Rob Eddy’s selections for this week’s Champions League ties include a win for PSG at home to Liverpool and a goalscorer in the Madrid derby.
The first legs of the Champions League last-16 ties take place across Tuesday and Wednesday this week as the battle for Europe’s top prize heats up.
A Madrid derby and a clash between two of Germany’s heavyweights, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, are obvious highlights – alongside a match-up between two of Europe’s form teams as Liverpool travel to Paris Saint-Germain.
We’ve picked out four football betting tips to consider ahead of the action.
Champions League tips
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Julian Alvarez to score anytime 13/5
Borussia Dortmund v Lille: Dortmund to win and both teams to score 12/5
Bayer Leverkusen to win or draw v Bayern Munich 13/8
PSG to beat Liverpool 11/8
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid make the short trip to the Bernabeu as clear underdogs but they haven’t lost in normal time to their city rivals since 2022, a run stretching eight games, and they should provide their hosts with a stern test on Tuesday.
Backing Atleti in the double chance market is an obvious option, but the best bet could be an anytime effort from in-form visiting striker Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez has scored four goals in his last three games and has been effective in Europe this term with six strikes in eight appearances. The Argentina international scored from the spot when these sides met at this venue in a 1-1 La Liga draw earlier this month, and he can trouble the Los Blancos backline once again on Tuesday.
Borussia Dortmund v Lille
Borussia Dortmund reached the Champions League final last season, losing out to Real Madrid, and while matching that this term looks a big ask they should be able to overcome Lille in the last 16.
BVB are the far more experienced side in this competition and can make the most of home advantage in the first leg. Dortmund won three of their four home games in the league phase, with their one loss coming against Barcelona, and they are facing a Lille outfit who have struggled on the road of late.
Les Dogues have recorded just two wins in normal time in their last nine away games and have lost three of their last four. Lille have at least scored in their last five away fixtures, however, so backing the hosts to both win and concede appeals.
Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen head to Bayern Munich for a mouth-watering all-Bundesliga tie on Wednesday and backing the visitors to avoid defeat looks the best option.
Bayer boss Xabi Alonso is unbeaten in six as a manager against Bayern, who he represented during his playing days, and he can extend that streak to seven. The visitors are unbeaten in eight overall and have played twice at this ground already this season, drawing in the league and winning in the DfB Pokal.
PSG v Liverpool
Liverpool should be fancied to beat PSG over the course of two legs but they may need an Anfield comeback to reach the quarter-finals.
PSG have won their last 10 games across all competitions and have only lost once at home all season, with six wins in their last seven at the Parc des Princes.
Liverpool have only won three of their last nine away from home across all competitions, with three defeats in that run, and the Reds look vulnerable against an in-form PSG side.