A small weekend loss for the column even though our banker bet landed again. The Champions League has reached the semifinal stage with two cracking games this week, including Barcelona against Liverpool.
Running total: -£56.25
The Banker
Barcelona have secured another La Liga title with three matches to spare and can now focus entirely on the Champions League and Wednesday’s first leg against Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk has just been crowned PFA Player of the Year and it’s going to be truly fascinating to see how he fares against Lionel Messi. Such is his genius, there are times when no tactical system can really account for Messi. The omens are good for the Reds, who won 2-1 at the Camp Nou the last time they played a Champions League match in Catalonia. As usual Jurgen Klopp will send his team out to attack, and it should be an open encounter in Spain. These two European heavyweights have been smashing the goals in all season and both teams to score looks the mother of all bankers here at 8/13.
Selection: £13 on both teams to score at 8/13 with bet365.
The First Goal Flutter
Philippe Coutinho made his name at Liverpool before a high profile switch to the Camp Nou and while he’s not quite lived up to his price tag, he’s had some fine performances in Europe. The Brazilian should get the nod to start against his former club and odds of 13/2 about him scoring first look tempting. Liverpool will make it their mission to try and stop Mr Messi but Coutinho running at them with the ball at his feet could also spell trouble.
Selection: £2 on Coutinho to score first at 13/2 with bet365.
The Tasty Treble
Ajax were 250/1 for Champions League glory at the start of the season but after dumping out Real Madrid and Juventus in consecutive rounds their odds have plummeted. They are 19/10 shots to beat Tottenham at Wembley on Tuesday and that looks a decent bet given that Tottenham will be without the suspended Son Heung-Min. Ajax are a fearless, vibrant young side who will be fresh having not played a domestic game at the weekend. Elsewhere, Barcelona (4/5) are the pick to edge past Liverpool but given we fancy both teams to score the tie should be very much alive still by the time they get to Anfield. Finally, both teams to score looks a decent bet at 7/10 when Chelsea travel to Germany to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League. The Blues have conceded in each of their last four games and Frankfurt have a solid home record this season.
Selection: £3 on the treble at 7.87/1 with bet365.
The Euro Wager
Arsenal have lost three in a row and are leaking goals. They were passed off the park by Leicester City on Sunday and have shipped three goals in each of their last three matches. With such a dubious form line we are not sure why they are odds on favourites to beat Valencia on Thursday night. A better bet surely would be taking the 13/5 available about a draw at the Emirates. Valencia are a skilful, dangerous side who will fancy the job against Unai Emery’s misfiring Gunners.
Selection: £5 on the draw at 13/5 with bet365.
The Wildcard Tip
Dusan Tadic has played 48 games this season. Amazingly in that time he’s scored 32 goals and put on a masterclass at the Bernabeu as Ajax knocked out Real Madrid. Incredible to think then that he only cost £10 million from Southampton but he’s the player Tottenham will be worried about most on Tuesday. The Serb is enjoying the season of his life and is a 6/1 chance to score first in North London.
Selection: £2 on Tadic to score first at 6/1 with bet365.