Midweek tips: PSG v Real, Sporting v Man City...

We're back with tips for the midweek Champions League games, featuring PSG vs Real Madrid, Sporting vs Manchester City, and RB Salzburg v Bayern Munich, plus Borussia Dortmund vs Rangers in the Europa League.

The Nap

Paris Saint-Germain signed Lionel Messi in the biggest transfer deal of last summer with the clear view that the Argentinian legend could finally help them win the Champions League their owners and fans so desperately desire. Mauricio Pochettino’s men are 13 points clear at the top of their domestic league, so with another Ligue 1 title seemingly a done deal all eyes will be on Le Parc des Princes on Tuesday as 13-time European champions Real Madrid roll into town.

PSG failed to win on the road in the group phase, but their home form has been outstanding and they look a fair bet at even money to beat Los Blancos in Tuesday’s Last 16 Champions League glamour tie. Carlo Ancelotti’s men could only manage a 0-0 draw with Villarreal at the weekend and truth be known their away form has not been great this season.

Much will depend here if Mauricio Pochettino can sort out PSG’s defensive flaws over two legs, but the Spanish giants are over-reliant on an ageing midfield these days and could struggle in Paris. The home win is even money with several firms and looks a play under the circumstances, especially if Messi and Kylian Mbappe are in the mood.

The Nap – PSG to win at evens (Coral/Hills/Skybet)

 

Value Tip

Manchester City are away and clear again in the Premier League once again, but the prize Pep Guardiola most wants under lock and key in the Etihad trophy cabinet is a Champions League. The bookies make them favourites once again to win the competition this season, and they have been handed a favourable last-16 draw against Sporting. 

After a tricky group in which they finished above both PSG and RB Leipzig, this should be a formality against a Portuguese side who lost half of their six group stage matches but still managed to progress. 

Raheem Sterling grabbed the headlines with a ‘perfect’ hat-trick against Norwich City on Saturday, but a City player who usually flies under the radar could be the man to back to score first at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Ilkay Gundogan is a midfield workhorse who has scored some crucial goals for the Citizens in the last couple of seasons. Indeed, Gundogan has emerged as a key figure in Guardiola's 'striker-less' attack in recent times, and he looks a shout at 7/1 to notch first against a Sporting side who are not great defensively.

Value Tip – Gundogan to score first at 7/1 (Betfair/Paddy Power)

 

First Goal Flutter

As usual, Bayern are bossing things in the Bundesliga, but they’ve been just as dominant in the Champions League this season, sauntering through the group stage after winning six out of six and scoring 22 goals during that run. Under Julian Nagelsmann they play with as high a line and are second favourites (behind Man City) to win the tournament.

Robert Lewandowski is their main man up top and if they can keep him fit, they are obviously going to take some stopping this season. Salzburg gave Liverpool a real argument a couple of seasons ago (drawing 2-2 in Austria and losing 4-3 at Anfield), but they have not been as free-flowing under current boss Matthias Jaissle and look right up against it here.
 

It’s not the most imaginative pick, but 11/5 on Lewandowski to score first, against a very average RB Salzburg side, is sat up screaming to be backed. Bayern’s goal machine is odds-on to top the Champions League scoring charts this season after hitting nine goals in the group stages and he can hit double figures by putting Salzburg to the sword on Wednesday.

First Goal Flutter – Lewandowski to score first at 11/5 (Unibet)

 

The Euro Banker

Borussia Dortmund games have been must-see spectacles this season, with the German heavyweights leaking goals at one end and scoring for fun at the other. They are in Europa League playoff action this Thursday against Rangers, and the bookies see them as piping hot favourites to get the win.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men have been a bit erratic in recent weeks, and are now second in the SPL title race following a 3-0 reverse against Celtic on February 2. They have enjoyed some special European nights down the years but most of these have come at Ibrox and they look right up against it in Germany, even though this isn’t the greatest Dortmund side in living memory.

BVB trail Bayern Munich by nine points in the Bundesliga, and are already out of the Champions League and the German Cup. With this in mind though, they will surely see the Europa League as their only shot at silverware this season so Marco Rose should have his troops up for this.

Odds of 1/3 about an away win in the 1x2 market look plenty short, so a better shout is backing Dortmund to win and both teams to score at a standout 15/8.

The Euro Banker – Borussia Dortmund to win and both teams to score at 15/8 (bet365/Betfred/Skybet)