The smart money on this week's Champions League action

 

Basel vs Arsenal - Over 2.5 Goals 

 

Arsenal don’t make things easy for themselves or their fans. They’ve had a good Champions League campaign so far, but find themselves level on points with PSG. They will need to better the French champions' result tonight in an effort to avoid an unfavourable draw in the knockout stages. Something they’ve grown far too accustomed to in recent seasons.  

 

Their hosts, Basel, also need a result tonight if they hope to secure a place in the Europa League which means that both sides will be forced to play an attacking style from the off. There should be a lot of goals at St. Jakob-Park tonight. 

 

Arsenal have seen over 2.5 goals in 7 of their last 10 Champions League matches, scoring 2 or more in each of their last 4 games in the competition. They have also been prolific on the road this season in all competitions, seeing over 2.5 goals in 5 of their last 7 away games. Bet on over 2.5 goals with Bet365 at 1.75.

 

The smart money on this week's Champions League action

 

Benfica vs Napoli - Both Teams to Score 

 

Group B is far from decided. While Benfica and Napoli currently occupy the top two spots, Besiktas sit just a single point behind. The only way to guarantee progress in the Champions League is a win - anything less could mean dropping into the Europa League. 

 

Both sides have had a spell of patchy form overall, but Benfica remain a dominant force at home. They’ve won each of their last 6 matches at Estádio do Sport, and haven’t lost a game there in any competition since February. Napoli have managed just 2 wins in their last 7 games in all competitions. However, their most recent win was just 4 days ago - an impressive 3-0 thrashing of Inter which should fill them with confidence as they head to Portugal tonight. 

 

The smart money on this week's Champions League action

 

Benfica boast an impressive defensive record at home, they haven’t conceded more than 1 goal in any of their last 13 matches. However, most of those games are domestic competition. In the Champions League, they’ve kept just 2 clean sheets in their last 6 home games - against Dynamo Kyiv and Zenit. While results themselves are varying for Napoli in the Champions League, they rarely fail to get on the scoresheet. Before their game against Dynamo Kyiv, they had found the net in each of the previous 10 Champions League matches. You can bet on both teams to score with Bet365 at 1.70. 

 

The smart money on this week's Champions League action

 

 

Tottenham vs CSKA Moscow - Harry Kane anytime 

 

After appearing to throw away their Champions League campaign in the South of France in the last round, Mauricio Pochettino will want to spare Tottenham’s blushes at Wembley tomorrow. They will need at least a point to ensure they’ll still have European football come the new year. 

 

Luckily Pochettino’s men will be facing goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev - who has not kept a clean sheet in the Champions League in a decade. The last team he stopped from scoring were Spurs’ North London neighbours, who failed to score in either of their games against CSKA Moscow that season. 

 

Tottenham are also bolstered by the return to form of Harry Kane, who’s just secured himself a new deal with the club. The forward has scored in 6 of his last 8 appearances for Spurs, netting 8 goals in total. You can bet on Kane to score anytime with Bet365 at 1.72. 

 

The smart money on this week's Champions League action

 

 

Juventus vs Dinamo Zagreb - Juve win to nil 

 

Juve have already secured their place in the next round, but are only a point ahead of Sevilla. While currently in control of their own fate there is an outside chance they could end up in second place ahead of the draw. A win would ensure they will avoid the likes of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in the round of 16. 

 

Dinamo Zagreb have been abysmal throughout this Champions League campaign. They are one of just two teams to lose each of their 5 games. And they are the only team to not score a single goal. Juventus have kept a clean sheet in 3 of their 5 group stage games, allowing only Lyon and Sevilla a goal a piece. Bet on Juventus to win to nil with Bet365 at 1.53.


The smart money on this week's Champions League action

The smart money on this week's Champions League action