Manchester City are the new favourites for the Champions League after a favourable last 16 draw.
City, who are already rated champions-elect in the Premier League having gone 11 points clear over the weekend, were paired against Swiss outfit Basel – which on paper was jut about as good a draw as Pep Guardiola could have hoped for.
Previous favourites were Paris Saint Germain, but unlike City, luck was not on their side as they drew holders Real Madrid – the strongest runner-up side in the draw.
Elsewhere, Chelsea – the only English side to finish runners-up – will face Barcelona, whilst Tottenham will meet Italian champions and last season’s runners-up Juventus.
The round of 16 #UCLdraw has been made ?
Backing your team to progress? pic.twitter.com/v7I6dSq7Tc
— ★ #UCLdraw ★ (@ChampionsLeague) December 11, 2017
Manchester United take on Sevilla, whilst Liverpool have to take on Portuguese giants Porto.
After making City favourites, Betway’s Alan Alger, said: “Manchester City look unstoppable at the moment, and after a favourable draw which sees them take on Basel in the last 16 of the Champions League, we’ve installed them as new favourites at 3/1 to win the competition.
“Pep’s CV already includes two Champions League titles and the odds suggest he could make it a hat-trick this year, while his Man City side are 15/8 to be the furthest progressing Premier League team.
“Meanwhile, it’s shortened to 5/4 for the winning club to come from England for the first time since Chelsea’s triumph back in 2012.”
A record five English teams progressed from the group stage to make it to the last 16.
The group winners will be away in the round of 16 first legs on 13/14 and 20/21 February, and at home in the return matches on 6/7 and 13/14 March.
The final takes place in Kiev on 26 May.
Champions League last-16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham
Basel v Manchester City
Porto v Liverpool
Sevilla v Manchester United
Real Madrid v PSG
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas