Will Chelsea be in the knockout stages of the Champions League?

Chelsea stormed into the last 16 of the Champions League with a 4-0 thrashing of Juventus which leaves them just needing to match the Italian side’s result in the final game to ensure they finish top of the group. Goals from Trevor Chalobah, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Timo Wener sent the reigning champions through in style, inflicting Juve’s heaviest ever Champions League defeat in the process. Romelu Lukaku and Werner, both injured a month ago in the Champions League win over Malmo, were both fit enough for the bench, Werner coming in to grab an injury time fourth to cap a great night for the Stamford Bridge side.

Total Goal Minutes x Corners (settled at 3664)

After losing to Juventus on matchday 2, Chelsea were out for revenge, not to mention their desire to win the group and gain an easier draw in the next round. Thomas Tuchel’s side put on a great performance, and with 16 corners and goal minutes totalling 229, buying Total Goal Minutes x Corners proved particularly lucrative for punters. The spread was set at 1075-1200, meaning buyers won 2464 times their stake.

How did Manchester United do without Ole at the wheel?

Carrick’s at the wheel! Manchester United secured their place in the Champions League last 16 as group winners with an impressive 2-0 win at Villarreal. Looking much tighter at the back, United took everything the Europa League champions threw at them and having soaked up the pressure, hit them with two sucker punches. In the final quarter of the game, Cristiano Ronaldo maintained his record of scoring in every Champions League game this season with a smart finish after good work from Fred, before Jadon Sancho smashed in his first United goal in injury time to send United through in style.

Man United Total Goal Minutes (settled at 168)

There is often a new manager bounce when a change is made at the top, and so it proved last night as Carrick guided United to an impressive victory. We saw some buyers for United Total Goal Minutes before the game, when the spread was set at 64-72. They would have been small winners thanks to Ronaldo’s customary goal, but with Sancho’s late exclamation point, they ended up winning a tasty 96 times their stake.

Will Barcelona be in the knockout stage of the Champions League?

Barcelona are now second favourites to grab the second qualification spot for the knockout stages after being held to a 0-0 draw at home to Benfica, who are now odds on to go through. The 5-time European champions are still two points ahead of the Portuguese side, but must go to runaway leaders Bayern Munich in the final game, while Benfica play group whipping boys Dynamo Kiev. Munich have won every game so far, including a 3-0 win at the Nou Camp. Barca, now under the management of Xavi, had a goal disallowed but were largely left frustrated and have scored only two goals in five Champions League games this season.

Match Performance (settled at 27)

This Barcelona side is very different from teams of the past, and Xavi, a man who featured in many of the great Barca sides in recent memory, has his work cut out. The sellers were out in force expecting much the same, and they were rewarded with a pretty dour goalless draw. The Match Performance spread, which was set at 97-102 before the game, is made up by awarding 15 points for a goal, 3 for a corner, 5 for a yellow card, 15 for a red and 10 for a penalty, with -25 for a 0-0 draw. Sellers last night won 70 times their stake as Benfica held on for a point that could be crucial in deciding who goes through.