Real Madrid Currently Has Best Chance of Advancing To Quarter Finals
Published on February 25th, 2015 6:50 pm ESTThe first legs of the Champions League Round of 16 matches have now all been played.
Three teams scored decisive victories on the road in the first legs - Real Madrid (by defeating Schalke 04 2-0 on the road), Barcelona (by defeating Man City 2-1) and Monaco (by defeating Arsenal 3-1 away from home). These teams will all head home with their opponents clearly on the ropes.
Teams such as Bayern Munich (0-0 draw against Shakhtar) and Chelsea (1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain) head home with their fates squarely in their hands, though they don't have the same cushion that the sides from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Monaco have. Both Bayern Munich and Chelsea are expected to advance to the quarter finals.
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Here are the current odds to qualify for the Champions League quarter finals:
Porto, 1.25
Basel, 3.75
Real Madrid, 1.00
Schalke 04, 41.00
Chelsea, 1.33
Paris Saint-Germain, 3.25
Bayern Munich, 1.08
Shakhtar Donetsk, 7.00
Atletico Madrid, 1.73
Bayer Leverkusen, 2.00
Monaco, 1.14
Arsenal, 5.00
Barcelona, 1.04
Man City, 10.00
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As you can see, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Monaco and Barcelona are essentially locks to make it through to the next round.
The closest odds belong to Atletico Madrid (1.73) and Bayer Leverkusen (2.00). Bayer Leverkusen helped themselves tremendously by notching a 1-0 victory at home on Wednesday. Atletico Madrid, however, is still expected to advance to the Quarter Finals, though the odds are extremely close. Bayer Leverkusen will surely be hanging on for dear life when these two sides clash again.
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Champions League action resumes in the second week of March.