Andy's Wednesday tips - Chelsea to nick it

The toughest of the four Champions League quarter-final matches to call headlines Wednesday night's action. Here's what I'm backing at Stamford Bridge and the Camp Nou...

Chelsea v Manchester United

A lot of neutrals don't like the idea of two teams from the same country facing each other in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. It's the old argument: they know each other so well from playing one another domestically that these games often tend to be rather monotonous and predictable affairs.

Personally, I don't agree with that at all. Firstly, the beauty of the draw at this stage of the competition is that it's pot luck and you can be pitted against anyone. That's why we all love the FA Cup so much.

And secondly, the Champions League, with its two-legged format, has its own unique nuances. The way the two managers approach the game is totally different to a one-off cup tie or a league match with the away goal all-important, especially in the first leg.

Back to the game though and I have to say it's the hardest of any to call in a long time. Regular readers of my column will have heard me going on about how Manchester United have somehow managed to win matches without playing that well and on occasions have actually downright ridden their luck.

The non-sendings-off of Gary Neville (at both Stoke and West Brom) and then again last Saturday when many thought Nemanja Vidic should have taken an early bath are proof of that. They say you make your own luck though and if there's one thing Manchester United have done well, it's capitalise on any sort of opening their opponents have given them. You have to suspect, however, that Chelsea won't be so charitable.

The Blues' big-name transfer in January was of course Fernando Torres but few would argue the former Liverpool man has had anywhere near the same impact as David Luiz has. Sadly for Chelsea, the Brazilian defender is cup-tied and Carlo Ancelotti will have to make do without the outstanding player Premier League player over the last month.

It's anyone's guess as to who Ancelotti will play up front in this match but the way things have been going, I'm not sure too many people would be surprised if Torres was the one who missed out.

This really is a toss of the coin as to who will go through but as I often say, the bigger the game, the more home advantage counts and I'm backing Chelsea to take a narrow lead into the second leg. Will it be enough? We'll have to wait and see!

Recommended Bets:
Back Chelsea to win at [2.2]
Back Chelsea to win 1-0 at [7.4]
Back under 2.5 goals at [1.67]

Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk

In some ways, it's a shame that Barcelona are at home in the first leg for this one. If it had been the other way round, I would have fancied Shakhtar to have taken a narrow lead and put Barcelona under pressure.

We know Pep Guardiola's side turned round a deficit in the previous round against Arsenal but there are many unknowns about the Ukrainian side and it would have made for an interesting spectacle.

But with the first leg in Spain, I can't see the visitors doing to Barca what they did to Roma and you've got to side with the great entertainers to put on another exhibition of ball retention, slick passing and attacking football. I really can't see past a comfortable home win.

Recommended Bets:
Back Barcelona to win 2-0 at [7.2]
Back Pedro to score at anytime at [2.7] or better

Andy Gray is now on Twitter so follow him for his exclusive tips and his take on the biggest stories in football each week.

Published: 6 Apr 2011

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