Wed, 19:45 BST
Live on BT Sport 2
Introduction
Monaco are waiting to hear whether midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko will be able to play. He suffered a broken nose in a training ground collision last week. Right-back Djibril Sidibe is almost certainly out.
Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira is suspended. In all other positions the visitors expect to be at full strength.
Match Odds
Monaco 3.10, Juventus 2.52, The Draw 3.45
For the third consecutive round Monaco are inexplicably underrated at home, making the hosts the smart bet if you're looking for a selection in this market.
In the last-16 Monaco were 2.64 at home to Manchester City - they duly won 3-1 - and an even more bizarre 2.98 to win at home to Dortmund in the last round (Monaco ran out 3-1 victors).
However you look at it Monaco's price makes absolutely no sense. They topped their Champions League group last autumn, have seen off more widely-fancied opponents in the last two rounds and boast a formidable W6-D1-L0 home record in the competition this season.
Like Juventus, Monaco are currently sitting top of their domestic league and while Ligue 1 might be a slightly lower standard than Serie A, Monaco's European performances show they can more than hold their own against the continent's most dangerous sides.
The big odds on Monaco throw up other good betting options that we explore below but if you want a selection on this market, side with the hosts.
Unders/Overs
Unders 1.95, Overs 2.00
There are no strong trends on this market so it's difficult to pick between Under and Over 2.5 Goals.
Monaco are one of Europe's highest-scoring teams and their matches in the Champions League and domestically reflect the fact they're a tremendous attacking force but struggle defensively. Their 14 Champions League games have averaged 3.43 goals a game, with Monaco scoring in all matches bar the dead rubber at Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the group phase. Throw in Ligue 1 fixtures and Monaco's 48 games across the two primary competitions they've competed in this season have averaged 3.58 goals a game.
Yet Juventus have one of the meanest defences in Europe, and are arguably better-equipped than any other side on the continent to halt Monaco's formidable forward momentum. This, after all, is the side that secured a 0-0 draw at Camp Nou in the last round, has kept eight clean sheets in 10 Champions League matches this season and conceded just 22 goals in 34 Serie A fixtures.
Given Juve's defensive obduracy Unders is slightly more likely. The prices reflect that, however, so this is a market probably best left alone.
Asian Handicap
Monaco's big price to win the game opens up a good opportunity to back them on the Draw No Bet or Asian Handicap market.
The hosts are 2.20 Draw No Bet, which is certainly worth considering. With that selection, you'd get your stakes back if the game ends all-square and make a profit if Monaco win on the night.
We prefer the Asian Handicap market as this gives you the chance to make money even if the game ends all-square. Monaco are 1.85 with a +0&+0.5 Asian Handicap start. With this selection you have two horses - Monaco and The Draw - running for you in a three-horse race, so can only lose if Juventus win.
For a full guide to Asian Handicap betting, click here.
To Qualify
Monaco 3.30, Juventus 1.42
Given how underrated Monaco have been in this season's competitions it's no surprise they've been such a smart bet to qualify in each of the last two rounds.
We backed Leonardo Jardim's side to get through the last 16 against Manchester City at 3.10 and did likewise ahead of their last-eight tie against Dortmund, when Monaco were2.34.
Monaco are 3.30, giving them a 30% chance of knocking-out Juventus. The Principality outfit's chances of reaching the Champions League final for the first time since 2004 are better than those odds suggest.
Recommended Bets
Monaco +0&+0.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85
Monaco To Qualify @ 3.30
0 nhận xét Blogger 0 Facebook
Post a Comment