CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW: The Ultra previews CHELSEA v BARCELONA and MANCHESTER CITY v BAYER LEVERKUSEN both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
CHELSEA V BARCELONA
8pm The Champions League returns on Betdaq Betting Exchange, and we have a fantastic Tuesday night to enjoy! We had quite a dramatic weekend around Europe, and it’s great to have domestic football back. We kick off Tuesday night with one of the highlight fixtures of the week as Chelsea host Barcelona. It was a good weekend for Chelsea in the Premier League – they moved into second place and with Manchester City unable to follow up their win over Liverpool by losing to Newcastle, it seems Chelsea could be the main “challenger” to Arsenal now. That being said, it seems there’s no challenger to Arsenal in the Premier League this season! It will be fascinating to see how Chelsea fare against Barcelona here – while Barcelona are a little behind Real Madrid in La Liga and they were totally outplayed in El Clasico before the International Break too – they have still been playing some excellent football this season. Almost more impressively than having the best attacking figure in La Liga, Barcelona have the best defensive figure. An average xG created of 2.27 and an average xG conceded of 1.05 is some seriously impressive football. Chelsea have been very impressive at the back too this season.
An average xG conceded of 1.08 from Chelsea is the second best defensive figure in the Premier League, and they also have the second best attacking figure – although they are quite behind Barcelona with a figure of 1.71. We have a reasonably open betting heat, and with home advantage Chelsea come into the game as the favourites. Chelsea are trading 2.38 with Barcelona 2.88 and the draw is 4.0 at the time of writing. This is a big game for both sides to be honest – obviously they will both progress but they are both a little off the pace with only seven points from games – that’s leaves them in 11th and 12th coming into this matchday. I know Chelsea have been playing some great football this season, and equally I know we have a reasonably open betting heat, but I would actually have the market even more open. I feel the 2.38 on Chelsea is a little short given how well Barcelona have been playing and I would have the sides priced very close together. That is making the draw offer some nice value at 4.0 too in my opinion; however I’m happy to have both the draw and the Barcelona win on our side with the Chelsea lay at 2.38. I expect a closer game than those odds suggest.
The Ultra Says:
Two points lay (liability) Chelsea to beat Barcelona at 2.38 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/CheBar
MANCHESTER CITY V BAYER LEVERKUSEN
8pm Next we move over to Manchester to finish the evening as City host Bayer Leverkusen. This would have been a massive clash over the last two seasons, but now that Xabi Alonso has moved on and Leverkusen have sold their best players, it feels like this will be a routine win for City. That is reflected in the market to be honest – Manchester City are trading as the red-hot favourites at 1.26 with Bayer Leverkusen 13.0 and the draw is 7.4 at the time of writing. Obviously Leverkusen have been through a lot this season – they pulled the trigger on sacking Erik ten Hag after only two games. That was a massive fallout with the club releasing a statement saying how poor at man management he was, which was remarkable. They have bounced back nicely since then, however Bayern are already gone too far ahead in the title race it seems! City had a massive blow in their title bid at the market with a loss away to Newcastle – just after becoming the main challenger to Arsenal by beating Liverpool for the International Break, that was a big step backwards. With everyone seemingly dropping points in the Premier League this season, City are still in third despite already losing four games.
On their way to the title in 2023/24, City only lost three Premier League games all season! City have an average xG created of 1.66 this season, and at their peak that was close to 2.0 so it’s clear that they haven’t been at their best this season. It does feel like Arsenal have the Premier League title at their mercy this season. On balance, while Leverkusen aren’t the side they once were; the 1.26 does feel a little short on City here. That’s not a price I would be rushing to include in a midweek Acca! It is hard to see past the home win here though; Leverkusen have been conceding chances for fun this season in the Bundesliga. I’m happy to stay out of the match odds market because we should have goals here – Over 2.5 goals is trading 1.4 so obviously the market is expecting goals too. Both Teams To Score is 1.88 which is a much more appealing price in my opinion – City have definitely improved at the back from last season, but we should have an open and entertaining game here.
The Ultra Says:
One point win Both Teams To Score at 1.88 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/MciLev
