Highlights of the final group games in the Champions League including the top of the group tussle between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, Lyon looking for a win against Sevilla, and much more.
If you are looking for a sneaky outside bet in the Champions League then why not stick a few bob on Borussia Dortmund?
The German side travelled to the Bernabeu to face the defending champions safe in the knowledge that a point would put them in Monday’s draw in the top spot. It took Madrid 53 minutes to put the Germans in their place, thanks to two goals from Karim Benzema, but this Dortmund side is a decent outfit.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back for the visitors in the 60th minute, before setting up Marco Reus to score the equaliser with two minutes remaining. Reus’s tap in was Dortmund’s 21st goal of the league phase, a record in the Champions League. After the game, a reporter asked Aubameyang if it was true that he wanted to sign for Madrid and he said yes. You have got to admire his honesty.
Madrid will be disappointed to throw away a two-goal lead but did set a new club record for going 34 games without defeat. Bodog had made them the +500 third favourites to win the title. Dortmund is +1200.
In the other Group F fixture, Legia Warsaw made it through to the Europa League after beating Sporting by a single goal. Legia conceded 24 goals in six games, so I wouldn’t be putting too many pennies on them winning the Europa League.
Spurs Book a Place in The Europa League
If Spurs are going to get back into the Champions League, it looks like the Europa League is their best avenue. So it was vital that the London side finally warmed to their Wembley surroundings when they took on CSKA Moscow.
It seemed like a case of Deja Vu after Dele Alli missed two sitters, as Spurs dominated play, only to see CSKA march down the other end of the pitch and open the scoring.
But Spurs didn’t crumble like in previous Wembley fixtures. Alli kept making those forages into the box and was rewarded five minutes after the Russians had taken the lead after scoring a quite brilliant equaliser. Harry Kane made sure Spurs would go into the break with the lead after scoring his seventh goal in the six games he has played since returning from injury, and an Alli header sealed the Europa League spot 12-minutes from time.
Bayer Leverkusen spanked Monaco 3-0 in the other group game, but the order of merit was determined back in Week 4 making this tie about as meaningful as a marriage proposal from Glynn Wolfe.
Monaco is +6600 to win the Champions League; Bayer Leverkusen is +8000.
Leicester Crumble in Portugal; Copenhagen Are Not Happy
FC Copenhagen won’t be too happy this evening after Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri chose to field a weakened side against Porto. Copenhagen needed a win, and for Porto to lose for them to go through to the knockout stages at the expense of the Portuguese side but it was all over within six minutes.
Porto battered a Leicester side who now play Man City on the weekend with only one win in their previous nine Premier League games under their belt. Yes they were through, and this game seemed meaningless to them, but how damaging will a 5-0 battering be to morale?
Porto goes through in the second spot. Copenhagen has to settle for a place in the Europa League. Leicester is +3300 to win the Champions League; Porto is the rank outsiders at +15000.
Seville Join Juventus in Last 16
Seville and not Lyon will be joining Juventus in the last 16 after a frustrating evening for the French. Lyon – who had home advantage – needed to score by two clear goals to go through to the knockout stages, but failed to find a way passed the Spanish defence in a goalless draw. Juventus, who were already through with a game to spare, registered their first home win of the campaign by beating Dinamo Zagreb by 2-0.
Juventus is +1200 to win the Champions League; Europa League holders Sevilla is +5000.
At least someone else gets the opportunity to win the Europa League this year.
Now there’s a novelty.
Week 6 Results
Paris St Germain 2 v 2 Ludogorets
Barcelona 4 v 0 Borussia Monchengladbach
Bayern Munich 1 v 0 Atletico Madrid
Man City 1 v 1 Celtic
FC Basel 1 v 4 Arsenal
Benfica 1 v 2 Napoli
PSV Eindhoven 0 v 0 FC Rostov
Dynamo Kyiv 6 v 0 Besiktas
Spurs 3 v 1 CKSA Moscow
Porto 5 v 0 Leicester City
Lyon 0 v 0 Sevilla
Club Brugge 0 v 2 Kobenhavn
Bayer Leverkusen 3 v 0 Monaco
Legia Warsaw 1 v 0 Sporting
Real Madrid 2 v 2 Dortmund
Juventus 2 v 0 Dinamo Zagreb
Group A
1. Arsenal – 14 points (Q)
2. Paris St Germain – 12 points (Q)
3. Ludogorets – 3 points
4. FC Basel – 2 points
Group B
1. Napoli – 11 points (Q)
2. Benfica – 8 points (Q)
3. Besiktas – 7 points
4. Dynamo Kyiv – 5 points
Group C
1. Barcelona – 15 points (Q)
2. Man City – 9 points (Q)
3. Borussia Monchengladbach – 5 points
4. Celtic – 3 points
Group D
1. Atletico Madrid – 15 points (Q)
2. Bayern Munich – 12 points (Q)
3. FC Rostov – 5 points
4. PSV Eindhoven – 2 point
Group E
1. Monaco – 11 points (Q)
2. Bayer Leverkusen – 10 points (Q)
3. Spurs – 7 points
4. CSKA Moscow – 3 points
Group F
1. Dortmund – 14 points (Q)
2. Real Madrid – 12 points (Q)
3. Legia Warsaw – 4 points
4. Sporting – 3 point
Group G
1. Leicester – 13 points (Q)
2. Porto – 11 points (Q)
3. Kobenhavn – 9 points
4. Club Brugge – 0 points
Group H
1. Juventus – 14 points (Q)
2. Sevilla – 11 points (Q)
3. Lyon – 8 points
4. Dinamo Zagreb – 0 points
