William Hill – UEFA Champions League: Tuesday 21st January 2025

With just two matchdays remaining in this stage of the UEFA Champions League, we’ve now reached the business end of the group stage, it’s all to play for.

Aston Villa could have one foot in the UCL knockout stages with a win away to Monaco, whilst the Monegasques need a win to keep their automatic qualification dreams alive.

Elsewhere, FC Barcelona travel to Benfica hoping a victory could move them above Liverpool at the top of the table, that would only occur if Liverpool are to lose their first game in this UCL campaign, they face Lille at Anfield.

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Now, let’s take a closer look at some betting angles for Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League fixtures:

Monaco v Aston Villa

• Monaco occupy sixteenth place in the UCL league which would guarantee a play-off spot for Adi Hütter’s side, although it’s fine margins and only three points separates them from falling outside of the top twenty-four.
• The Red and Whites have lost their last two UCL games, whilst they come into this fixture with just one win in their last eight games across all competitions.
• The last time Monaco lost three UCL games in a row came back in 2018.
• Unai Emery’s side are flying right now, Villa have lost just two of their last eleven outings, albeit both of those came away from home.
• A 2-2 stalemate with Arsenal on Saturday evening with put belief into this Villa side has they look to all but confirm their place in the last sixteen.
• Despite never beating a French side away from home, Unai Emery will be confident here given he’s won his last six matches against Monaco.

Prediction: Both teams to score & Aston Villa to win, Monaco 1-2 Aston Villa. 

Benfica v FC Barcelona

• Following their 4-0 victory against Famalicao at the weekend, Benfica’s attention now turns to the UCL, the Eagles sit fifteenth and three points off an automatic qualification spot.
• Benfica beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 here but have since struggled in the UCL, with a defeat to Feyenoord then followed up with a goalless draw against Bologna.
• Benfica’s win against Barcelona back in 2021 remains their only win against the Spanish giants in their last eight meetings going back to 1991.
• Barcelona entered 2025 by claiming the Spanish Super Cup with a 5-2 thrashing against Real Madrid.
• However, they faced another set back in La Liga after playing out a stalemate away to Getafe. Worth noting that Barca sit second in the table having picked up fifteen points from a possible eighteen so far.
• Despite four of their last eight meetings producing a goalless draw, this Barcelona side give up plenty of chances, expect Benfica to take at least one but Barcelona should have too much in Portugal.

Prediction: Benfica 1-3 Barcelona, Raphinha to provide an assist.  

Liverpool v Lille

• Liverpool under Arne Slot continue to impress, they showed real character away to Brentford on Saturday with Darwin Nunez scoring two goals in injury time to secure a vital 2-0 victory.
• The Reds remain the only side unbeaten in this UCL campaign and have a brilliant home record, having lost just one of their last fifteen games at Anfield, with victories coming in twelve of those.
• A win here could confirm Liverpool as group champions with a game to spare, that would require Barcelona dropping points against Benfica.
• Quite a surprising package in this seasons UCL, Lille head to Merseyside holding the final automatic qualification spot by a single point, following an unbeaten five game run in the competition.
• Lille are currently on a twenty-game unbeaten run in all competitions which is remarkable, although just one win in their last ten UCL games against English opposition is a slight concern.
• These two sides have only met twice before back in 2010 in the Europa League (UEFA Cup), they’ll make this a tricky test for Liverpool but will it be enough?

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Lille, Darwin Nunez to score anytime.