Betting tips for UEFA Champions League quarterfinals

The UEFA Champions League resumes this week with a loaded quarterfinal roster featuring eight clubs that have combined to win nine of the last 10 UCL titles and reach the final 14 times in that span.

Of the four matchups, Tuesday's Manchester City-Atletico Madrid match is the one that I have the least sense of how it will play out. City will have the majority of the ball and could blitz Atletico. Or Diego Simeone's side could do what Atletico does in Champions League and escape Etihad Stadium with a low-scoring draw or a 1-0 win. That's the game I'm avoiding this week. As for the other three first legs...

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill.

Benfica vs. Liverpool3 p.m. ET, Eithad Stadium, Manchester, England

Pick: Liverpool -1.5

Liverpool has won 27 of 48 games by multiple goals this season (56%), including 13 of 24 away from home (54%). As the first leg against Inter last round showed, the Reds can scrap together a couple goals even when the game largely doesn't go their way and they'll press for more late even when leading by a goal.

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Liverpool should be able to attack Benfica like Ajax did in the first leg. The Dutch side scored twice in the first half hour and could have had more against a Benfica defense that gives up a goal per game in the Portuguese league. Liverpool also has the back line to shut down Benfica in the second half. Jurgen Klopp's side has been in fine form while chasing the quadruple, and I'll lay the goal and a half at even money.

Chelsea vs. Real Madrid3 p.m. ET, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain

Pick: Under 2.5 goals

Chelsea topped Real Madrid 3-1 on aggregate in last