Wednesday’s Football Betting Tips
8pm – Napoli v Barcelona
Barcelona to Win
Robert Lewandowski to Score or Assist
8pm – Porto v Arsenal
Arsenal to Win
Bukayo Saka to Score or Assist
Alan Varela to be Shown a Card
- A Multi Match Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 32/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
We’ve got two brilliant games this Wednesday to wrap up the first legs of the Champions League Round of 16. We see Barcelona face a tricky tie in Naples against last season’s Serie A champions, while Arsenal travel to Portugal to face Porto.
Napoli vs Barcelona
Champions League match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli
TV: TNT Sports, Wednesday 8pm
Barcelona to Win
This hasn’t been a vintage season for Barcelona. They’re third in the La Liga table and already eight points behind their hated rivals Real Madrid but they still have a level of quality that Napoli can’t match right now.
Last season Napoli were incredible on their way to a historic league title but this year they’re ninth in Serie A, have won less than 50% of their league games, and won just half of their group stage games too. Barcelona should have enough experience and talent to guide them through this one, especially with Victor Osimhen unlikely to start for the hosts.
Robert Lewandowski to Score or Assist
If Barcelona are to win then it’s likely that Robert Lewandowski has something to do with it. He might be in the twilight of his career but the 35-year-old is still one of the best strikers on the planet and in 23 league games he’s bagged 12 and assisted five more.
He may have just one goal in the Champions League so far but he comes into this in great form. He scored two, including an added-time winner in Barca’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo at the weekend, and has five goals and one assist in his past six games.
Porto vs Arsenal
Champions League match at the Estadio Do Dragao, Porto
TV: TNT Sports, Wednesday, 8pm
Arsenal to win
Porto should feel unlucky to face Arsenal here. They finished second in their group because of their head-to-head record, which saw them beaten twice by Barcelona. Arsenal are a step up from Barcelona and they come into this in great form, winning five on the spin in the Premier League.
Porto did win at the weekend but we can forget that before that they had a shock loss to Arouca and they have just one win in their last three games. They’re on the outside, looking in, at the title race domestically, and with Arsenal in sensational form, they’re likely to lose here.
Bukayo Saka to Score or Assist
Arsenal’s five-game winning streak in the Premier League perfectly coincides with the best run of form that Bukayo Saka has had all season. He’s either scored or gotten an assist in each of those five games and has a total of five goals and one assist in those five matches.
He’s an ever-present for Mikel Arteta and will once again be deployed on the right flank where he’ll be matched up against Jorge Sanchez. With his pace and movement, he’s going to cause Porto problems, especially when he can cut inside against Porto’s experienced, but old, 40-year-old centreback Pepe.
Saka had three goals and four assists in five group stage games and we can be confident in him adding to those numbers here.
Alan Varela to be Shown a Card
We’re going to see 22-year-old Argentine Alan Varela deployed at the base of the Porto midfield three on Wednesday. It’s his job to sit back and screen for the defence but it’s going to be a tough ask against an Arsenal team who are really finding their feet currently and playing some exceptional football.
Varela has had five bookings in 18 Primeira Liga games so far this season and averages 1.3 fouls per game. Against a team of the quality of Arsenal, there’s every chance that he struggles and gives up more fouls and ultimately gets booked, something we’re going to bank on as the final leg of our Bet Builder.
Wednesday’s Football Betting Tips
8pm – Napoli v Barcelona
Barcelona to Win
Robert Lewandowski to Score or Assist
8pm – Porto v Arsenal
Arsenal to Win
Bukayo Saka to Score or Assist
Alan Varela to be Shown a Card
- A Multi Match Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 32/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
WEDESDAY’S FOOTBALL TIPS
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