Real Madrid look the value after UCL draw

Bayern Munich were the big winners of the redrawn Champions League last-16 ties, with the Bundesliga outfit seeing their odds on winning the competition shorten after being paired with Red Bull Salzburg.

Meanwhile, the four Premier League clubs all received relatively clement draws that they will believe enhance their prospects of qualification.

Manchester City are favourites to go all the way in the competition, given a 26% chance of lifting their first European Cup, but Real Madrid are dangerous outsiders, despite having just a 5% chance of lifting the trophy for a 14th time.

Messi to face Madrid

Although the Champions League is down to the last 16, realistically there are only a handful of teams capable of lifting the trophy: Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG and Real Madrid. 

The big losers from the draw were the French and the Spaniards, who will go head-to-head. Although Lionel Messi’s PSG are favourites to progress due to their superstar forward line, Madrid are a more cohesive side and should be backed to advance. At 21.0, they represent good value to go all the way.

Real Madrid face PSG in the last 16, but will they be celebrating?

Kind draw for PL clubs

The other big favourites avoided dangerous draws, although Liverpool must be wary of an Inter side that boasts the strongest squad in Serie A, and ran Madrid close in the group stages.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are on offer at 3.9 after drawing Sporting CP. Pep Guardiola’s side have suffered shock European losses in previous years to the likes of Lyon and Monaco, so it cannot be taken for granted they will progress.

Chelsea were not punished for the slip up that saw them finish Group H runners-up. In being paired with Lille in both the original and re-draw, they tackle the weakest group winner and an opponent Thomas Tuchel will know well from his time at PSG. The Blues are priced at 8.4 to retain their title but that reflects their recent form and is likely to shorten. 

Ralf Rangnick’s first European test with Manchester United will be against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. Man Utd, on offer at 17.5, are likely to be a very different side by the spring, making this a difficult matchup to predict at this early stage.

Bayern get lucky

Bayern Munich landed the plum last-16 draw as they were paired with Group G runners-up Salzburg. It is a tie they should be comfortably good enough to win, and as such their price has reduced to 5.0.

Similarly, Ajax, who had a perfect group stage, should be too strong for Benfica, while Juventus will be favourites to overcome Villarreal.

Recommended Bet 

Real Madrid to win the UCL at 21.0