Champions League Matchday 8 Tips: PSV Eindhoven to beat Liverpool
The first season of the new-look Champions League has reached the final round of league phase games.
Liverpool and Barcelona are the only teams already guaranteed a place in the last 16 while only nine of the 36 clubs involved are definitely eliminated.
That means there is plenty to play for on Matchday 8 with something on the line in 16 of the 18 ties being staged on Wednesday.
Tip 1 - PSV Eindhoven to beat Liverpool @ 41/20
Liverpool have been looking down on the rest during a fabulous league phase campaign which will end with them finishing either first or second.
That means Arne Slot is in the privileged position of being able to rest a fair few players, especially with a crunch Premier League trip to in-form Bournemouth coming on Saturday.
The word is that Slot will give a well-earned break to half-a-dozen or more of his top stars.
And while the Dutchman will still be able to field a strong side on his return to his native Netherlands, PSV have to see this as a golden opportunity to sign off with the win which will almost certainly see them into the play-off round as a seeded side.
The Dutch giants are unbeaten in their last 10 home European ties and have beaten Girona (4-0) and Shakhtar Donetsk (3-2) in their last two Champions League fixtures at the Philips Stadion.
Given what's on the line, their home form and the changes Slot will make, PSV look a fair price.
Tip 2 - Juventus to beat Benfica @ 6/5
Scarred by last week's collapse at home to Barcelona, don't expect Benfica to get any joy at Juventus.
Benfica were 4-2 up at home to Barca a week ago and would have been within goal difference of the top eight.
But the Spaniards hit back, scored three late on to win 5-4, and now Benfica are still scrabbling around for the point they need to qualify.
A draw would do them nicely and that's certainly a result Juve are used to this season - 16 of their 29 league and European fixtures have ended all-square.
The Lisbon giants have lost four of their last five in the Primeira and Champions League and Juve can do a job on them.
Tip 3 - Draw/Celtic Double Chance at Aston Villa @ 29/20
Celtic, well rested after a week off, can stop Villa in their tracks at Villa Park.
Brendan Rodgers' men head south after a free weekend - their game against Dundee was postponed - which means they have had a nice seven-day break since beating Young Boys 1-0.
For Villa, on the other hand, they take to the pitch after a gruelling 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday, a match in which Tyrone Mings joined fellow centre back Pau Torres on the injured list.
It leaves Unai Emery short of options at the back. They are without a win in three and while Villa would love to win the game to have a chance of making the top eight, they look short enough and the Draw/Celtic Double Chance bet might be the play.
Tip 4 - Crvena Zvezda to beat Young Boys @ 8/5
One of the two dead rubbers on the night is Crvena Zvezda at Young Boys, where the Serbs can sign off with three points and a few more quid in the bank.
A win for Red Star could be worth up to £2.5m and they have certainly given themselves chances throughout the tournament.
Vladen Milojevic's men have scored more goals than many of the sides above them, including top-eight contenders like Inter Milan, Aston Villa and Lille.
Young Boys, in last place of the 36 teams, have failed to score a solitary goal in three matches in the Swiss league and Europe since coming back from their winter break and Red Star can overpower them.
Tip - 5 Kylian Mbappe first scorer - Real Madrid at Brest @ 14/5
Kylian Mbappe has scored eight goals in his last five games and can extend that streak by scoring the first against Brest in Guingamp.
Mbappe, in for criticism not so long ago over performance levels, has hit form like a World Cup-winning superstar only can and looks in the mood to dazzle against his countrymen.
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation