Seeley’s Selections – Wednesday’s Champions League Matches

WEDNESDAY night’s Champions League action doesn’t feature any of the remaining British teams, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little flutter on the evening’s football entertainment.

Schalke v Real Madrid, 7:45pm Sky Sports 5
The first game I want to concentrate on is the clash between Schalke and European champions Real Madrid at the Veltins-Arena.

The BoyleSports odds-compilers make the defending champions 4/9 to win this one and, let’s be honest about it, they look bang on the money but really how many of us are going to back them at that price?

The two met in last season’s Champions League and it was an embarrassing tie for the Germans with an aggregate loss of 9-2, including a 6-1 thumping at home.

And one thing I’m certain of is this, it’s not going to be as straightforward as that this time around.

Roberto Di Matteo is the now the man in the Schalke hot-seat and one thing he has done is sorted out that leaky Schalke defence. RDM has always been a negative coach and he bored his way to the Champions League in 2012 when in charge of Chelsea, and I can’t see this team crumbling like they did last year.

I think the BoyleSports football lads have been watching the re-runs of last season’s clashes and come up with these prices, but this Schalke side has a lot more about it this time around.

It’s going to be very hard to contain Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema for 90 minutes, but I think they can for a large part of the game and the bet I really like in this one is the industry best 4/6 with BoyleSports on under 3.5 goals in the 90 minutes. Not one of Schalke’s last eight matches has featured more than three goals and I don’t expect that to change on Wednesday.

I do think Real will be too strong eventually, and a Real Madrid win to nil is a decent bet, as is a 2-0 away win at a very enticing 15/2 with BoyleSports, and that is the way I’m going to be playing in this one.

Seeley’s Selections
Under 3.5 Goals @ 4/6
Correct Score: Schalke 0-2 Real Madrid @ 15/2

FC Basel v Porto, 7:45pm Sky Sports 1
Now over to Switzerland and what a massive opportunity this is for either Basel or Porto to make the Champions League quarter-finals, and I think this game can really suffer from big-game nerves.

Basel are amazingly at 23/10 to win this with BoyleSports, and that is a real shock to me as I expected them to be the same price as their opponents at the very least.

Basel have only lost once in their last 11 European home matches – and that was against Real Madrid – and even though I think they will win, I think there is a much better way to get with them in this tie.

I can’t understand why Porto are BoyleSports 7/5 favourite, that really is a mystery to me, they would be happy with a draw and will be very confident of turning them over at the Estádio do Dragão.

As I said, I really think the visitors will take a draw in this one and the best bet, without question, is on Basel in the draw no bet market at a bargain beauty price of 6/5 with BoyleSports.

This means we win if the Swiss win and we get our money back if it’s a draw.

I just can’t see the Portuguese offering anything of an attacking threat and if we get a goal that should be enough, so under 1.5 goals in the game is another bet I like at 15/8 with BoyleSports and also a 1-0 home win with the same firm at 15/2 has attracted my attention.

Seeley’s Selections
Draw No Bet: FC Basel @ 6/5
Under 1.5 Goals @ 15/8
Correct Score: FC Basel 1-0 Porto @ 15/2