Seeley’s Selections – Tuesday’s Live Champions League

The Champions League returns in all it’s glory this midweek and on Tuesday night we start off with the two least glamorous last 16 ties and let’s begin with the live…

…ITV match between the kings of Europe Real Madrid who are taking on Schalke at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid v Schalke, Tuesday 7:45, live on ITV & TV3
The two met a fortnight ago in German and Real Madrid came back with an easy 2-0 win so as far as a betting event this tie is over.

It’s no surprise to see the Spanish giants just 1/5 with BoyleSports to win; they probably will but would you take the chance at those prices in a game they don’t have to? It would be the biggest turnaround in European history if Schalke did overturn the two goal deficit, they simply can’t though, and I would want a massive price about them to qualify through to the quarter-finals to get me interested.

I have no doubt that Real Madrid will win this one, but at those very short odds we need to be putting some substantial money on to get a decent return and it’s really not worth the stress. Fear not though my punting friends, they don’t call me the protractor for nothing, I have found all the angles in this one to make it a very profitable night.

There is a crisis in Madrid at the moment, well according to the Spanish media.
Hold the front page, they haven’t won in two games, but I can’t see that “crisis” continuing in this one even at the 13/1 on offer about the visitors, but I can see the Germans scoring though. The two played at exactly the same stage of the competition last season with Real Madrid winning by an impressive 9-2 aggregate scoreline, but in both matches the Germans scored and I think they will do so again.

Both teams have scored in four of the last five Real Madrid games and at 21/20 with BoyleSports, that could be the best way to go as Schalke have nothing to lose and I expect Roberto Di Matteo’s side to be let off the shackles in this one.

The two played out an entertaining 3-1 game last season and also at the 9/1 with BoyleSports that looks the most likely scoreline and probably the best bet for neutrals sitting down having a small interest in the match.

If you don’t want to take the 1/5 on just a home win, the 4/6 with BoyleSports on Real Madrid to be leading both at half-time and full-time could make some appeal.
It’s still a short price, but it has been settled as a winner in the last 11 games at the Bernabeu and a comfortable evenings work is expected for the galacticos in this one.

Seeley’s Selections:
Bot Teams To Score – Yes @ 21/20
Correct Score: Real Madrid 3-1 @ 9/1
Half Time/Full Time: Real-Real @ 4/6

Porto v FC Basel, Tuesday 7:45, live on Sky Sports 1
The other night’s match is the clash in Portugal between Porto and Basel which is live on Sky Sports.

Every side that’s left in the competition wants to be drawn in the quarter-finals against the winners of this tie and after the two played out a 1-1 draw in Switzerland a fortnight ago, it’s more than likely to be Porto. Porto battered the Swiss in their own back-yard and how they don’t start this game with a lead is question I’m still asking myself.

Top goalscorer Jackson Martinez is an injury doubt for the Portuguese champions, which is a major blow but even if the Colombian is missing, they should be far too strong for the visitors at the 40/85 which is available at BoyleSports. Porto are virtually impossible to beat at home; they are unbeaten in this year’s competition and they very rarely concede goals.

Julen Lopetegui’s side have kept five clean sheets in their last five matches and in the four home Champions League games, they’ve only conceded two goals and I really can’t see Basel causing them any problems in this one. A home win to nil is a bet I really like at 13/10 with BoyleSports and that would have been a winner in every one of those five matches. Going forward they aren’t too shabby either with 16 goals scored in that five game period and even if Martinez is ruled out, they have goals from all over the pitch.

Basel, like many teams in Europe are great at home but on their travels they can’t be trusted with any financial interest, even if the offer of 13/2 with BoyleSports looks a tempting one, please avoid.

Paulo Sousa’s side are yet to win on their European travels this season and they aren’t going to start in this one.

I’m really expecting this to be a very one-sided affair and can see the Swiss rolling over and going down by a 3-0 margin which looks a fair bet at the 9/1 with BoyleSports.

B Lucky!

Seeley’s Selections:
Porto To Win @ 40/85
Porto To Win To Nil @ 13/10
Correct Score: Porto 3-0