The group stage was basically a Brazilian masterclass as all four teams made it to the Round of 16, and they did it in style. But now, the real challenge begins. First up, it’s a heated rematch as Palmeiras and Botafogo face off in the opening game of the knockouts while Flamengo will take on European giants Bayern Munich. Let’s preview these games including the reunion of Lionel Messi and PSG: 

Our Picks: 

  • Total Odds: 11.27
  • Booking Code: 2V18XJ

Palmeiras vs. Botafogo

It’s no surprise that Brazilian teams are bossing this tournament, with all four making it to the Round of 16. That said, these two might just be the standout pair of the bunch.

Palmeiras topped a tough Group A that many expected Porto to win, and they did it without losing a single game, plus they kept two clean sheets. Botafogo, on the other hand, grabbed second place in Group B, finishing above the mighty Atletico Madrid and even beating PSG in a crucial Matchday 3 showdown. Now they’re set to face each other for the sixth time in 12 months, and Botafogo will back themselves, especially after clinching the Brazilian Serie A title ahead of Palmeiras.

In the 5 previous meetings between these sides, Botafogo has won 3 while 2 have ended in draws. Two of those meetings came in a tense Round of 16 tie in the Copa Libertadores with the Lone Star winning the first leg 2-1 while the second leg ended 2-2. Jefferson Savarino was instrumental in that tie as it was his goal that proved to be the decider. In fact, he has been a thorn in Palmeiras’ flesh over the years with 6 goal contributions in 9 games against them. 

Verdão won’t be pushovers, obviously. Their mental toughness to come back from 2-goals down against Inter Miami to get an important point on Matchday 3 was admirable. Chelsea-bound teenager Estêvão led the team in take-ons attempted (12) and successful take-ons (6) in the group stage, with 11 of them coming in the opposition half, four more than any of his teammates. He also had the most touches in the opposition’s box (18) and will surely be a threat in this game. 

I believe Botafogo have the mental edge and will sneak a win and trust me when I say we have the best odds for that. Also, I’d advise our online betting folks to lean on the goals market in this tie. Four of their last six clashes have seen both teams score, and only one game between them has ended goalless since 2010. That 0-0 draw was their most recent match in March, but it wasn’t short on action: 26 shots and a combined xG of 2.26. 

Betting Tips: 

Benfica vs. Chelsea

One of the biggest shocks of the tournament so far has to be Benfica topping Group C ahead of Bayern Munich, especially after the Bavarians kicked things off with that outrageous 10-0 win over Auckland City on Matchday 1. Benfica started with a wild draw against Boca Juniors, a game that had 3 red cards and 4 goals, but they bounced back, winning their next two, including a very solid 1-0 victory over Bayern.

Chelsea came second in Group D, mainly because of their slip-up against Flamengo on Matchday 2. They responded with a comfortable 3-0 win over Espérance de Tunis after resting a bunch of starters, but they've shown that a well-organized side can cause them problems. 

That said, the Blues’ form lately has been good. After a rough stretch between December and February where they won just 3 of 12 games (with 6 losses), they’ve turned things around, winning 16 of their last 22 in all comps, scoring 38 and keeping 12 clean sheets.

These two sides have met just 3 times with Chelsea winning all three, including that 2013 Europa League final. But Benfica’s English curse goes beyond Chelsea; they haven’t beaten an English team since 2014. 

Bad history or not, Benfica will feel they have the slight edge here, thanks to their veterans. Angel Di Maria is tied as the tournament’s top scorer with 3 goals, and Nicolas Otamendi has been a rock at the back. He won more duels (29) than anyone else in Group C and has the best success rate (80.6%) among players who’ve contested at least 18.

My bet of the day is this is the game where Benfica finally breaks that English curse. They’ve looked the more solid team in this tournament, and Chelsea still feel a bit too hot and cold to trust. On BetKing, you’ll get over 2x your betting stake on this. 

Betting Tips: 

PSG vs. Inter Miami

This just feels like one of those storylines that was bound to happen. Inter Miami made it out of Group A in second place, with Lionel Messi bagging a gorgeous free-kick along the way and now, their reward? A date with his old club, PSG.

Messi’s spell at PSG wasn’t exactly a fairytale. Sure, the stats were solid, and he picked up a Ballon d’Or during that time, but let’s be honest, that was more about his Argentina heroics than anything he did in Paris. 

Inter Miami are currently riding a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, scoring in 16 goals over that stretch. But if they want any shot at getting past PSG, Messi will have to dig deep into that magic bag of his - the one that brought him eight Ballons d’Or - because PSG aren’t messing around. Especially after that shock 1-0 loss to Botafogo where they had 75% possession and 16 shots. You just know they’re going to come out with a point to prove.

So yeah, this one’s not exactly a hot take; I’m backing PSG to win. But to spice it up, I’m tossing in two features. First, I’m using the Bet Builder to go for a PSG win and at least one shot on target from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Second, I’m throwing in the Half-Time Early Payout feature. If PSG are leading at the break, boom! You’re paid. And even if they only seal it by full-time, you still get the win. Can’t lose with that.

Betting Tips: 

Flamengo vs. Bayern Munich

I sort of feel bad for Flamengo. They topped their group and their reward for them is a Round of 16 tie with Bayern Munich. Thankfully, their players are confident ahead of the game. Danilo was positive in an interview before the game: “(topping the group) is the target we set ourselves starting out in this competition. We’ve done the job, so now we need to recover and replenish our energy levels. Bayern are such a strong team – it’ll be a brilliant encounter. “We want to stay loyal to our style of play. Of course, we’ll need to defend well throughout against Bayern, but we’ll also try to keep possession and play our game.”
 

Bayern Munich started the tournament on fire, shattering records with their 10-0 win over Auckland. However, they seem to have cooled down since then. The German Champions had a slim 2-1 win over Boca Juniors with Michael Olise scoring the winner in the 84th minute before losing to Benfica on Matchday 3. It was a classic smash and grab win for the Portuguese side who only had 27% of the possession, and many feel that could be the blueprint for underdogs facing Bayern. 

There’s no doubt Bayern’s biggest weapon is their attack. Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise both have 3 goals, and when Harry Kane is switched on, he’s a goal machine. That said, I’ve seen too much from the Brazilian teams in this tournament to bet against them right now. So instead of picking a side, I’m playing it safe and sticking with the goals market on this one.

Betting Tips: 

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