Yilmaz to hurt Schalke

 

Christian Crowther peruses the Opta stats to help pick out four bets for Wednesday night's Champions League clashes.

 

AC Milan v Barcelona, Wednesday 19:45, Sky Sports 2

Among the teams in the Champions League last 16, AC Milan are the only ones who have yet to win at home in this season's competition; their last home win the competition was a year ago, against Arsenal (4-0, 15 February 2012)

After a miserable start to the season, Milan have really picked things up since mid-November, winning 10 of their last 15 league games and yet to taste defeat in 90 minutes in 2013. This should give the Rossoneri hope that they can get something out of this tie with Barcelona, whom they have drawn with in three of the last five encounters. It's a tall order for any side to beat Barca, but the visitors' two draws in their last three away games offers further evidence that Milan could get to Spain on level terms at least.

Recommended Bet: Back the draw @ 4.5

 

AC Milan have only scored one goal in their last four games at the San Siro in the Champions League. They have had 58 shots (including those blocked) at home in the Champions League this season but only one of them has found the back of the net

Milan are not the most prolific side in Europe and this is mainly because they are too reliant on a small number of players to grab the goals, namely Stephan El Shaarawy and, to a lesser extent, Giampaolo Pazzini. This situation has been somewhat remedied by the January arrival of Mario Balotelli, who has hit the ground running - scoring four of Milan's last five goals but the ex-Manchester City man is unfortunately cup-tied in this competition and El Shaarawy. By their own prolific standards, Barcelona have been quiet on the road recently, notching just four times in their last three away matches.

Recommended Bet: Back under 2.5 goals @ 2.38

 

 

Galatasaray v Schalke, Wednesday 19:45, Sky Sports 4

 

13 of the 17 goals scored by Galatasaray and Schalke combined in the group stages came in the second half

Schalke may have gone unbeaten in the group stages but since then the club has gone through turmoil on and off the pitch. The German outfit have endured managerial upheaval and the result has been just one win from their last 12 games, culminating in conceding a dozen goals in their last five outings before this match-up. Five of those last eight goals arrived after the break and against this new-look Galatasaray outfit, replete with superstars Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba, Schalke look vulnerable once more.

Recommended Bet: Back there to be more goals in the second half @ 2.3

 

Burak Yilmaz scored six of Galatsaray's seven goals in the group stages this season; he was the joint-top scorer in the group phase with Cristiano Ronaldo

Never mind the incoming Drogba - who bagged on his debut last time out - the Turkish champions already boast another local scoring sensation among their ranks. 27-year-old Burak Yilmaz has been in the form of his life this season, racking up 18 goals from just 24 appearances. Ahead of Schalke's visit, Yilmaz has fired in three in his last two starts in the Turkish Super Lig and is simply sizzling at present.

Recommended Bet: Back Burak Yilmaz to score @ 3.15

 

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