Champions League Betting Preview

Next time somebody tells you that first legs are always cagey and indecisive affairs, remind them of the quarter finals of this season’s Champions League. Every game swung firmly in one direction, so will this be the week of the extraordinary comeback? It will take something remarkable to stop Barcelona, Real Madrid or Schalke from progressing, and if Manchester United aren’t in the semis as well, more than a few eyebrows will be raised.

If we start on Tuesday with the most plausible turnaround we’ll see that Chelsea are a best price of 13/5 to qualify as they head to Old Trafford facing a one goal deficit. United are nothing longer than 1/3 but an early Chelsea away goal would change all that. It would take more than a single strike to set off alarm bells in Catalan with Barcelona taking a 5-1 lead over to Shakhtar. The Ukranians are 66/1 to pretty much cause the shock of all time while the Spanish champions are nothing longer than 1/200 to progress.

Comparatively Tottenham have a great chance to over-turn a 4-0 lead at home to Madrid at just 50/1! This time the Spaniards are 1/100 to make the final four but the bookies think it could go either way on Wednesday night. Mourinho’s side are 13/8 to win again while Harry Redknapp could at least have a 90 minute triumph at 9/5.

Curiously, defending champions Inter are ‘only’ 22/1 to stay in the competition despite needing to score at least four times in Germany, trailing as they do 2-5. If Schalke are insulted at still being underdogs at home after their performance at the San Siro, then they can inflict another defeat at odds of 17/10. The Nerazzuri are a best price of 13/8 to exact some revenge with an away win on the night.