Tuesday 28th January 2025

In Across the Leagues today:

• Champions League matchday 8…
• 300/1 mega-acca now 100/1…
• Football League combo… 

Champions League notebook – and 195/1 acca for tonight…

There’s all to play for in the Champions League on Wednesday night…

With the final round of the new 36-club ‘league phase’ featuring just two teams already certain to qualify for the knockouts and avoid the playoffs (Liverpool, and one of our pre-season picks, Barcelona).

But the problem is, there’s not much in the way of excitement when it comes to the bookies’ prices…

For example, Man City need to win tomorrow in order to avoid elimination. But they’re just 2/11 (1.18) to beat Club Brugge (who also need the points)...

And for another eye-wateringly short price, what about Harry Kane to score, at odds of just 1/4 (1.25) at best, with his Bayern Munich side at home v Slovan Bratislava. That’s possibly the shortest Anytime Scorer price we’ll see all season.

• For a breakdown of ‘who needs what’ going into Wednesday’s final round of games, take a look at some of the permutations here

I can also point you towards last week’s Champions League notebook article, where I reeled off a list of star strikers and scorers. Eight of the nine men I didn’t tip in that piece went on to score…

While with almost depressing inevitability, my off-the-beaten track pick from last week, Ludovic Ajorque, then went and got the only goal in Brest’s next match, winning 1-0 away in French Ligue 1 win at the weekend…

Moving on…

And in the realm of bigger odds (much, much bigger odds)...

Mega-acca update…

Let’s check-in on our 2024/25, self-styled UEFA cups mega-acca. Where back in September, we took these three clubs in a wild-price Trixie:

• Champions League – Bayern Munich
• Europa League – Athletic Club Bilbao
• Conference League – Chelsea

That full-house treble was trading at 300/1+ when we got involved at the start of the season, and a top-price 392/1…

The hat-trick is now down to around 100/1 in general, with several firms at 115/1.

Win & Both Teams to Score contenders for tonight…

While we look for that Euro ticket to ride us past Easter and into a sunny springtime. Closer to home, we can target the big odds this evening, too…

With a cold, wet Tuesday night offering - as ever - the potential for some rollicking end-to-end action in the English Football League…

These three all kick-off at 7.45pm. And we’re going for a trio of 4/1+ away results in the Win & Both Teams to Score market…

Wycombe v Barnsley (League One, 7.45pm)

• Win & Both Teams to Score: BARNSLEY. Six of Barnsley’s 8 Win & BTTS results this season have come on the road, and they won this league fixture 4-2 away last season. Wycombe are 2nd in the table, but have faltered at home of late - winning just one from 6 at Adams Park

Peterborough v Wigan (League One, 7.45pm)

• Win & Both Teams to Score: WIGAN. The visitors have won 2 of their last 3 games, and have beaten Peterborough 3 times in a row - including a 3-2 away win last term. The Posh are 8 league games without a win, but remain capable of getting into high-scoring contests; they’re the division’s no.1 team for Both Teams to Score

Fleetwood v Walsall (League Two, 7.45pm)

• Win & Both Teams to Score: WALSALL. League Two leaders Walsall will be eager to avenge October’s bizarre 6-2 defeat against Fleetwood. The Sadlers have won 4 away games in a row. Four of Fleetwood’s last 5 losses have seen goals at both ends. Walsall are the joint-top team in the division for Win & Both Teams to Score payouts this season

The treble on Barnsley, Wigan & Walsall pays a ginormous 195/1. The advice is a Trixie: three doubles and the treble.

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TODAY’S PICKS & BEST ODDS

See above for full details

Three Football League matches as listed above - TONIGHT 7.45pm

• Trixie. Win & Both Teams to Score: Barnsley, Wigan, Walsall - best odds William Hill, Bet365 (195/1 for the treble), BetVictor (183/1), Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook (177/1)

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I’ll be back on Friday with your Weekend Preview…

Enjoy the football…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Across the Leagues