Live on Skysports 4: Tue 17.30 & 19.45: Chelsea could use a confidence boost and Zilina could provide just that, with The Blues set to win.
As Chelsea have already qualified for the Champions League knockout stages and Zilina have been eliminated from the competition, the pair’s Stamford Bridge clash is a dead rubber. Nevertheless, the Blues could do with a convincing victory to arrest a worrying dip in form that has seen them lose three out of four in the league and draw a blank in each of those games.
Subsequently, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be keen to get amongst the goals to boost confidence and they can do just that too against a defensively fragile Zilina team beaten 7-0 at home in their last European outing against Marseille.
It’s the perfect game for Chelsea to bounce back, against relatively weak opposition with the pressure off and 2/11 for a home reflects their superiority. However, the value is to be had in wagers on the hosts to cruise to victory and rediscover their scoring touch.
In terms of the latter, Ancelotti’s troops are 5/6 with bet365 to find the net on over 2.5 occasions while Paddy Power make them 13/10 to prevail by at least three clear goals against the beleaguered Slovaks.
Real Madrid have looked formidable in the competition so far and the La Liga Leaders can continue their decent form in Group G by seeing off Ajax in Amsterdam, a result Stan James rate at 5/4. The hosts have been disappointing domestically of late, losing to ADO Den Haag and AZ Alkmaar before registering a goalless draw with PSV at the weekend and they’ve shown little in Europe this term to suggest they can beat Jose Mourinho’s troops. The only worry is that Real have already booked their place in the last 16.
In Portugal, Arsenal are 10/11 (Coral) to collect a maximum haul at the expense of Braga. The Gunners were stunned by a Spurs comeback at the weekend but they have performed well in Europe while their opponents’ only Group H victories came against the weakest team in the group, Partizan Belgrade.
Braga have also lost four out of five in the league and were hammered 6-0 at the Emirates so it’s hard to see past Arsene Wenger’s side in what should be a high-scoring affair. Take the Gunners to triumph then in a game that produces three or more goals, a combination available with Partybets at 21/10.
Recommended Bets:
Chelsea (-2) to beat Zilina in the handicaps – 13/10 (Paddy Power)
Real Madrid to beat Ajax – 5/4 (Stan James)
Arsenal to beat Braga and match to produce over 2.5 goals – 21/10 (Partybets)
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