Olympiacos v Arsenal & Chelsea v Porto Odds
Posted: December 8, 2015
Updated: December 8, 2015
• English teams crashing out would hurt English football
• Expect Arsenal to suffer
• Chelsea to play for Mourinho’s job
Let’s have a look at the best Chelsea v Porto odds and Olympiacos v Arsenal betting lines in our Champions League betting preview.
AS Roma, Bayer Leverkusen, BATE Borisov, Dynamo Kyiv, Valencia and Gent will all race for qualification in the last round of the 2015/16 Champions League group stage on Wednesday. However, the biggest upset would be the elimination of the two English sides, Arsenal and Chelsea.
As English clubs have been performing weaker and weaker in the Champions League in recent years, the English Premier League is getting closer and closer to losing its fourth Champions League spot. Therefore all supporters of English clubs and everyone who bet on sports in the UK should be in front of their TV sets on Wednesday night to support the Gunners and the Blues. Let’s have a look at the Olympiacos v Arsenal and Chelsea v Porto odds with the courtesy of Bet365 Sportsbook, one of the best online sports betting sites around.
Olympiacos v Arsenal odds
Olympiacos are three points top of Arsenal in Group F, meaning that Arsene Wenger’s side have to beat the Greeks in order to reach the knockout stages of the competition. A draw for the Londoners means no other than, disgracefully, Europa League football in the spring. Arsenal are 2.05 (21/20) favourites, while Olympiacos are 3.60 (13/5) underdogs according to Bet365 Sportsbook. The top UK online betting operator has the best odds for a draw with 3.80 (14/5).
The latter one is really a tempting option, especially if we have a look at the Gunners’ recent away records: they lost their last two away matches in the Champions League and suffered three defeats, winning and drawing one in their last five games in all competition. Their last away match was also a draw at Norwich in the Premier League.
Meanwhile Olympiacos is undefeated at home in a year, if we don’t count Bayern Munich’s 3–0 visit from September. (Since the German champions play in a different league, it is a perspective that is somewhat legitimate.) They maintain a 100% record in the Greek championship, having won all twelve of their league games and they also managed to come home with a 3–2 win from the reverse fixture in the Emirates.
Arsenal lost all three of their previous outings at Piraeus, and this will be arguably their toughest day this season. And possibly a tough one for English football, too.
Prediction: draw for 3.80 (14/5) at Bet365 Sportsbook
Chelsea v Porto odds
And it can be a tough day for a certain Mr. Jose Mourinho as well. Though the Portuguese was confirmed by Chelsea representatives as manager until the end of the season previously, the Blues are still in an awful form. If they fail to qualify to the Champions League knockout stage, it is hard to see the Special One holding on his job by next week. Carlo Ancelotti, who has been enjoying his vacation since he was fired by Real Madrid at the end of last season, is already tipped to take over Chelsea by many of those who place wagers on internet betting sites.
It would be especially spicy, if Mourinho’s former team, FC Porto would cause him to be sacked. However, if Dynamo Kyiv will beat Maccabi Tel Aviv at home – and why not, they are 1.17 (1/6) favourites at Bet365 Sportsbook – a draw won’t be enough for the Portuguese. So, providing that Dynamo will win, it’s whether Mourinho or Porto.
Chelsea, fourteenth in the league, suffered a defeat against Premier League rookies Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, while Porto have won all three of their last competitive matches. They have only one defeat in their last 23 matches in all competition, the 2–0 setback at home against Dynamo Kyiv, that might cause their elimination eventually.
Despite their poor form, the hosts are favourites with even odds, with draw being priced at 3.50 (5/2) by Bet365 Sportsbook. Though the famous online sportsbook offers the best sum for the visitors’ win with 4.20 (16/5) Chelsea v Porto odds, I just don’t see Chelsea crashing out of the competition at this stage. Expect Mourinho’s torture to be continued.
Chelsea v Porto odds safe bet: Chelsea/draw for 1.25 at Bet365 Sportsbook
For additional pre-game, props and in-game Chelsea v Porto odds, as well as other Champions League offers, browse the selection of Bet365 Sportsbook, one of the best online sportsbooks in the EU and worldwide! Also visit the Bet365 Sportsbook review in our online betting guide to learn more on this excellent provider of football odds!