Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United against Lionel Messi’s PSG looks like the tie of the Champions League first knockout round while other English clubs have favourable draws. Max Liu has the odds…
The following was written before UEFA decided to redo the Champions League draw. The new draw will take place at 14:00 BST.
Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the officials as to which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
? UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 13, 2021
The two greatest footballers of their generation are set for another Champions League showdown after Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United were drawn against Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain in the first knockout round.
United drifted to 16/1 in the outright winner market while the French club are 13/2 ahead of a tie which offers intrigue, not only because it pits Ronaldo against Messi, but because it will see PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino – who is 2/1 to become United manager in time for next season – take on interim boss Ralf Rangnick (the current 6/4 favourite to get the permanent job).
Following the draw Man City remain the 11/4 favourites to win the #UCL
Man Utd have drifted out to 16/1 as they take on PSG.
Who’s the value bet now? pic.twitter.com/I1tvldtY0r
? Betfair (@Betfair) December 13, 2021
Premier League trio get favourable draw
Favourites City, holders Chelsea and six-times winners Liverpool will pleased with their opponents in the last-16.
City are 4.3100/30 favourites to win the Champions League on the Exchange after they were drawn against Villarreal.
Pep Guardiola’s men were runners-up to Chelsea last season and a tie with Unai Emery’s Spanish team has done nothing to dampen bettors’ enthusiasm for backing City.
Chelsea are 9.08/1 to become only the second club to retain European football’s biggest prize in the Champions League era.
They finished as runners-up in their group but, although they will the right noises about never underestimating opponents, they will be happy about playing French club Lille in the round of 16. That’s no disrespect to the French club but the Blues could have faced Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
Liverpool will also be happy about the prospect of facing Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg. Jurgen Klopp’s men are 5.79/2 in the outright betting.
Bayern Munich are 5.59/2 second favourites to win the Champions League after the German giants drew Atletico Madrid.
The remaining ties are Benfica v Real Madrid, Inter Milan v Ajax and Sporting Lisbon v Juventus.
We’ll have further analysis of the ties, the first legs of which are scheduled for 15/16 and 22/23 February with the second legs on 8/9 and 15/16 March, as well as previews and tips for every match.
Source: Betfair Champions League
