UEFA Champions League: Last-Sixteen

UEFA Champions League – Last-Sixteen

Tuesday, 23^rd February, 2010

19:45 GMT – Olympiakos V Bordeaux

19:45 GMT – VFB Stuttgart V Barcelona

Wednesday, 24^th February, 2010

17:30 GMT – CSKA Moscow V Sevilla

19:45 GMT – Inter Milan V Chelsea

Matt’s Selections

Olympiakos V Bordeaux – Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.57 Boylesports

We don’t think an awful lot will separate the two come the final whistle in a game which could quite easily dwindle into a stalemate. Olympiakos will look to score goals as they need to make home advantage count, but their opponents won’t want to concede very many, if any, and will instead set up in a more conservative manner, with the aim being to keep a clean sheet and possibly nicking a goal on the counter. If Olympiakos do land the first blow then Bordeaux will need to come out of their defensive shell, which is a concern for us if the Greek side do get their goal early on. However, if the French side take the lead then they are more than capable of sitting on a one goal advantage and consolidating. This doesn’t have the makings of a classic, nor does it shape up as an open contest, so a small wager on there being no more than two goals could be worthwhile.

VFB Stuttgart V Barcelona – Over 2.5 Goals @1.80 Gamebookers

These two sides will play on the front foot in Germany and it could provide us with a thrilling encounter at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart. The home side know the importance of getting a result in Germany but ideally know they have to win in order to stand any chance of causing a shock by progressing to the next stage of the competition. Barcelona will go in search of a crucial away goal, one that could perhaps be a killer, so we expect nothing less than some swift attacking play from them. Both these two sides were enjoying themselves in front of goal at the weekend and we’re banking on there being more of the same as we plump for 3 Goals or More.

CSKA Moscow V Sevilla – Sevilla to Score 2 Goals or More @ 2.62 PaddyPower

With the Russian side looking to score as many as possible in order to enhance their chances of bypassing this tough last-sixteen tie, with a trip to Sevilla just around the corner, they could be left exposed at the back if they do commit too many men forward. They have to win, anything but would leave them vulnerable for an early knock-out  stage exit as Sevilla should win comfortably back in Spain, so the pressure is on CSKA to ask questions of the Sevilla defence, one which hasn’t kept an away clean sheet in the competition as of yet, but will they push their luck when trying to do so? Well, we certainly think so as Sevilla are the masters at tearing away from defence and scoring with a quick-fire counter. The break at a considerable pace and have the talent up front to finish off their accelerated breakaways, with the likes of Kanoute, Negredo & Fabiano poised and waiting up front to prod home. Sevilla’s slick counter-attacking style looks destined to expose a ragged CSKA defence in Moscow, providing they warm up beforehand as the conditions will be cold.

Inter Milan V Chelsea – Didier Drogba to Score Anytime @ 3.20 Coral

The Ivorian has been the stand out player for Chelsea this season, scoring goals a plenty whilst scaring the living daylights out of every single defence that has dared to oppose him. Drogba is enjoying arguably his best spell at the club and can’t stop scoring of late and has notched up four goals since returning from Africa, with his two at the weekend sending Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premiership and boosting his self-belief and confidence even further. He’s a player currently on top of his game, at his peak despite reaching his thirties, and from a punters point of view we’d rather have money on him then not as he seems to score in just about every game he features in for Chelsea this season.