Champions League round of 16 preview: Manchester United host PSG in crunch clash

Meanwhile, Ajax welcome Real Madrid looking to bag an advantage prior to the return leg

The greatest club competition in the world is back at the start of next week, with the UEFA Champions League knock-out rounds set to get underway. On Tuesday evening (12 February) Manchester United welcome French champions PSG to Old Trafford, while the following evening Dutch outfit Ajax welcome current European champions Real Madrid to Amsterdam, looking for an advantage ahead of the return encounter in the Spanish capital.

First things first

Before you go any further, head on over to the Oddsshark website, find your favourite betting site and get your own account up and running using your credit card. As a new customer and with the Champions League knock-out rounds about to get underway, there should be a wide range of promotions and special offers available to you.

Where should I be investing my money?

First up, the clash between Manchester United and PSG at Old Trafford. United came second in Group H, finishing two points behind winners Juventus, but their form has truly picked up since Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer took over from Jose Mourinho, with the side winning eight of their last nine league matches.

PSG, by way of comparison, showed their strength by topping a group which included both Liverpool and Napoli, and they have their eyes set on continental glory this term. Already clear in Ligue 1, PSG are priced at just 8.00 to win the Champions League this season and 4.33 to reach the final, while Brazil forward Neymar comes in at 9.00 to finish the tournament as top goal scorer.

Regarding this first leg tier, however, it is United who come in as the slight favourites to take an advantage into the second leg. You can more than double your money by backing the Red Devils to win at 2.50, while PSG arte only slightly higher at 2.62 – a draw would appear to be the least likely outcome and is priced accordingly at 3.50, according to Oddsshark.

Alternatively, you can make a simpler bet based on who will qualify for the quarter-finals. And here PSG are the favourites, coming in at 1.50 while United are out at 2.50 to make the last eight.

With home advantage in this first leg however, we are expecting United to just about scrape a win. A narrow, 2-1 victory for the English club is priced at 9.50, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$47.50 pay out, while you can more than quadruple your money by backing a combo bet of a United win, coupled with both teams to score, at 4.33.

Ajax host Madrid looking to grab advantage

The following evening, Ajax host European champions Real Madrid looking to snatch some sort of lead prior to a daunting trip to the Bernabeu. Ajax made it through the group stages of the Champions League undefeated, securing two impressive draws against German giants Bayern Munich in the process.

Real, by way of comparison, topped Group G with 12 points and their league form has also picked up since the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui. Los Blancos however are out at 13.00 to retain their continental crown, but they will be expecting to negotiate their way past their Dutch opponents in the round of 16 nevertheless.

And it is indeed Real Madrid who come into this first leg tie as the clear favourites to secure an advantage ahead of the return encounter. You can back Real to win on the road at just 1.95 while Ajax, despite home advantage, are out at 3.50 to take a lead into the second leg – again, a draw comes in highest of all at 3.80.

Real are at a much shorter price on a straightforward bet to make the last eight and are priced at just 1.22 to do so. Ajax are out at 4.22 to progress to the quarter-finals of the continental competition.

We are expecting this to be a fairly comfortable evening for the defending champions. A 3-1 win for Real in Amsterdam is priced competitively at 13.00, thereby offering more than a ten-fold return on any investment, while you can more than triple your money by backing a combo bet of a Real win, coupled with both teams to score, at 3.25.

We may well see an early goal as the visitors look to exert their dominance, and you can back over 0.5 goals in the first 10 minutes at 3.75. Real Madrid are at 7.00 to be ahead by the end of that time period.

UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg ties:

Tuesday, 12 February

(2.50) Manchester United x PSG (2.62); draw (3.50)

(2.05) AS Roma x FC Porto (3.50); draw (3.40)

Wednesday, 13 February

(3.50) Ajax x Real Madrid (1.95); draw (3.80)

(2.30) Tottenham Hotspur x Borussia Dortmund (2.90); draw (3.50)