THE Champions League last 16 second legs conclude this week and on Tuesday night Roma host Shakhtar Donetsk looking to reverse a 2-1 first leg defeat. Ross Casey (@RossCasey24) shares his best bets.
Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk | Tuesday 13th March 2018, 19:45 | BT Sport
It is unlikely that many in England will be watching this game with Man Utd playing Sevilla at the same time, but that is not to say that this clash is not worthy of your betting time!
With Shakhtar holding a goal advantage over the Serie A side, we are set for an absolutely thrilling conclusion to this Champions League last 16 tie, that I for one am pretty excited about!
Roma
Roma come into this match on the back of two impressive wins over Napoli and Torino, where they scored seven goals in just two matches.
The bookmakers make the home side 4/5 best price favourites here, which based on their previous two games may well sound attractive – however, there are reasons to avoid them at that odds on price.
Eusebio De Francesco's Roma have won just two of their last seven matches played at the Stadio Olimpico and their Champions League record is even worse – winning just three of their last 10.
That lack of Champions League success showed in the first leg where Shakhtar ran out deserved 2-1 winners, and may well get into the heads of players and fans on Tuesday night.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar are on an excellent run at present, winning each of their last five games, scoring 18 and conceding just one in that sequence of victories!
Facundo Fererrya is a player in particularly great form at present. The Argentinian has scored seven goals in those five games, failing to only be on the scoresheet once! He is available at 15/8 to score anytime with Betfair.
Whilst that will give punters plenty of faith, they are a big price of 4/1 which seems too big, right? Perhaps the fact they have already lost away games to Napoli and Man City are giving the bookies reason to believe they will stumble again here?
Betting Angles
Goals look to be on the cards in Italy in this one. There is an incredible statistic that over 2.5 goals has landed in 12 of the last 13 Shakhtar Donetsk matches and with Roma netting seven goals in their last three games that one looks likely to land.
You can get even more value out of the over 2.5 goals and both teams to score market here, with evens available with SkyBet.
Best Bets
Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk – Over 2.5 goals and Both Teams To Score (Evens SkyBet)
Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk – Facundo Ferrerya Anytime (15/8 Betfair)
