Champions League Tips

This number is influenced by perception and pedigree. Boston looks like the obvious side after a 32-point Game One win. Playoff Game Twos tend to tighten as the losing team adjusts and plays with urgency. Boston’s style doesn’t always translate to repeated blowouts, and backing them at this number wreaks of an overlay. When a favorite feels this easy, it usually isn’t. The value lies with the Sixers catching the points.

The San Antonio Spurs dominated Game 1 behind Victor Wembanyama, covering the spread, but the Portland Trail Blazers showed enough to suggest improvement. With the line dropping slightly and Portland capable of adjusting, this sets up as a closer Game 2. San Antonio should still control the series, but the Blazers can keep it competitive.

Kevin Durant is expected back in the line-up after missing the series opener. Without him, the Rockets’ offense really struggled, but all that changes as he returns. The Lakers shot 61% from the field in Game 1 while getting outrebounded and committing 5 more turnovers. Surely that’s not sustainable in the long run? I’ll take Houston to cover and even things out on Tuesday.

Kevin Durant is expected back in the line-up after missing the series opener. Without him, the Rockets’ offense really struggled, but all that changes as he returns. The Lakers shot 61% from the field in Game 1 while getting outrebounded and committing 5 more turnovers. Surely that’s not sustainable in the long run? I’ll take Houston to cover and even things out on Tuesday.

Libertad are winless in their last six games and have drawn their last two at home, so they may struggle to live up to their favouritism against a Guayaquil City side that have lost just one of their last six.

Libertad are winless in their last six games and have drawn their last two at home, so they may struggle to live up to their favouritism against a Guayaquil City side that have lost just one of their last six.

Bolivar have scored seven and conceded two in their opening two league games this season and another high-scoring game is on the cards against an Independiente side that have seen three or more goals in both fixtures this season.

Sporting San Jose have lost three of their last four games and each of their last two at home, while underdogs Liberia are on a three-game winning streak and have only lost one of their last five away games.

Cartagines have won three of their four home games this season and should have the beating of San Carlos, who have lost five of their last six games and each of their last three on the road.

Sporting San Jose have lost three of their last four games and each of their last two at home, while underdogs Liberia are on a three-game winning streak and have only lost one of their last five away games.

Wrexham have conceded in seven of their last nine Championship trips, and they’ve conceded 25 times across their 21 trips in this campaign. Oxford have yet to lose at home to a side in the top eight, with six of those seven encounters seeing both teams score.

With promotion confirmed, the nerves which saw Coventry draw three straight games should be lifted. The Sky Blues can play with a swagger as they look to secure the title. Portsmouth have won three straight to secure their second-tier status, and they can build on scoring in seven consecutive away games.

Alaves have seen both teams score in seven of their last eight games, which includes netting three goals against seventh-placed Real Sociedad and four at sixth-placed Celta Vigo. They can trouble a Real side that has conceded in eight straight La Liga matches.

Toulouse have conceded 21 goals across their six defeats to the top three in Ligue 1, but they’ve got solid underlying numbers going forward. The visitors have seen BTTS land in all of their visits to Ligue 1’s top five.

Inter Milan scored four times in both league meetings between the sides this season, and they’ve won four of their last five encounters with Como. The visitors have suffered back-to-back Serie A defeats, but they can score a consolation goal against an Inter side that has seen BTTS land in four of their last five.

Alaves are unbeaten in four, drawing three of those, while they’ve netted at least twice in four of their last five matches. Real have dropped points in consecutive La Liga matches, and they could fall short with their title hopes looking remote.

Oxford are unbeaten at home to the Championship’s top eight, and they have drawn four of those seven meetings. Both teams have scored in each of those draws, including two which finished 1-1. No top-half side has shared more draws than Wrexham (13), and seven of those have finished 1-1.

Chelsea have failed to score in five of their last seven games, losing each of them, and they face a Brighton side that have scored exactly two goals in each of their last three fixtures.

Welbeck has six career goals against Chelsea, boosted by a brace in Brighton’s win in September. The forward has scored seven of his 12 goals this term at the Amex, and he has found the net in two of his last three appearances at home.

