"A big home victory should be expected and odds-against about the hosts covering the -2 handicap looks perfectly fair."
Fresh from a winner on Tuesday, Andy Schooler picks out a 12/5 Bet Builder for Wednesday's Champions League clash between Inter Milan and Viktoria Plzen.
- Barella goal or assist in 7 of last 11
- Plzen lost 5-0 at Bayern & 5-1 at Barca
- 12/5 Bet Builder makes solid sense
A win here will take Inter through - and eliminate Barcelona.
The Italians are just 1/9 to get the three points and it's hard to see them stumbling.
Plzen have lost all four group games so far, conceding 16 goals in the process. The most worrying statistic for them ahead of this match is that 10 of those goals have come in away games - they've already lost 5-0 at Bayern Munich and 5-1 at Barca.
With Inter having won four and drawn one of their last five in all competition, scoring 12 times in those contests, a big home victory should be expected and odds-against about the hosts covering the -2 handicap looks perfectly fair.
I'll double that up with what looks the best bet of the night - Nicolo Barella to score or assist at 6/5.
The midfielder has managed this in seven of his last 11 games and now plays on home soil against one of the worst defences in the Champions League.
In fine form, I'm surprised he's odds-against to land this; I guess the one mitigating factor from layers' perspective is the chance he's replaced in the second half.
Still, I'm happy to play the double at around 12/5.
Other Bet Builder options include Lautaro Martinez to score, which would push the price up a bit. He's netted in his last three outings (four goals in total) and should relish facing this shaky rearguard.
For those seeking something much bigger, consider backing Martinez for a card.
He's already been booked twice in this competition so another here will see him banned for what looks highly likely to be a dead rubber on matchday six.
Neymar was in a similar situation on Tuesday night and duly got booked.
Is it that hard to see the notoriously narky Argentine getting involved with an opponent or trudging off rather too slowly when his number comes up in the second half?
Despite a lenient referee in Andreas Ekberg, 4/1 looks too big.
More Champions League tips: Every match previewed!