Lee Phelps’ Champions League Picks: Arsenal to pinch first-leg lead

As we reach the final matchday of the Champions League Round of 16 fixtures, William Hill’s Lee Phelps gives his picks on the remaining two fixtures in the draw.

Porto v Arsenal – 20:00

Arsenal are trying to get past this stage of the Champions League for the first time in eight attempts and have the form and goals to do it. Despite the fact no-one seems to be rating their chances of winning a trophy, I think they can go deep here.

Porto are traditionally good on home soil, but struggle on the road, so a result for Mikel Arteta’s team tonight would obviously be huge. They’re 4/6 to win though which feels a little short to me.

What I’d prefer to look at is the goals and scorers markets. Rio Ferdinand questioning Bukayo Saka’s world class status seems to have got him going, he’s now got six goals in his last four matches and is nearly 2/1 to score. There’s also an enhanced odds play on him to have over one shot on target, Arsenal to win and over two goals in the match at 6/1.

Napoli v Barcelona – 20:00 

What a mouthwatering game we have in Naples as the champions of Italy and Spain face off. Well, it would have been mouthwatering last season – this time around they both have domestic issues.

Barca are eight points behind Real Madrid and probably see this competition as their main focus now, while Napoli are on their third manager of the campaign and are ninth in Serie A. What a fall from grace, but nothing a big win over Barca wouldn’t paper over.

There’s hardly anything between them, as I write this, with the Italians 13/8 and the Catalonians 6/4. I hate sitting on the fence, but the draw is the biggest price of the three outcomes at 12/5 and something both would settle for.