Even though Bayern Munich will not have the best goalkeeper in the world for this tilt, they are massive favorites to advance over Besiktas.
Bayern Munich has been unstoppable this year, even without Manuel Neuer. They are galloping away from their competition in the Bundesliga, sitting 18 points clear of second-place Red Bull Leipzig.
Besiktas is in a battle with the usual suspects in the Turkish Super League. Currently, they are behind the other three, but by a scant four points.
Don't miss the Champions League action from Allianz Arena at 2:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FS2.
Champions League Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Besiktas +1550
Bayern Munich -666
Draw +625
Over/Under 3 and 3.5
Odds Analysis
Bayern Munich is the biggest favorite of any team in the first leg of the Round of 16. Allianz Arena is an extremely tough place to play for any opponent and they easily dispatched of Anderlecht, Celtic, and Paris Saint-Germain at home in the Group Stage. They are not shying away from their status as the favorite either with James Rodriguez saying the team should win it all.
This is Besiktas’ first appearance in the knockout stage of the Champions League. Besiktas was not considered the favorite in a group with Porto, RB Leipzig, and Monaco, but finished top of the table without a blemish on their record. Staying competitive with Bayern Munich is a tough task though.
Injury Report
Thiago Alcantara has been on the sidelines for almost three months, but might be ready to make his return against Besiktas. That would give the side an even bigger advantage as Alcantara is one of the top midfielders in the world. Not only is he capable of playing teammates into space with great passes, but he is a defensive wizard.
As for Besiktas, the team is relatively injury-free coming into this tilt. The major concern is some of their players are a yellow card away from a suspension, and they will need to watch their play.
Recent Form
Both of these teams have looked sharp in recent action. Besiktas has lost just once in Turkish Super League play since the middle of October, and they have crushed their competition in the Turkish Cup.
Bayern Munich has won 14 straight games in all competitions, dispatching of most of their opponents with ease. They have shown no signs of slowing down despite their dominant position in a number of competitions.
Players to Watch
It’s time for Besiktas to get some production out of Alvaro Negredo. The club showed a lot of faith in him when they sold Cenk Tosun to Everton last month after Tosun scored four goals in six matches in the Champions League Group Stage. Negredo was a prolific scorer for four seasons at Sevilla, but he has struggled to regain that form at various stops over the last few seasons.
Rodriguez is the man to keep an eye on for Bayern. He is currently on loan from Real Madrid and is having a phenomenal campaign. Many at Madrid are bemoaning the fact that the club kept Isco over him and he has been the creative playmaker the club needed after Alcantara went down with an injury.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
You’re going to have to swallow a lot of chalk if you back Bayern Munich in this one. However, it’s hard to imagine Besiktas being competitive. Besiktas does have a decent back line, but it’s difficult to see a scenario in which they find the back of the net. The best case story would probably be a 1-0 defeat.
Lay the wood and back Bayern Munich at home. The club has been unstoppable at home this season, and if they could beat PSG by multiple goals, they should handle Besiktas.
Champions League Odds: Bayern Munich 2, Besiktas 0
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