Windass has scored a team-high seven away goals this season, and he can continue his fine form on Tuesday. Windass has scored in four of his last five games for Wrexham, and he’s backed to find the net at Oxford.

Valverde has scored in his previous four league games for Real, while he scored a hat-trick against Man City last month, along with netting for Uruguay at Wembley.

Marcus Thuram scored for France in the international break, and since then, he’s scored in three straight appearances for Inter. That includes a brace against Como, and the striker has struck in both Serie A meetings between the sides this term. Thuram also found the net in last season’s home win over Como, so back him to continue his fine recent run.

Marcus Thuram scored for France in the international break, and since then, he’s scored in three straight appearances for Inter. That includes a brace against Como, and the striker has struck in both Serie A meetings between the sides this term. Thuram also found the net in last season’s home win over Como, so back him to continue his fine recent run.

Barnsley have improved in recent weeks to achieve a safe mid-table position but they still find wins hard to come by with only one victory in their last nine games. Stevenage have taken 10 points from their last four home games and can boost their playoff hopes by grinding out a win.

Stockport conceded a costly late equaliser at Exeter on Saturday but they have won four home league games in a row and can see off Mansfield, who are now safe from the threat of relegation. The Stags have not won any of their last four matches.

Southampton are in excellent form and have won their last five games at St Mary’s. Bristol City lost at home to Norwich on Saturday and the Saints can march into their FA Cup semi-final on the back of another victory.

Just a point separates Queens Park Rangers and Swansea in the standings, but Tuesday’s visitors are poor on the road. The visitors have won just six times away from home this season, while QPR have won ten out of 21 at home, and are unbeaten in three at Loftus Road.

This is a big game for third-placed Cambridge and Grimsby, who are just outside the playoff places, and it could be an entertaining contest. There have been over 2.5 goals in five of the Mariners’ last six matches and this fixture could follow suit with both sides pressing for the three points.

Inter Milan have scored eight goals against Como in Serie A this season, including a 4-3 win earlier this month. The Nerazzurri have returned from the international break with three wins from three, scoring 12 times. The Serie A leaders have scored 2.76 goals per game at home in the league this season, with 71% of their home matches featuring three or more goals.

This is a big game for third-placed Cambridge and Grimsby, who are just outside the playoff places, and it could be an entertaining contest. There have been over 2.5 goals in five of the Mariners’ last six matches and this fixture could follow suit with both sides pressing for the three points.

Toulouse have conceded 10 goals across three defeats ahead of this game, and each of those losses came against the three top sides in Ligue 1. In fact, the visitors have lost all six clashes with the top three, including Friday’s 3-2 defeat at second-placed Lens. The hosts have made the semis of the cup in high-scoring fashion, scoring 12 times in four games while keeping only one clean sheet.

Inter Milan scored four times in both league meetings between the sides this season, and they’ve won four of their last five encounters with Como. The visitors have suffered back-to-back Serie A defeats, but they can score a consolation goal against an Inter side that has seen BTTS land in four of their last five.

Cheltenham are showing no sign of downing tools for the season and they can make it four wins in a row at home to Tranmere. Rovers are in a five-team fight for survival in League Two but have taken only two points from their last 12 matches.

Plymouth are making a strong late charge towards the playoff places with six wins in their last nine games and they have won three of their last four on the road. Bradford failed to beat 10-man Barnsley on Saturday and lost their last home match to Stevenage, so they look vulnerable.

Toulouse have conceded 10 goals across three defeats ahead of this game, and each of those losses came against the three top sides in Ligue 1. In fact, the visitors have lost all six clashes with the top three, including Friday’s 3-2 defeat at second-placed Lens. The hosts have made the semis of the cup in high-scoring fashion, scoring 12 times in four games while keeping only one clean sheet.

Brighton have taken 10 points from their last four Premier League games and look good value to win a fourth successive meeting with Chelsea, who head to the Amex Stadium having lost six of their last seven games.

