Champions League round of 16 betting preview

The Champions League continues this week, as the second group of teams play their first-leg matches in the round of 16. This week has some of the most intriguing matchups of the round, as multiple favorites begin their road toward the quarterfinals.

Let's break down the matches and provide some free picks, as Europe’s best club competition continues!

A rematch of the 2012 Champions League final, where Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich on penalties, the home team will hope to improve its recent form. The Blues have taken only eight points from their last six Champions League matches, but they were able to take down rival Tottenham on Saturday in a 2-0 win.

The visitors are red hot, with 10 wins in their last 11 matches (and the other result a draw), and they have won three consecutive road contests. The Bavarians have scored 23 goals in their last seven matches, but have only one clean sheet in their last five. Robert Lewandowski scored 10 goals in the group stage to give him the Golden Boot lead.

This match may not be as high scoring as many think, but Bayern is playing on another level, and Chelsea will end up succumbing to the pressure.

Champions League free pick: Bayern Munich -0.75 goals (Asian Handicap, +106)

Napoli has lost only once in its last seven matches, including wins over Inter Milan and Juventus. It also has failed to score only once in 22 home Champions League matches, which makes Napoli a solid bet to find the net against a Barcelona side with only three clean sheets in its last nine matches.

Both teams will be impacted by injuries, with center back Kalidou Koulibaly missing for the hosts. Lionel Messi, fresh off a four-goal performance against Eibar, will look to take advantage. However, with Jordi Alba injured, it creates a hole for the Catalans, a team already missing Ousmane Dembélé and Luis Suárez on the attack.

Dries Mertens scored five goals in the group stage and found the net in four matches, including both outings against Liverpool. He is good value to score again, as Napoli is unbeaten at home in the competition this season.

Champions League free picks: Napoli to win and both teams score (+420), Mertens to score anytime (+200)

It’s Cristiano Ronaldo’s world, and we are all just living in it. He has scored 19 goals in his last fifteen matches. The leading goal scorer in Champions League history, he will look to add to his 128 goals in the competition by scoring in his 10th consecutive match across all competitions. He only scored twice in the group stage, though, and both came at home.

Lyon's hero, Memphis Depay, is shut down for the season with a knee injury. He scored in five of Lyon’s six group-stage matches and carried the club to the knockout round. Lyon will also be without right back Rafael and defender Léo Dubois may not be fit.

Lyon will likely stay compact and hope to secure a result at home, where it has drawn seven and won only once in its last eight matches, but Juventus has too much firepower. Look for Ronaldo to score yet again. The Old Lady will return home with an advantage.

Champions League free picks: Juventus +105, Ronaldo to score anytime (-120)

The most anticipated matchup in the round of 16 took a blow when Real Madrid lost Eden Hazard to a season-ending broken ankle in Saturday’s loss to Levante. But Madrid will face a Manchester City squad that has kept only three clean sheets in its last eleven away matches across Premier League and Champions League competitions and might be without Aymeric Laporte.

Manchester City hopes Raheem Sterling can return from injury, but City has scored just three times in its last four matches across all competitions.

Real Madrid has scored in every home Champions League match over the last nine years, save for their final group-stage match in 2018-2019, when it rested all starters. With or without Hazard, Madrid possesses quite a bit of firepower and will likely find the back of the net.

Look for City to push for a few goals, with the Premier League all but officially decided, and look for Madrid to come away with an important win.

Champions League free picks: Real Madrid +190, Over 2.5 goals (-159)

---

Place a bet of $5 or more with BetAmerica and get $20 in free bets!