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Champions League holders Chelsea get their knockout campaign started on Tuesday as the defence of their crown enters an altogether more challenging stage.

Thomas Tuchel s men may feel they have dodged a bullet or two by getting this draw, with their next opponents Lille struggling to match the highs of their Ligue 1 title victory from last season in 2021-22.

Tuesday s other encounter sees Juventus travel to Villarreal, with Massimiliano Allegri looking to improve on the knockout exploits of Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo before him.

Here, Stats Perform delves into the Opta data to pick out the key statistical narratives and subplots ahead of Tuesday s games.

Chelsea v Lille

Much of the attention at Stamford Bridge will be on Romelu Lukaku, wheth…

Karim Benzema has spoken of his hope that he can play for France at Euro 2016 alongside Mathieu Valbuena.

The Real Madrid striker is facing charges of conspiracy to blackmail over an alleged extortion attempt involving a sex-tape of the Lyon playmaker.

Valbuena broke his silence on the matter by stating he was more than disappointed with Benzema in an interview with Le Monde, but the forward hopes to see an amicable resolution to the case and one that does not damage France s hopes of European Championship glory on home soil.

Hopefully it will end well, we will all be okay and we will all return to the France team to win those Euros, Benzema told TF1, with the full interview set to be broadcast later on Wednesday.

The French Football Federation has conf…

With all of Europe’s elite heading into March’s international break, it will be England’s lower tiers that steal all of Saturday’s headlines.

As the respective promotion battles in League One and League Two really start to heat up, there is also a full National League fixture list.

So, for those of you who are looking to stick on a Saturday acca, we have found a trio of betting tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

Saturday, March 23rd
BST 12:30 Mansfield vs Colchester 

Making an immediate return to winning ways last weekend, Mansfield have continued on a famous League Two romp this season. While the Stags might have eventually fallen short in their bid to punch a play-off ticket last year, Nigel Clough’s men have come roaring back t…

While it might be this season’s epic Premier League title scarp which steals most of Saturday’s headlines, we have a stacked weekend of European action.

With a full fixtures list from across the continent, there are a host of intriguing betting markets available.

So, for those of you who are looking to stick on a Saturday acca, we have taken an in-depth look at three of the best European betting tips.

Saturday, April 13th
BST 14:30 RB Leipzig vs Wolfsburg

While RB Leipzig might have seen their Champions League adventure come to an end last month following a 2-1 aggregate defeat against Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid, Marco Rose’s men are enjoying a real domestic flurry. Last seen putting in a thumping performance as they stormed their way to a…

Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier confirmed a common Spanish insult was the cause of Sergio Ramos bizarre red card against Reims, as he claimed referee Pierre Gaillouste failed to control the contest.

Ligue 1 leaders PSG dropped points for just the second time this season on Saturday after a 0-0 draw at Reims, failing to make the breakthrough against their struggling hosts after Ramos red card.

Ramos received two yellow cards in less than a minute shortly before the break, having remonstrated strongly with the referee after tripping Marshall Munetsi.

The Spaniard s dismissal was the 21st of his league career (in LaLiga and Ligue 1) – at least seven more than any other defender in Europe s top five leagues has received this century.

Speaking af…

Manchester United and Italy defender Matteo Darmian s Euro 2016 hopes appear to be in doubt after he suffered a seemingly serious injury against Norwich City on Saturday.

Darmian collided with Ivo Pinto in the 12th minute of action at Carrow Road, sustaining a blow to his lower leg.

He received lengthy treatment from United s medical staff on the edge of the pitch before being moved from the field of play.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was brought on in the full-back s place, with Darmian then carried to the tunnel on a stretcher.

The news serves as another blow to Italy coach Antonio Conte ahead of Euro 2016 as he prepares to try to guide the Azzurri to a second European title.

Midfielders Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti have already been rul…

Best Odds: 19/20

Bookmaker:

Looking to make it back-to-back Nations League victories on Sunday night, Portugal will welcome Scotland to Lisbon.

Portugal

Starting with the hosts, left frustrated over in Germany during the summer as they eventually crashed out at the quarter-final stage following penalties heartbreak at the hands of France, Portugal would have been excited to claim a welcomed boost earlier in the week. Getting their Nations League adventure underway with a 2-1 win against World Cup bronze medalists Croatia, Roberto Martinez’s men should be confident of laying down another marker here. Pencilled in as a landslide contender on Sunday night, the former Belgium boss will be excited by Portugal’s most recent meeting against the Tartan Army. Stormi…

Graham Potter cannot wait for Chelsea s luck to change in front of goal to turn around their poor run of form.

A 1-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday was the latest in a disappointing string of results that has seen them win just one game in nine matches in all competitions since the turn of the year.

Karim Adeyemi s goal means Chelsea have a deficit to overturn at Stamford Bridge on March 7 if they are to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, though the Blues were perhaps unfortunate not to be taking a positive result back to London after an encouraging attacking display.

Potter s side had 21 shots, with eight on target, accumulating an xG (expected goals) of 2.2, while Joao Felix also rattled the woodwork. It was the most attempts Chelsea had regis…

Xavi warned his Barcelona players they cannot assume the title is theirs even if they beat Real Madrid in Sunday s Clasico.

Barca welcome Madrid to Camp Nou for the second LaLiga Clasico of the season, and it comes at a potentially pivotal moment.

The Blaugrana are already nine points clear at LaLiga s summit, meaning anything other than a Madrid win will likely have the Spanish media proclaiming Barca as champions.

Even if Barca do lose, there will still likely be a fair amount of optimism at Camp Nou, given no team have ever led by as many as nine points at this stage of the season and failed to win the title.

Xavi recognises the importance of Sunday s contest, but he is not convinced by suggestions it is decisive – for either team.

If we win…

Marco Parolo believes Italy can defy the odds and spring a surprise by winning Euro 2016.

Antonio Conte s men are considered an outside bet to triumph in France and face a stern opening test against Belgium in Group E.

Lazio midfielder Parolo concedes Italy are short on headline players who are performing at the peak of their powers, but is confident the right attitude will win the day.

With the right spirit, anything is possible, he said. We do not have any top talents at their peak, but we do have players who can resolve a game.

Many players have established themselves in both Serie A and the Champions League through hard work and sacrifice. If we do badly, you will write that we are second rate, but sometimes it is more beautiful to be a surprise.<…