Inter Milan have scored eight goals against Como in Serie A this season, including a 4-3 win earlier this month. The Nerazzurri have returned from the international break with three wins from three, scoring 12 times. The Serie A leaders have scored 2.76 goals per game at home in the league this season, with 71% of their home matches featuring three or more goals.

Brighton have taken 10 points from their last four Premier League games and look good value to win a fourth successive meeting with Chelsea, who head to the Amex Stadium having lost six of their last seven games.

Wrexham have conceded in seven of their last nine Championship trips, and they’ve conceded 25 times across their 21 trips in this campaign. Oxford have yet to lose at home to a side in the top eight, with six of those seven encounters seeing both teams score.

Alaves have seen both teams score in seven of their last eight games, which includes netting three goals against seventh-placed Real Sociedad and four at sixth-placed Celta Vigo. They can trouble a Real side that has conceded in eight straight La Liga matches.

Lincoln City are honing in on the League One title, and they head to a Doncaster side that has conceded 10 goals across their three meetings with the top two. That includes a 4-0 home defeat to Cardiff, but Donny are usually good for a goal at home, so they can contribute to a high-scoring game.

Alaves have seen both teams score in seven of their last eight games, which includes netting three goals against seventh-placed Real Sociedad and four at sixth-placed Celta Vigo. They can trouble a Real side that has conceded in eight straight La Liga matches.

Toulouse have conceded 10 goals across three defeats ahead of this game, and each of those losses came against the three top sides in Ligue 1. In fact, the visitors have lost all six clashes with the top three, including Friday’s 3-2 defeat at second-placed Lens. The hosts have made the semis of the cup in high-scoring fashion, scoring 12 times in four games while keeping only one clean sheet.

Man City know a win will see them replace Arsenal at the top of the pile and they have been have been in strong scoring form with 11 goals across their last four games. City hammered the Clarets 5-1 in the reverse fixture and look capable of covering a -2 handicap on Wednesday.

Barcelona have celebrated their return to the Nou Camp with 16 wins from 16 home games this term. They’re expected to complete a double over Celta Vigo, following a 4-2 away win in November. Celta have suffered four defeats in five across all competitions, but they’ve scored in 13 of their 15 league trips.

Sevilla’s win over Atletico Madrid ended a three-game losing streak, but they remain only two points above the drop zone. Levante have won all three of their home meetings with the bottom six this season. They were also 3-0 winners in their visit to Sevilla earlier this term. 

Stuttgart’s two home defeats have come against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, winning 11 of 13 matches outside of that. They’ve conceded just 14 goals, half of which came in those two defeats. Visitors Freiburg have lost all of their six visits to the Bundesliga’s top eight, failing to score in five of those.

RB Leipzig have strengthened their grip on a Champions League spot with six wins from seven. The visitors have lost five of their last seven, and nine of their 14 defeats this term have come by a two-goal margin or greater. Seven of Leipzig’s 10 home wins have been by two goals or more.

Southampton have been in brilliant form since the FA Cup third round, scoring in every game since their 3-2 win over Doncaster. City have hit top gear in recent weeks, and they are worthy favourites to make it to the FA Cup final for the fourth season running. However, the Saints have proven capable of causing problems going forward, so back them to score in a defeat.

Daniele De Rossi has made Genoa into a more open side, and his side have scored at least twice in six of their last seven home games. Cesc Fabregas has made Como into one of Serie A’s most progressive sides. His team have netted 15 goals across their visits to teams in the bottom half, but they’ve lost 4-3 to Inter and 2-1 to Sassuolo in their last two league games.

Chelsea’s loss to Manchester United was their sixth defeat in seven, and the Blues have failed to score in five of their last six. Leeds have had the Blues’ number this season, beating them 3-1 at Elland Road, before fighting back from 2-0 down to draw at Stamford Bridge.

Alaves have seen both teams score in seven of their last eight games, which includes netting three goals against seventh-placed Real Sociedad and four at sixth-placed Celta Vigo. They can trouble a Real side that has conceded in eight straight La Liga matches.