George Pitts is backing Tottenham to join Manchester City in progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night...
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Tottenham v Juventus (1945 GMT, BT Sport 2)
Tottenham will host Juventus full of confidence after coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 in the first leg.
Mauricio Pochettino's side conceded two Gonzalo Higuain goals in the opening 10 minutes in Turin before strikes from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen sealed them a valuable draw to take back to Wembley.
It means they have two away goals over the 33-time Serie A champions and it could prove vital in sealing their place in the quarter-finals.
They are well backed to qualify for the last eight at 4/9, while Juve are nearly 2/1.
I correctly predicted Kane to score and a draw (separate bets) in the first leg, and I am going to back Spurs to win on the night with over 1.5 goals here.
It is priced at a tempting 19/10 and I think it could well be on the cards. While Juventus would love a 1-0, hard-fought defensive victory, it is a dangerous risk as a Spurs goal would soon knock them out. So the second half could be a little more open and we could well have a good second leg clash on our hands as both sides play cat and mouse, waiting for the other to make a move before capitalising.
After topping Real Madrid to win their Champions League group and improving on previous European campaigns, victory here would be deserving of Tottenham and Pochettino's efforts in recent seasons.
Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Juventus
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Manchester City v FC Basel (1945 GMT, BT Sport 3)
It is fair to say this tie is done and dusted and you have to go a little deeper to get value from this contest.
City, favourites with Sky Bet to win the Champions League this term, command a 4-0 lead from the first leg and Pep Guardiola will see this as a good opportunity to play fringe players for the Etihad clash.
It could also be a good chance for Gabriel Jesus to start his first game since New Year’s Eve. The Brazilian forward, who has 12 goals for club and country this term, has been sidelined with a knee injury and has made brief substitute appearances against Arsenal (twice) and Chelsea since returning to full fitness.
With Aguero proving an adequate replacement, scoring 15 goals since then in all competitions, Guardiola could rest the Argentinian or bring in Jesus to play alongside him.
I am backing 20-year-old Jesus to score first at 7/2 on his return to the starting XI.
Despite fielding a ‘weaker’ side, I still think City will stroll to a comfortable victory, considering their quality and strength in depth. Backing them to win with a -2 goal handicap at 5/6 looks good value, while a 3-0 home victory is 13/2.
Basel are no pushovers though, as they proved with a 1-0 home win over Man United in the group stages back in November, Michael Lang netting an 89th-minute winner and they have done brilliantly to get to this stage.
At 23/1, few bookies expect the Swiss Super League side’s second-placed team to get a result against the Premier League champions-elect.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 FC Basel
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Posted at 1915 GMT on 06/03/18.
