Champions League Betting

Champions League Betting

This Wednesday sees the second five Champions League playoff first leg matches being played. Who will take an advantage into the second leg ties?

Let’s look at the Champions League preview brought to you by Sportsbetting.com

Sporting Braga v Sevilla:

Portugal faces Spain in this match and sportsbook make Sevilla the favourites to claim the win, just like the national side did at the World Cup. Sevilla can be backed at odds of 2.40 for the victory, with Braga available at 2.90 with the odds for the draw being the outsider of the three outcomes at 3.30.

Sevilla have played just one competitive game so far this season and that was a cup game against reigning La Liga champions Barcelona. Sevilla ran out 3-1 winners in that fixture in front of their own fans, now can they travel to Portugal and bring an advantage home? Braga will be in confident form as they are impressive in front of their own fans this season, having scored six times in two matches. They first defeated Celtic 3-0 in the final qualifying round for the Champions League before winning their opening game of the season 3-1 to top the Portuguese league. Will their confidence be well placed and can the home team upset the odds to claim the win?

Sevilla had a poor away record in La Liga last season and they lost ten of their nineteen away games. They will need to improve on that this season, but I feel that they have the better squad of these two sides and will overcome their poor away form. However, Braga will not just roll over and let the Spanish side take the win and this should be an excellent match. In the end, I see the game ending level with both sides finding the net at least once each. As a result of this, my money is on the draw at odds of 3.30 and both sides to score at 2.05.

Werder Bremen v Sampdoria:

This match sees two sides from the great footballing nations of Germany and Italy battle for the opportunity to represent their countries in the group stages of the Champions League. Sportsbooks make Bremen the favourites to claim the points at odds of 1.73, with Sampdoria available at odds of 4.80 and the draw can be backed at 3.50. Will the game go according to the odds though?

Werder Bremen had a great season in 2009/2010 as they finished in third place in the Bundesliga and they have played just one match so far this season, winning 4-0 away from home in the German Cup. Prior to that game, they played a pre-season friendly against Fulham and were beaten 5-1 by Mark Hughes’ men. They also had a poor home record last season, with their home form only being sixth best in Germany’s top league and their away form assisting them to their third place finish. However, their prize striker, and World Cup star, Mesut Ozil will be moving to Real Madrid and will play no part in this match to ensure he is not cup-tied. He will be a big loss to the German team.

Sampdoria placed fourth in Serie A last season, behind Inter Milan, Roma and AC Milan, to book their first Champions League spot. They will be keen to make a good impression in their first competitive match of the season and they will want to go on in this competition for as long as possible. Unfortunately for the Italian side, they were poor on the road last season and won just six of their nineteen away games, drawing four and losing nine of the other thirteen fixtures away from home. Can they turn things around with a win in Germany?

With it being early in Bremen’s season and the start of Sampdoria’s season I don’t expect much from this game. As a result of this I am going back a second draw from the previewed games and a low scoring encounter as well. My money will be on the draw at odds of 3.50 and there to be less than 2.5 goals in the match at 1.91.

Sportsbetting.com Recommends:

Sporting Braga v Sevilla to end as a draw @ 3.30

Both Sporting Braga and Sevilla to score @ 2.05

Werder Bremen v Sampdoria to end as a draw @ 3.50

Less than 2.5 goals to be scored in the Bremen v Sampdoria match @ 1.91