We’ve got midweek Champions League action for the second week in a row – praise the lord. Domestic campaigns across the continent are drawing closer to inevitable conclusions, with Manchester City, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all clear of their rivals.

But Europe’s elite club competition is only beginning to heat up. The last-16 stage is well and truly underway; it is time to separate the men from the boys. Check out our top tips on this week’s action below, we’ve also got some betting advice on Wednesday’s games as well…

BAYERN MUNICH vs Besiktas

Remember when Bayern were apparently overrated? Well, the Bavarians claimed their 15^th successive victory in all competitions on Saturday afternoon – Jupp Heynckes’ men have lost just once in 25 games. It is hard to envision Bayern falling short in this double header; especially in the first leg at Allianz Arena.

Bayern will be quietly confident of taking a hefty lead into the second leg and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will be targeting a goal or two on Tuesday evening. With 26 goals in 31 games in 2017/18, Lewandowski is in irresistible form and is worth backing at 12/25 to score in a home win.

 

Besiktas have slipped down to fourth in the Super Lig table and fans will have concerns over their recent dip in form. The visitors will find the going tough in Germany, particularly if they concede an early goal but head coach Senol Gunes will have a plan. Besiktas aren’t just here to make up the numbers; they are here on merit. 

This is all about damage limitation for Besiktas and the Turkish side will be happy to get back to Vodafone Arena with an outside chance of advancing to the next round. Unfortunately, it isn’t going to be easy. Bayern are one of Europe’s strongest teams right now and the 8/13 on offer for three or more home goals is a great price.

TIP: Robert Lewandowski to score and Bayern Munich to win @ 12/25

 

CHELSEA vs BARCELONA

Sparks tend to fly whenever these two clubs clash and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see another eventful contest at Stamford Bridge. Antonio Conte’s side cruised past Hull City on Friday night but the Blues will need to perform at their brilliant best in order to stand any chance of securing a positive result against the mighty Barcelona.

Keeping tabs on Barca’s front three will be high on Conte’s priority list and stopping Lionel Messi and co from wreaking havoc is key. Punters can back Chelsea at 6/4 to receive more yellow cards than their opponents and that is well worth a second glance.

Luis Suarez tends to perform well on the big stage and he could be Barcelona’s difference maker on Tuesday night. He has previous in this fixture and the Uruguay international will be expecting a hostile reception from the home crowd. At 7/5 to score at any time, Suarez is one of the better bets on offer for this fixture.

Backing an outright winner here is difficult – it really could go either way. For me, I like the under 2.5 goals line at EVS. Barcelona will be relatively happy to take Chelsea back to Camp Nou on level terms and the Spanish outfit won’t be too concerned if they fail to score an away goal. It could turn out to be a bit of a damp squib…

TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ EVS

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Last Wednesday was billed as Phil Smith’s handicapping swan song, the Grand National weights revealing day for the race he had presided over for the last twenty years, and despite a few technical hitches along the way we now have a definitive set of handicap marks.

Definitly Red, the winner of the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last month, heads the handicap with 11st 10lb off a rating of 165.

"I sort of expected him to be top-weight really. He's rated 167 so they couldn't do much else.

"The Gold Cup is the plan. We'll get that out of the way and see about Aintree after that.

"He's in great form at home. I couldn't be happier with him” said Brian Ellison.

Blaklion, the current bookies joint favourite at 12/1, has been allotted 11st 6lb following his impressive victory in the Becher Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree in December.

He reportedly is none the worse for his exhausting run at Haydock on Saturday and he now heads straight to Aintree.

"He's fine, he's 100 per cent," said Twiston-Davies.

"He's going straight for the National. He's not going to Cheltenham. We're saving him for Aintree."

“He will be ridden differently at Aintree this year. He was beaten eight lengths last year and there was no blame on Noel (Fehily) at all, but he kicked on a mile from home. Maybe if you don't kick on a mile from home that eight lengths could be found.”

The Last Samuri currently sits ninth in the weights' list with 11st 4lb off a rating of 159.

Trained by Kim Bailey for owners Paul and Clare Rooney, The Last Samuri finished second behind Rule The World in the 2016 running of the world's greatest steeplechase.

The 10-year-old finished runner-up to Blaklion in the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree earlier in the season and was last seen out to good effect in the Cotswold Chase.

Bailey, who won the National with Mr Frisk in 1990, said: "The Last Samuri's weight is what we were expecting given his rating.

"If the weights stay as they are and don't rise, I think he would have more of a chance.

"I have been very happy with him since Cheltenham and he will have a prep race somewhere between now and Aintree.

"We have got several options, but there are no firm plans as we will have to see what the weather does first.

"The Last Samuri doesn't need to have a prep race, but we are lining up to have one at the moment."

Last year's runner-up Cause Of Causes (10st 12lb), trained by Gordon Elliott, is one of seven entries for owner J P McManus, who also has the recent Irish Gold Cup scorer Edwulf (Joseph O'Brien, 11st 9lb), last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup second Minella Rocco (Jonjo O'Neill, 11st 7lb) and Anibale Fly (Tony Martin, 11st 4lb).

Elliott is currently mob handed with a total of ten runners entered but this list will be probably whittled down to a maximum of five come April time. As of the weights revealing day he has: Outlander (11st 8lb), Mala Beach (11st 3lb), Noble Endeavor (10st 13lb), Cause Of Causes (10st 12lb), Tiger Roll (10st 9lb), Ucello Conti (10st 6lb), Bless The Wings (10st 2lb), General Principle (9st 12lb), Out Sam (9st 3lb), Poormans Hill (8st 7lb).

