Below, you can find Ben's tips for Arsenal vs. Atletico Madrid. The odds were correct at the time of writing.
After last week's draw, Atletico Madrid travel to North London to face an Arsenal side in high spirits after the last weekend of Premier League football. A place in the Champions League final awaits one of them.
Arsenal are once again the favourites to win the Premier League title and a historic double could still be on the cards. However, they must overcome an Atletico Madrid side who will not give up a place in the final easily.
Let's dive into our tips after landing 3/5 last week, including an almost 3/1 selection.
At the time of writing this, the lineups were not available to us, so I have tried to make some assumptions about the lineup, whilst only tipping players I think will start. It is worth stating here that I would not advise placing any bets until the lineups are out for both teams.
I've gone for some bigger prices and one smaller price to balance things out a little bit. There's a good amount of value on offer and I think this can be taken advantage of.
Now, without further ado, let's dive into my reasoning.
This feels like a slightly underpriced market considering the card stats for both teams this season. In nine of Atleti's 15 Champions League games, they have received the first card.
For Arsenal, this has landed (opposition getting the first card) in eight of their 13 games. I think this is great value.
Last week, I tipped the overs market for corners. However, I'm looking at the Unders this week. Indeed, I think this game could be a lot more cagey. So, opportunities may be more limited.
Arsenal concede a corner less per game at home, whilst Atleti take around 0.5 fewer corners per game away from home. There were only seven corners in the first game; it may be worth looking below the 10.5 line.
I stated that this market was overpriced in the first leg and for the second leg, it has only got better in price. So, I am again backing Marcos Llorente to have a shot in this game.
He has averaged a shot per game in the Champions League this season and with four in his last four games, he is showing up when it matters.
Put simply, this game won't be as open as the bookmakers are suggesting it will be. Arsenal have a lot on their plates and mentally, this is the most difficult position they have been in.
They are only a few games away from a historic double and that requires a lot of mental strength.
Atleti being 7/5 to grab a result or draw the game feels far too high. It would not surprise me if they took this to extra time, if not managing to win in 90 minutes...
I was surprised to see Zubimendi among the mid-tier booking prices and I am going to have to snap up this price.
With five fouls against Atletico Madrid this season, and 14 in 11 games against them in all competitions, I think he could well be drawn in here.
3/1 seems a little too kind from Bet365.
Predicted Arsenal XI vs. Atletico Madrid (4-3-3):B Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Ødegaard, Eze; Gyökeres.
Predicted Atletico Madrid XI vs. Arsenal (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Cardoso, Koke, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez.
If you wish to back Ben's tips in a bet builder, Bet365 are paying 55/1, at the time of writing. It certainly could hold some value at that price!
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Ben is an accredited football journalist who follows anything from League One to Serie A, also working for the likes of SempreMilan and Total Italian Football. As an avid punter, he has become the master tester at BettingLounge, refusing to take bookies by their words when it comes to withdrawal times and much more.