2 minutes Ahead of this Champions League last-16 first leg, here at betting.bet we have the latest match odds and free bets
Arsenal play their first UEFA Champions League knockout game since 2017 on Wednesday as The Gunners travel to Portugal where they’ll take on two-time European champions, FC Porto. Ahead of this Champions League last-16 first leg, here at betting.bet we have the latest match odds and free bets from betting partners, Betfred as well as up-to-date team news and betting tips.
Group stage recap
Arsenal qualified for the knockout stage as group winners in Group B. The Gunners took 13 points from their six matches but only four of those points came away from the Emirates Stadium. On the road, Mikel Arteta’s side lost 2-1 at Lens on match day two before defeating Sevilla by the same scoreline and drawing at PSV Eindhoven with top spot in the group already assured.
Porto finished as runners-up behind Barcelona in Group H by virtue of an inferior head-to-head record. The Portuguese side earned 12 points in their six matches; the highest total of any side not to win their group.
Domestic form
Porto have slipped seven points adrift of Benfica and Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Primeira Liga table having won just one of their past three league games. Scoring goals has been the problem for Porto with just 37 goals scored compared to 60 for Sporting Lisbon and 52 for league leaders, Benfica.
Arsenal are second in the Premier League, two points behind league leaders, Liverpool. However, the Gunners have won five straight league games by an aggregate 21-2 scoreline.
Betting tips
Arsenal are the red-hot favourites to progress to the quarter-final and we expect to see the English side claim a first-leg advantage at the Estadio do Dragao. An away win is a huge 4/6 with Betfred.
The first leg of the majority of Champions League knockout games tend to be cagey affairs and given Porto’s troubles in finding the back of the net in Portugal, under 2.5 match goals could be worth real consideration at 10/11. Additionally, you may want to consider combining both of the bets mentioned above, Arsenal to win and under 2.5 match goals is priced at 5/2.
Arsenal’s free-scoring side offer plenty of options in the various goal-scorer markets, none more so than Bukayo Saka. The England international has scored six goals in Arsenal’s last four matches including a brace in each of their past two. Saka is 15/8 to score at any time against Porto however with goals expected to be at a premium in thai first leg tie, Saka to score first offers better value at 5/1.
Match odds
FC Porto: 9/2
Draw: 11/4
Arsenal: 4/6