The 2018-19 UEFA Champions League continues this Wednesday and Thursday morning and the last round of the group stage promises some very intriguing battles. There are still a few undecided rounds heading into the last group stage game, the biggest of which is the Group C battle for supremacy between Napoli, PSG and Liverpool. We take a look at the key games of Matchday 6 and give our betting tips below.
Champions League Day 6 Betting Tips
Barcelona vs Tottenham (Wednesday 7am AEDT)
Barcelona have already punched their ticket into the knockout stage of the Champions League, having won four of their five group stage games, racking up 13 points to top Group B. They have been dominant in the La Liga to date this season, currently topping the league with a 9-4-2 record through the first 15 games of the season. They have already plundered 41 goals in the domestic competition, which is 13 more than any other team and their 13 goals scored over the first five games of the Champions League is second only to Manchester City.
Tottenham will be desperate to secure a win on Wednesday morning to give themselves the best chance of advancing to the knockout stage. They currently sit in second place on the Group B table, but are tied on 7 points with Inter Milan, who have a much easier matchup this week against PSV. Assuming that Inter Milan secure the win against PSV, Tottenham will need to win against Barcelona to give themselves a chance to advance.
This game won't mean much to Barcelona given that they have already secured top spot in Group B. On the contrary, it’s life or death for Tottenham so they will be playing their hearts out here. Barcelona have lost just one of their last 12 Champions League meetings against English clubs with the only defeat coming against Manchester City back in 2016. We think the cards are in place for Tottenham to secure a result of some sort here.
Tottenham double chance
$1.83
Liverpool vs Napoli (Wednesday 7am AEDT)
Group C is without a doubt the most intriguing group heading into the final matchday. Napoli currently lead the group with nine points, closely followed by PSG on eight points and Liverpool on six points. Liverpool will need to win against Napoli at home on Wednesday morning to advance, and if we assume that PSG will beat the group’s last placed team Crvena Zvezda then the Reds might have to win by multiple goals to advance.
Liverpool currently sit atop the English Premier League table as the only remaining undefeated team in the league. They have won their last five games in a row but haven't been as convincing in the Champions League to date. The Reds lost to all three other teams in the group away from home, while they needed a 91st minute winner from Roberto Firmino to escape with a win at home against PSG.
This will be the fourth competitive meeting between Liverpool and Napoli, with both teams having won one match a piece. Napoli will be content with a draw here so should start pretty defensive on the road, it will be up to Liverpool to get on the front foot. Regardless of the score, at least one team will be scrambling heavily for goals at the end of the game, as Liverpool need to win 1-0 or by two goals to advance. We think the second half will have more goals here.
More goals in 2nd half
$1.91
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Lyon (Thursday 7am AEDT)
It’s a simple equation in the last round of the play in Group F. Manchester City currently sit atop the group and have all but secured the top spot. Lyon and Shakhtar sit in second and third respectively and are separated by just two points, meaning that the winner of this match will advance to the knockout stage.
Lyon secured a fantastic 2-1 away win against Manchester in the first group stage game and have since gone on to draw their next four Champions League games in a row. Scoring at least to goals in each of them.
Tough match to call here. Lyon look the form side but Donetsk will have the home field advantage. This will only be the second compeittive meeting between the two sides, with the first ending in a 2-2 draw earlier in this UCL campaign. Lyon will be content with a draw here and have drawn their last four in a row so we think a deadlock is great value at $3.60.
