Champions League last 16 betting tips: Selections for the knockout round this week

Mar 10, 2026 - 12:15

The first legs of the Champions League last 16 ties take place across Tuesday and Wednesday this week, with Europe’s big guns and a few surprise packages battling it out for a place in the quarter-finals.

Holders Paris Saint-Germain have a tough test against Chelsea, while Barcelona and Real Madrid have also been drawn against Premier League opponents in the shape of Newcastle and Manchester City respectively.

We’ve selected our best bets across two nights of exciting Champions League knockout football.

GET £40 IN FREE BETS WHEN YOU BET ON THE FOOTBALL WITH talkSPORT BET

Champions League betting tips

Barcelona to win at Newcastle @ 6/5
Bodo/Glimt to win & BTTS vs Sporting @ 31/10
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea Over 3.5 goals @ 29/20

Barca can repeat the trick at St James’ Park

Barcelona won at Newcastle in the league phase of this competition back in September and they can repeat that success by seizing a first leg lead in this last 16 tie.

Newcastle are in mixed form with just five wins in their last 13 games, while Barcelona have hit form as they are looking to extend a four-game winning run.

The Catalan giants won 2-1 when these sides met in September but in truth they could have won by a bigger margin as they dominated for large periods.

Eddie Howe’s hosts have lost four of their last six home games and the absence of influential midfielder Bruno Guimaraes due to injury is a major blow for this test, and Barcelona look well placed to take a lead back to Camp Nou for next week’s return leg.

Bodo can strike first against Sporting

Bodo/Glimt enjoyed a remarkable run to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season and they’re now in the middle of another incredible journey on Europe’s biggest stage.

Opponents Sporting CP will probably win the tie, but they may find themselves with a deficit to recover in the home leg in Portugal as the Aspmyra Stadion in Norway has proven to be a tough hunting ground for visiting teams – particularly in Europe.

Aside from the obvious advantages of playing at home, Glimt are aided by their artificial surface and at this venue they have beaten the likes of Manchester City and Inter Milan this season.

They have also won in Milan and at Atletico Madrid, so their success isn’t down to their home results alone but at this stage of the competition they will need to make the most of this first leg.

Sporting have only lost once since a 3-1 defeat at Bayern Munich back in November and that is the only game all season where they have lost by more than one goal.

They can keep this tie in the balance and they should be able to get on the scoresheet in defeat, as Glimt have conceded in all of their Champions League games since the league phase began.

Goals on the agenda at Parc des Princes

PSG against Chelsea has the potential to be one of the most entertaining last 16 ties and we could be in line for a high-scoring first leg in the French capital.

There have been at least four goals scored in five of PSG’s last seven games across all competitions and in five of Chelsea’s last seven.

PSG score on average 2.6 goals per-game in the Champions League this season, but they have also shipped eight goals across their five home games, while Chelsea’s league phase games averaged over three goals per-game.

Both teams boast real quality in attack but both can be vulnerable at the back and between them they should be able to combine for at least four goals on Wednesday.

Cheltenham Festival 2026 news, tips and free bets:

GET £40 IN FREE BETS WHEN YOU BET ON THE FOOTBALL WITH talkSPORT BET

Odds correct at time of publish and subject to change*

18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet £10 via mobile web on any football (odds 1/1+) within 7 days of registration. Get 4x£10 in Free Bets for set football markets, which expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org