ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Champions League Round-of-16 2nd Legs

Star Sports ambassador ALEX CROOK looks ahead to the second leg of the Champions League Last 16 ties, including another boosted ALEX ACCA.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ARSENAL (1) V BAYER LEVERKUSEN (1)
Tuesday, 8pm

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Kai Havert’z contentiously-awarded last-gasp penalty in last week’s first leg makes Arsenal heavy favourites to book their place in the quarter finals at fortress Emirates on Tuesday.

The Gunners were far from convincing in the BayArena, but home has been where the heart is for Mikel Arteta in this competition, having lost just one of his 16 Champions League games in front of their own fans.

Leverkusen come into the game on the back of a draw with Bayern Munich and won at Manchester City in the League phase so should not be underestimated.

But Arsenal remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple after extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points by beating a stubborn Everton 2-0 on Saturday.

I am predicting another cagey affair in which the hosts’ defensive solidity will win the day so an Arsenal victory and under 3.5 goals at 1.91/1 with starsports.bet looks the sensible play.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 CHELSEA (2) V PSG (5) 🇫🇷
Tuesday, 8pm

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The heat is on Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior after a run of one win in six games, including last week’s 5-2 trouncing in Paris.

It feels like mission impossible for Rosenior to overturn a three-goal deficit, even if PSG have history of squandering big first-leg advantages.

Luis Enrique’s European champions were below par in the League phase, but, just like last season, seem to be coming to the boil at the business end of the tournament.

They also had the benefit of being given the weekend off by the French FA while Chelsea were toiling to a 1-0 defeat at home to Newcastle, denting their hopes of getting back into this competition next season.

Losing Reece James to yet another hamstring injury is a significant blow to an already vulnerable Blues backline and if Chelsea go hunting the miracle comeback then there is every chance PSG pick them off on the counter attack.

The hosts are unbeaten in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge this season but I can see that coming to a shuddering halt and PSG at 2/1 with starsports.bet to win in 90 minutes looks great value.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 MANCHESTER CITY (0) V (3) REAL MADRID  🇪🇸
Wednesday, 8pm

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It is not just Chelsea who need to defy the odds after last week’s first legs.

Manchester City also have a mountain to climb after losing 3-0 at Real Madrid and no team has EVER come back from three goals down to oust the Spanish giants.

City are not in great form domestically after drawing their last two Premier League games to virtually gift Arsenal the title so it is very hard to make a case for Pep Guardiola’s side defying history.

What I think can be guaranteed is goals, especially with Kylian Mbappe back in the Real squad after missing the first leg through injury.

Three of the last four duels between these two heavyweights have featured over 3.5 goals and I fancy over 1.5 first half goals as the first part of my build-a-bet.

Given City’s recent results, Real also look too big a price to win in 90 minutes to ignore and combining both selections as a build-a-bet returns a whopping 12/1 with starsports.bet.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 LIVERPOOL (1) V (1) GALATASARAY 🇹🇷
Wednesday, 8pm

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Liverpool will be hoping it is third time lucky when they host Galatasary at Anfield on Wednesday.

The reigning, and soon-to-be dethroned, Premier League champions, lost 1-0 in Istanbul in the League phase and were beaten by the same scoreline in last week’s first leg.

The Reds are facing the grim prospect of a last-16 exit for the second season in a row after being dumped out by Real Madrid at this stage last season.

Sunday’s limp 1-1 draw at home to struggling Tottenham will hardly instil confidence in Liverpool fans their team can turn the tie around and the Merseysiders have gone out in 11 of their last 16 European knockout games having lost the first leg 1-0.

Gala have lost 19 of their last 23 Champions League away games, but in Victor Osimhen, they have a striker more than capable of exploiting Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses so I will be having a small play on the Turkish side to win in 90 minutes at 9/1 with starsports.bet.

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🇪🇸 BARCELONA (1) V (1) NEWCASTLE 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Wednesday, 5.45pm

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Along with Arsenal, Newcastle gave themselves the best chance of all the English sides of reaching the last eight with a gutsy 1-1 first leg draw at home to Barcelona.

But to do that, they are going to have to achieve what no visiting team has since October 1 and beat the Catalans on home soil.

Furthermore, Barca have banged in 18 goals in their last five home games, including in last weekend’s 5-2 drubbing of Seville.

That win was even more impressive as Lamine Yamal was rested to the bench until the 67th minute, meaning the teenage sensation should be fully refreshed for this clash.

Yamal’s late penalty salvaged a draw at St James Park and the 18-year-old has now scored five goals in his last five games. Barcelona to win and Yamal to score at any time returns 2.5/1 with starsports.bet.

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1️⃣ BEST BET: Arsenal to win and under 3.5 goals 1.5pts at 5/4 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
2️⃣ NEXT BEST: PSG to win in 90 minutes 1pt at 2/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
3️⃣ OTHER: Barcelona to win and Lamine Yamal to score 1pt at 2.5/1 with starsports.bet
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Real Madrid to win and over 1.5 first half goals 0.5pt at 12/1 with starsports.bet
🎲 LONG SHOT: Galatasaray to win 0.5pts at 9/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🚀 ALEX ACCA: PSG, Bayern Munich, Cardiff, Stockport 0.5pts at 10/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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