Asked about his intended runners, Elliott replied: "I wouldn't like to second guess Michael O'Leary about the Gigginstown horses. If I was a betting man, I would say Outlander's most likely target is the Punchestown Gold Cup. The handicapper has a job to do and you won't hear me complaining.

"I'd imagine I will run Cause Of Causes, Noble Endeavor, Ucello Conti and Tiger Roll. They would be the four at the moment. Bless The Wings could also go if he gets in.

"You'd have to imagine Cause Of Causes is the principal one. He was second in the race last year and he looks like he has a lovely weight with 10st 12lb there again. I'm not complaining and I'd imagine he will go for the cross-country again at Cheltenham.

"Noble Endeavor will have one run and then go for the National and that will definitely be in Ireland.

"Ucello Conti is going to go straight to the race and Tiger Roll will run in the cross-country race at Cheltenham, all being well."

Dr Richard Newland and owner John Provan combined to land the 2014 race with Pineau de Re. This year they have purchased another interesting contender in Abolitionist (10st 4lb), who finished third in last season's Irish Grand National. Abolitionist is 51st on the list off a mark of 145, and looks a safe bet to get into the race proper.

Dr Newland said: "I bought him for the race in the autumn and although he had a little stress fracture he's over it now and I'm hoping to run him at the weekend over hurdles at Ascot.

"He's got to get through Ascot for a start then he needs to run over fences, probably in the Kim Muir, but it's very much our intention to train him for the National and I think he has the right profile.”

33/1 says that he has the right profile for the race according to the bookmakers

There is every chance that Phil Smith may have left some lucky owners attached to the Gordon Elliott stable a small parting gift.

Smith explained his reasoning behind one of his many quandaries: "Bless The Wings is rated 17lb higher on his Cheltenham cross-country form compared to his rating in Ireland, and the form of the cross-country races at Cheltenham has historically been very good in relation to Aintree, with the likes of Silver Birch, Balthazar King and Cause Of Causes.

"On the one hand, Bless The Wings’ rating of 137 in Ireland would not get him in the race, but 154, his cross-country rating, seemed to me to be too high compared to his form on park courses.

"In the end I settled on 143 as a compromise, which should hopefully get him in. He's a very interesting horse – even though he's 13. He is an absolutely super jumper and his cross-country form is very good indeed."

At number 66 in the pecking order it will be touch and go whether the thirteen-year-old will make the final cut, but at 50/1 for a horse that has never fallen in his career, he is certainly worth an ante-post flutter.

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The Championship is often referred to as the most competitive league in the world. Wolves’ runaway mission at the top has undermined that somewhat, but the second tier is still tense as teams chase playoff spots and look to escape the bottom three.

You can find our Saturday accumulator on our blog. Here, though, we are looking at the outright options…

Winner

Okay, we can say with a fair bit of confidence that Wolves are going to win the Championship this season. I know that’s outlandish and all, but let’s just leave it at that.

What we are really looking at is the ‘to finish 1-6’ odds. Aston Villa’s stunning run of late has them at 1/20 to finish in the top six. Steve Bruce’s side are as good as nailed on for the playoffs having won their last seven in the league.

Derby are cosy as well, sitting nine points ahead of seventh and at 1/10 to earn a top six berth. The Midlands pair remain in close competition for the second automatic promotion place.

It’s further down the table that this market gets interesting. Middlesbrough, who are four points off sixth, are as short as 5/4. Tony Pulis’ team are my value pick here, however. Their budget dictates promotion is a must. They have the quality to make it to the playoffs, and I would certainly back them to make it to Wembley. Boro are 4/1 to get promoted.

Preston are worth a look 7/2. The Lilywhites are built on rigid defence and are immensely hard to beat. Goals are the trouble, but that looks a lengthy price for a team just three points off sixth.  

 

Top Scorer

Matej Vydra leads the Championship scoring charts with 17. Unsurprisingly, Derby’s main man is atop the betting market at 2/1. The versatile forward has been finishing at a remarkable rate so far, however, which suggests his production will regress at some point. The challenge is whether that will be enough for anyone to catch him.

There are only two players within four goals of Vydra. The first is veteran Leon Clarke, who is on 15. Sheffield United’s striker had a ludicrous hot streak in November, but has now scored just one in his last 10 matches. Following that red-hot run, the Blades’ form has dipped with Clarke’s. I don’t see any merit in backing him at 5/1.

Albert Adomah has found the net 13 times thus far. His 7/1 price is not enough to really turn any heads. The Aston Villa winger has not been getting the same quality of chances as his two main competitors all season long. It would take a special patch of form to win the golden boot.

My favoured picks from this market are Britt Assombalonga at 9/1 and Diogo Jota at 20/1. Both players are on 12 goals at the moment, and I expect their respective teams to finish the season strongly.

 

Relegation

Barnsley are the team to watch in the relegation market. Sitting just one point from safety at the moment, they have hired Jose Morais, who has frequently worked with Jose Mourinho. The new boss has plenty of work to do, however, with the club having won just once in 16 league matches.

The 9/10 price to be relegated will depend on how you view that appointment. I think it will have a positive impact on the team, who can expect increased productivity from Tom Bradshaw and the trademark new manager bounce.

If Barnsley are to build a resurgence, there’s going to have to be a team to drop into that bottom three. Hull are currently teetering one point above, but have shown signs of a turnaround with their recent FA Cup form. The 3/1 is a bit short given the quality in the squad.

Bolton are the team offering the best value here, I think. Having lost Gary Madine to Cardiff, the 7/5 price on the Wanderers to end up in League One is good value. It could all come down to their last two matches of the season against Burton and Nottingham Forest, but I think the Lancashire club will be fighting a losing battle by then.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*