Sports Blog 22/11/2017: Football Preview – UEFA Champions League, Wednesday 22nd November 2017

Can Manchester United and Chelsea confirm their place in the Champions League last-16 this Wednesday?

If Chelsea are to ensure safe passage to the next round them then ideally they need to beat their Azerbaijani hosts FK Qarabag, at 5pm on BT Sport 2. While the Blues have won their last 4 league games, they’ve struggled in their past couple of European fixtures, drawing 3-3 against Roma at home before losing 3-0 in Italy. That’s left them in 2nd place on 7 points, behind Roma’s 8 but thankfully a decent way ahead of Atletico Madrid’s 3.



Considering Antonio Conte’s lot put 6 past Qarabag in their competition curtain-raiser – and have Alvaro Morata at a muscular Super Mega PGM of 59-69 – the Premier League champs shouldn’t encounter too many issues, with Spreadex offering a Chelsea/Qarabag (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 1.6-1.8 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.65-2.85.

Jose Mourinho’s lot have less to do; a drawn against hosts FC Basel, at 7.45pm on BT Sport 2, would see United through to the knockouts. The Red Devils appeared to get their mojo back at the weekend, a 4-1 trouncing of Newcastle that saw the return of Paul Pogba and a first goal for Romelu Lukaku since the end of September.



The Belgian forward heads into Wednesday’s fixture at a Super Mega PGM of 39-46, beaten only by Zlatan Ibrahimovic who, at 41-48, will be looking to pick up where he left off last season. Both men should have plenty of opportunities against the Swiss champions, with Spreadex offering a Man United/Basel (h) Goal Supremacy spread 0.55-0.75 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.45-2.65.

Finally, Celtic – already out of the Champions League – will be looking to keep their Europa League hopes alive with some kind of results against PSG, at 7.45pm on BT Sport 3. The Bhoys were utterly humiliated the last time they faced their Parisian hosts, losing 5-0 as Neymar, Edison Cavani (both at Super Mega PGMs of 81-96) and Kylian Mbappe (at 61-71) all found their way onto the scoresheet.



Avoiding such a defeat this time will be more a help to morale than anything else. Still, if the Scots can manage a draw (or something better) then their chances of reaching the Europa League will be greatly increased – though given how limp the point-less and goal-less Anderlecht have looked they don’t have too much to worry about on that front. In terms of tonight, Spreadex are offering a worrying PSG/Celtic Goal Supremacy spread of 2.7-2.9, alongside a Total Goals spread of 3.9-4.1.