Champions League: Odds and picks for Wednesday's matches
By SAM STORY
The other half of the Champions League knockout rounds will take place on Wednesday with the gem of knockout round taking center stage. Chelsea travel to Italy to take on Internazionale (Inter Milan) while CSKA Moscow will have an earlier kickoff against Spanish side, Sevilla.
Inter Milan vs. Chelsea (Pick, over/under-2.5)
For Chelsea, it’s a chance to reacquaint with old boss Jose Mourinho.
The 47-year-old Portuguese meets his former employers for the first time since he left the team after a less than impressive beginning to the 2007-08 campaign.
He is convinced they are not as tough as they were during his trophy-laden three-year spell at Stamford Bridge, even if they are two years removed from a Champions League finals appearance.
“He knows Chelsea very well, I know Inter very well and in this game there are no surprises,” said Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti in an attempt to not be outdone. His knowledge of the opponent stems from his eight seasons as the coach at AC Milan---Inter’s chief rival.
These two sides have never met before in the competition but that does not mean that either set of supporters will be short on confidence.
Chelsea fans will take assurance to the San Siro because they know well that the Nerazzurri have been knocked out at this stage of the competition in the last three seasons and that Inter have won only twice in their last 11 games in the Champions League.
Inter fans will also be brimming with similar optimism knowing Chelsea, since Mourinho’s departure from west London, have won only three of their last 12 away matches in the Champions League.
Still, Inter have netted only once in their last three outings against Serie A foes while Chelsea, albeit against weaker competition, have scored seven.
The game seems as if it will be a draw with Mourinho’s precise defensive tactics (Inter have surrendered one goal in their last five league matches) coupled with how ragged Chelsea looked in their away win at Wolves last Saturday.
Under is the best bet especially if you can find it at 2 ½ goals.
Prediction: Inter 0, Chelsea 0
CSKA Moscow v Sevilla (Pick, over/under-2.5)
CSKA hosting Sevilla will offer many bettors a chance to watch football at its ugliest form.
CSKA haven’t played since December (with the Russian league having a different time frame for obvious, weather-induced reasons) while Sevilla players will have to travel on an eight-hour flight to play in 10 or 11 degree weather on CSKA’s artificial turf.
The game seems as if it has draw written all over it but what we can safely assume is that CSKA won’t be nearly as crisp with their passing or shooting as they would be during the year while Sevilla’s players will be playing in such a different environment.
I love the under at 2 ½ here as well which can be found at most shops.
Prediction: CSKA 0, Seville 1