Wednesday Football Cheat Sheet: Best bets for Champions League and more

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  • 3:00 min read
Pep's men take a three goal lead to Munich

Get our experts' best bets for another big night in the Champions League as Man City try to book their place in the semi-finals in Munich and Inter host Benfica...


Bayern Munich v Man City: Back a 6/1 Bet Builder

Bayern 2.8415/8 v Man City 5.04/1, the Draw 4.03/1
20:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Tom Victor says: "While Bayern will be pushing for a win at the Allianz Arena, there is also a risk they push too hard and consign themselves to their heaviest ever European knockout defeat.

"That record stands at the 5-0 reverse suffered against Real Madrid in 2013-14, when Guardiola was Bayern's manager.

"That was just one of two occasions on which Bayern have lost both legs of a Champions League knockout game. The other instance was also against Real Madrid, in 2016-17, when a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Madrid side won 2-1 in Munich and 4-2 after extra-time at the Bernabeu.

"If the hosts are to get anything from the game, they may need Sané to be at his best against his former club.

"The German winger has 17 goal involvements in the Champions League since the start of last season, more than any other Bayern player, and he also scored two European knockout goals during his time under Guardiola at City."

Bayern to win or draw, Sané goal or assist & Haaland goal @

6.88

Bayern Munich v Man City: Sane fights back

Opta Stat: "Since the start of last season, Leroy Sane has more combined goals (10) and assists (7) in the UEFA Champions League than any other Bayern Munich player (17). Indeed, despite his side failing to score, Sane was directly involved in eight of Bayern's 12 shots in the first leg at the Etihad (five shots and three chances created). Four of his five shots also hit the target.

"Erling Haaland, meanwhile, has scored 11 UEFA Champions League goals for Man City this season, just one behind the season record for a Premier League player in the competition (Ruud can Nistelrooy, 12 in 2002-03 for Man Utd)."

Back Sane 2+ shots on target, Sane to score or assist & Haaland to score @

11/1

Inter Milan v Benfica: Don't lose faith in Mario

Inter 2.166/5 v Benfica 3.711/4, the Draw 3.6553/20
20:00
Live on BT Sport 2

Jamie Pacheco says: "The Opta stat that Benfica are unbeaten in their last six away matches in the Champions League and the theory they must surely improve on last week's performance probably makes a lay of Inter the best choice in the match odds...

"Joao Mario who has 17 league goals to go with six in nine matches in this competition, plus a decent record when it comes to assists, as well.

"He let us down last week in the 'to score or assist' market where he had a relatively quiet match. But at a bigger price of 9/5 this time, he deserves a chance to redeem himself."

Back Joao Mario to score or assist (9/5) + Benfica Double Chance @

3.62

Inter Milan v Benfica: Back a penalty

Opta Stat: "Since the beginning of the 2016-17 campaign, only Paris Saint-Germain (17) have given away more penalties in the UEFA Champions League than Benfica (13), giving away their third penalty of this campaign in the first leg.

"However, Benficahave netted five penalties in this season's competition alone."

Back a penalty to be awarded @

17/10

Blackburn v Coventry: Rovers to win again

Blackburn 2.588/5 v Coventry 2.982/1, the Draw 3.412/5
19:45

Jack Critchley says: "This is a huge match in the race for the top six. Blackburn are clinging onto the final play-off spot and there are several sides, including Coventry, breathing down their necks.

Rovers have embarked upon a four-match winless streak and have failed to find the net in three of those games. That statistic doesn't bode well for this encounter with the division's fourth best away defence.

Coventry have conceded less than a goal a game on their travels and they've kept five clean sheets in five of their last seven away trips. At the other end of the field, they've scored seven in their last three on the road, albeit against lesser opposition.

Back Coventry Draw No Bet @

11/10

Middlesbrough v Hull: Akpom backed to lead Boro charge

Middlesbrough 1.4740/85 v Hull 8.27/1, the Draw 4.94/1
20:00
Live on Sky Sports Football

Mark O'Haire says: "Matches between Middlesbrough and Hull have tended to be competitive affairs. Boro boast a slightly superior W10-D3-L8 head-to-head advantage this century and were 3-1 winners when the duo met back in November.

"The Teessiders have also claimed W7-D2-L1 when welcoming the Tigers to The Riverside in league action since 1990/91.

"Middlesbrough's hopes of automatic promotion faded following a run of just one league victory in five (W1-D2-L2). But Boro bounced back impressively on Friday to retain an excellent Riverside record (W12-D6-L3); under Michael Carrick's watch, the hosts have W9-D2-L1 here with their only reverse arriving against runaway league leaders Burnley."

Back Chuba Akpom to score @

2.08

Wednesday Football Tips: Go big on cards in 9/1 Swansea Bet Builder

Paul Higham says: "Swansea's fine run of form has just come a bit too late you imagine as they take a five-game unbeaten run into a game with Preston. Visiting North End may be in 10th but they're still just a point off the play-offs despite a dagger of a defeat against Millwall last time out.

"Russell Martin's Swans have kept three straight clean sheets at home - where they've only lost one of the last 20 games against Preston.

"Although Ryan Lowe's Preston have the fourth-best away record in the division, they've lost two of their last three and their only wins in the last seven have been against struggling QPR and Rotherham.

"Their need looks greater, but that need could see them tighten up while a free-flowing Swansea will play with a lot more freedom."

Back under 2.5 goals & both sides over 2.5 cards @

9/1

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