UEFA Champions League Picks Today: UCL Predictions for March 18

Barcelona enters the second tie against Newcastle as a big favorite after earning a hard-fought draw in England last week. The home advantage and the devastating attack of the Spanish champions should be enough to progress to the next stage, but their defense can be suspect.

The team is yet to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League this season, allowing at least a goal in all nine games played so far. Barcelona conceded even against the likes of Club Brugge (3 times), Slavia Prague (2), and Copenhagen (1). That run of fixtures includes two games against Newcastle as well, with the English side scoring in both of them.

Furthermore, the Magpies have found the net at least once in 13 consecutive games. They look dangerous nowadays, so they are not completely doomed in this clash. I still expect Barcelona to win, so the odds of +162 for the home side to win and both teams to score is one of the best Champions League bets today.

Galatasaray only received one yellow card in the first leg against Liverpool, but don’t let that record fool you. Eight or nine players from the Turkish side were threatened to miss the second game if they got a booking, so the team was extra careful.

The priority was to find the right balance between getting a result and not being crippled for the return match in England. It will be different today, as Galatasaray will desperately want to progress to the next round. The same was true in the second leg against Juventus in the previous round, and the Turkish time got four yellows there.

They have a one-goal advantage they will try to defend at all costs, so I expect them to give a lot of fouls away. Naturally, that should lead to some yellow cards, so I’m more than happy back Galatasaray to cover the 2.5 line here at even odds.