Champions League 2022 - Final 16 Preview

By Greg Stewart

At the end of the Group stage, there were only three teams who had won all six of their group matches; Bayern Munich (who also lead the goal difference table at a massive +19), Liverpool and Ajax. None of these are however the soccer odds favourite currently as Manchester City tops the odds to win at 3.75:1 on SunBet.

City did finish top of their group with 4-wins and 2-losses and a goal difference of +8. However, if they are to win the elusive double and take the Champions League and Premier League titles this year they will need to boost their defence. City will face a keen Sporting CP away on Tuesday night (kick-off at 22H00) and last year’s finalists will be hoping to make it a clean sheet for them.

The other clash on Tuesday night (15 February 2022) will be PSG who host Real Madrid for what might be the clash of the round of 16. Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi will line up with Sergio Ramos and Neymar in a clash that is bound to be a cracker. Real Madrid won 5/6 of their group clashes and ended with a +11 goal difference while PSG ended in 2^nd spot in their group with a +5 goal difference but lost 1 game and drew 2 games from their six group clashes. Real Madrid are at 3.65:1 on SunBet. While Paris SG are currently at 2:1 for a win on SunBet.

Betting tip for this clash – more than 2,5 total  goals to be scored at 1.66:1 on SunBet.

Wednesday night sees Inter Milan host Liverpool. Inter won 3 from 6 group matches with 2 lost and 1 draw while Liverpool made a clean run of 6 from 6 in their group stages and with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah back in the squad after their AFCON adventures, Liverpool are odds on favourite to win at 2:1 on SunBet and my top sports betting tip for the round of 16.

The second match on Wednesday will see FC Salzburg Host Bayern Munich at the Red Bull Stadium in Wals-Siezenheim Austria. Bayern destroyed their opponents in the group phase with 6 wins from 6 with a massive 22 goals scored and more impressively only 3 goals against. They have certainly made their intentions clear for the Champions league. At 4.75:1  to take the title on SunBet, they are my best value bet to win the title. Salzburg will have a mammoth task to find a win here and unlikely to shake the Bayern team at all. They are at 8:1 for a win on SunBet.

Next week’s matches include:

• Chelsea hosts Lille on Tueday 22 February, where Chelsea are odds on favourite at 1.32:1 for a win on (Betting Tip – Chelsea to win)
• Villa to host Juventus where odds are pretty evenly matched at 2.75:1 for a win for either team on (Betting Tip – Juventus to win)
• Wednesday 23^rd February sees Atletico host Manchester United with Atletico at 235:1 for a win on (Betting Tip – Atletico to win)
• Ajax is away against Benfica where they are at 1.95:1 for a win on (Betting Tip – Ajax to win)