The final week of the UEFA Champions League group stage is upon us and with just one game to go, there are still a few key battles for places in the knockout stages still in progress.
We take a look at some of the biggest matchups of the week and give our betting tips below!
Champions League Matchday 6 Betting Tips
Ajax vs Valencia (Wednesday 7am AEDT)
Massive matchup here as Dutch side Ajax host Valencia in a game that could decide the fate of Group H. Ajax currently sit atop the group with 10 points, however, both Valencia and Chelsea sit just two points behind on 8 points. A win for Valencia away from home and a win for Chelsea against group minnows Lille could see Ajax fall out of the top two.
Luckily for the Dutch side, history is in their favour. Ajax have never lost to Valencia in three previous meetings in the Champions League, claiming one win and two draws against the Spanish outfit in three meetings. Valencia have been in strong form in the La Liga of late, winning five of their last six matches while Ajax sit three points clear atop the Dutch Eredivisie table with a 13-2-1 record.
Hard to look past the home side here with so much on the line. You have to bank on Chelsea getting the win over Lille at home so Ajax need at least one point to ensure they advance. Expect Ajax to be extremely defensive to start the game and Valencia to begin to open up later in the game if the scores are still level. Second half should have more goals here.
More goals second half
$1.91
Inter Milan va Barcelona (Wednesday 7am AEDT)
Super important game here for Inter-Milan as they face off against Spanish juggernaut Barcelona at home. Barcelona’s spot atop Group F is already secured regardless of what happens in this matchup, so expect them to play a second rate line-up in Italy on Wednesday morning.
For Milan, a win is desperately needed as they currently sit tied for second place in the group with Borussia Dortmund, who have an easy matchup against fourth placed Slavia Praha. Milan have been in dominant form in the Serie A this season, winning their last four games on the trot and currently sitting on top of the table with a 12-2-1 record.
Love the value of the Italian side here. They will be taking this game extremely seriously which is much more than we can say for Barcelona. Back Inter to get the win here and both teams to score at good odds.
Milan win + both teams score
$2.80
Atletico Madrid vs Lokomotiv Moscow (Thursday 7am AEDT)
Can’t envision any world in which the Spanish side Atletico Madrid lose this one. They currently sit second in Group D, six points behind leaders Juventus but just one point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen. A win here would ensure their path into the knockout stage and they face a team that is just 1-0-4 in the group so far.
Madrid hasn’t had the strongest year in the La Liga so far, not by their lofty standards at least. They sit in seventh place with a 6-8-2 record, racking up more draws than any other team.
They are the kings of defence in world football, keeping the most clean sheets in the La Liga with 8 through 16 games. They won 2-0 in Moscow back in October and should win to nil again here.
