munich went one better than Atleti, completely demolishing Atalanta to take a 6-1 lead back to Bavaria.
Elsewhere, Liverpool fell to a 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray for the second time this season and Barcelona salvaged a draw late on against Newcastle.
More twists and turns could be on the way and we have put together a Wednesday-night Champions League acca which pays 10/1.
Wednesday Champions League accumulator tips
- Barcelona to beat Newcastle @ 4/7
- Over 1.5 Atalanta goals vs Bayern Munich @ 2/1
- Liverpool to qualify vs Galatasaray @ 1/3
- Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals in Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid @ 7/8
Acca pays at 10/1
Brilliant Barca can sweep aside plucky Magpies
Lamine Yamal’s 96th-minute penalty spared Barcelona’s blushes at St James’ Park last week but it seems extremely likely Newcastle will be kicking themselves for not taking their earlier chances on home soil come full-time at the Nou Camp.
Barca have been sensational at home this season, winning 18 of their 19 matches and only losing to European champions PSG. That home advantage should bring about an improved performance from Hansi Flick’s men and it is hard to see Eddie Howe’s Magpies enjoying their trip to Catalonia.
Wednesday’s hosts warmed up for this return leg with a 5-2 rout of Sevilla and the form of Yamal, Pedri and Sunday’s hat-trick hero Raphinha makes them hard to oppose.
Leg 1: Barcelona to beat Newcastle @ 4/7
Expect a gung-ho Atalanta approach in Bavaria
Last Tuesday’s 6-1 bruising means Atalanta boss Raffaele Palladino has no choice but to go on all-out attack in Munich on Wednesday.
A fair few Atalanta players will be used to that after years of playing under Gian Piero Gasperini and the quality of Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere in particular means they have the outlets to rack up the goals in Bavaria.
Vincent Kompany knows the job is all but finished and may well rest players for this second leg. Add in that Bayern Munich’s three senior goalkeepers are all struggling with injuries and a 16-year-old Leonard Prescott may start between the sticks and the foundations are there for Atalanta to bag a couple of goals.
Leg 2: Over 1.5 Atalanta goals vs Bayern Munich @ 2/1
Liverpool likely to book quarter-final spot
Having won the first leg 1-0 and also prevailing by the same scoreline during the league phase, Galatasaray are proving to be a bogey team for Liverpool.
However, the Reds’ superior quality should finally shine through at Anfield, where they have beaten a resurgent West Ham 5-2 and in-form Newcastle 4-1 during a run of four wins in six home outings.
The importance of atmosphere cannot be overstated and it is no coincidence that Gala’s two wins over Liverpool came at their cauldron-like RAMS Park home.
It is a different story on the road for the Turkish giants, who have lost 20 of their last 25 Champions League away games and look set to miss out on the quarter-finals.
Leg 3: Liverpool to qualify vs Galatasaray @ 1/3
Capital clash could provide plenty of goals
A frantic affair full of mistakes meant Tottenham and Atletico Madrid’s first leg produced seven goals and while the return fixture in north London may not be quite as chaotic, a high-scoring affair is again on the cards.
Spurs have seen both teams score in each of their last six games, with six of those featuring at least three goals, while Atleti are still searching for a first Champions League clean sheet of the season, having gone 11 matches without one.
Defending is neither of these sides’ strong suit – somewhat surprisingly given Atletico are managed by Diego Simeone – and Tottenham’s need to go on the front foot should lead to another exciting clash.
Leg 4: Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals in Tottenham vs Atletico Madrid @ 7/8
