Champions League Wednesday tips: City can cruise past Sporting at the Etihad

We could be in store for another entertaining night of Champions League action on Wednesday, with the league leaders in England, Spain and France all in action. Here are our top tips for the second legs.

Manchester City vs Sporting CP

8pm, BT Sport 2

Manchester City have one foot in the quarter-finals after a 5-0 demolition of Sporting CP last time out. Pep Guardiola’s side remain the favourites to win the tournament, with our traders rating their chances at 29% - ahead of Liverpool at 20%, Bayern Munich at 16% and PSG at 12%.

Guardiola might be tempted to shuffle his pack for the second leg. The Premier League title race is back on and although City have until Monday before they are next in action in the top flight, a trip to Crystal Palace is a potential banana skin.

Even a second-string City side would surely have too much quality for Sporting, though. The English champions came flying out of the blocks in the first leg, establishing a four-goal lead at the interval. At an attractive price of 2.14, it could be worth a wager on over 1.5 goals in the opening 45 minutes at the Etihad Stadium.

Sporting will have written this tie off after being thrashed in Lisbon, so City should ease to victory on the night. Guardiola’s team to win both halves looks appealing at 2.08.

Recommended bet: Manchester City to win both halves @ 2.08

Recommended bet: Over 1.5 goals in the first half @ 2.14

Lionel Messi and his PSG side are 1-0 up against Real Madrid, thanks to Kylian Mbappe's late goal in last month's first leg

Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain

8pm, BT Sport 3

Kylian Mbappe’s dramatic late goal earned PSG a 1-0 win in the first leg last month. The Frenchman’s superb solo strike has made all the difference to the odds, which would have been stacked in Real Madrid’s favour had it finished 0-0 at the Parc des Princes. As it is, our traders rate PSG’s chances of making it through to the quarter-finals at 71%.

Madrid were passive and reactive last time out. Their primary focus was on keeping a clean sheet – and they very nearly did it. They did not land a single shot on target and Karim Benzema was left isolated up front. Given they need to win on the night to stand any chance of advancing to the last eight, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will have to be much bolder here.

That could play into PSG’s hands. Mbappe and Neymar are two of the best forwards in the world in transition, although a slight injury doubt hangs over Mbappe. Should he play, their speed and direct running will cause Madrid problems, especially with Lionel Messi feeding through-balls in their direction. As long as PSG can keep things tight at the back, their counter-attacking qualities could bring them another win over Madrid.

Goals might not necessarily be on the cards, though. The first leg was tight and cagey, and although Madrid are trailing on aggregate they do not need to go hell for leather from the first whistle. Consider under 2.5 goals at 2.16.

Recommended bet: PSG to win @ 2.78

Recommended bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 2.16

Recommended bets

PSG @ 2.78

Madrid-PSG under 2.5 goals @ 2.16

Man City both halves @ 2.08

Over 1.5 goals first half Man City @ 2.14