THERE are a huge couple of nights with 10 Champions League play-offs that will end with some big clubs dropping down to the Europa League.
Biggest game is Hoffenheim v Liverpool and the other ties are Sporting v Steaua Bucharest, Young Boys v CSKA Moscow, APOEL Nicosia v Slavia Prague and Qarabag v Copenhagen.
On Wednesday Celtic tackle Astana at home while Napoli face Nice in the most attractive tie. Istanbul v Sevilla should also be a cracker, Olympiakos take on Rijeka and Hapoel Beer Sheva entertain Maribor.
Liverpool were paired with a team they wanted to avoid as Hoffenheim's quality is well known. They cruised to fourth place in the Bundesliga last season and were unbeaten at home.
All of the Reds' old failings surfaced at Watford on Saturday and they'll come under even more pressure in Germany tonight from side who are strong at set-pieces and that has to be a worry for Jurgen Klopp.
His side conceded three – including an injury-time equaliser – and the defence played like strangers in front of a dodgy keeper in Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool look short at 2-5 favourites with Skybet to qualify but like their opponents are better at home so tonight's result is crucial. Hoffenheim won just five out of 17 on the road so need to take a lead to Anfield.
The Germans, 9-4 with McBookie to qualify, are 21-20 at McBookie to win at home and that's tempting. I'll keep the draw on side though and go Hoffenheim draw no bet at 23-20 with the Scots firm.
Hoffenheim have lost defenders Niklas Sule and Seb Rudy to Bayern but signed West Ham's Havard Nordtveit and Serge Gnabry so the squad doesn't look too weakened. Klopp will be without Adam Lallana and wantaway star Phillippe Coutinho.
Backing goals looks a no-brainer and with both to score just 8-13 with bet365 consider both to score and over 2.5 match goals at evens with Coral.
Hoffenheim to score 2+ is 7-5 with McBookie but as bad as they are at the back Klopp's men pose a threat going forward.
Robert Firmino was dangerous at Vicarage Road and is 15-8 at Betfred to net. Mo Salah could be the player to watch for Hoffenheim and is 2-1 at Betfred to score.
APOEL Nicosia are still a work in progress under new boss Mario Been their home record in Europe is excellent with one defeat in 10 including wins against Athletic Bilbao, Olympiakos, and Young Boys.
They're tough to beat in Cyprus and look value at a best 17-10 with McBookie and Paddy Power at home to a Slavia Prague side who needed away goals to beat BATE in the previous round.
Slavia are inexerienced at this stage and I can't see them winning so go APOEL draw no bet at 5-6 with McBookie.
Sporting Lisbon have signed new boys Jeremy Mathieu, Fabio Coentrao and Seydou Doumbia but could lose William Carvalho to West Ham and he's been left out of the squad for the tie at home to Steaua Bucharest.
Nevertheless, I still fancy the Lions to roar here. They kicked-off their new campaign fielding six debutants in a 2-1 triumph at newly-promoted Desportivo Aves last weekend and although there were a few teething problems, Gelson Martins’ goals in each half secured the points.
Argentina international Acuna has looked the best of the new boys and can inspire Sporting to victory against a dangerous side who beat Viktoria Plzen 6-3 on aggregate having won 4-1 away.
However, they have managed just two clean sheets in nine away from home in the Champions League and haven't reached the group stage since 2013. Back Sporting on accumulators at 3-10 with Skybet to take a lead to Romania and consider Bas Dost to score at 19-20 with William Hill.
The other two ties are tougher to call. Qarabag are never easy to beat in front of their home fans but Copenhagen are a capable outfit and this will be tight. The Azerbaijan outfit are unlikely to lose the first leg so best bet could be Qarabag draw no bet at 5-7 with unibet.
Young Boys aren't in my good books after costing me plenty when they lost 4-0 at home to Thun last week. They'll need to be at their best to stay alive when CSKA Moscow visit.
Recommended Bets
- Hoffenheim v Liverpool btts & over 2.5 goals
- (1-1, Coral)
- Hoffenheim draw no bet
- (23-20, McBookie)
- APOEL v Slavia Prague
- (5-6, McBookie)
- Bas Dost to score
- (10-11, William Hill)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Great article mr F.
I will take the home scorer at Hoffenheim, also the btts.
From Apoel, I can see an easily draw on halftime there (of course there is a possibility of an early goal or for a penalty but I will take the risk).
Young Boys and Sporting are more difficult to call but I will take your choice for the Sporting scorer as they play home .
Good Luck mr F and all.
Yes, a good read. Think I’ll go Hoff btts and overs, and two-sie it up with something.