Chelsea welcomes LOSC Lille for the first leg of two Round of 16 Champions League matches. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET at Stamford Bridge. Below, we preview the Chelsea vs. Lille odds and lines, and make our best Champions League bets, picks and predictions.
Currently sitting in third in the EPL, Chelsea is coming off a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace Saturday. It was able to get into the Round of 16 following a second-place finish, behind Juventus, in Group H.
However, Chelsea will be without D Ben Chilwell and M Reece James, who are both listed as “out,” per whoscored.com. Plus, D César Azpilicueta is listed as doubtful. Meanwhile, Lille’s 21-year-old M Angel Gomes is also listed as doubtful.
Lille sits 11th in the PSG-led Ligue 1. It has scored 32 goals and allowed 35 in 32 matches this season. Lille won Group G against a quartet of teams, none of which were among the top in any major European league.
Chelsea vs. Lille: Odds, picks and predictions
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:23 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Chelsea -340 (bet $340 to win $100) | Lille +950 (bet $100 to win $950) | Draw +430
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -120 | U: -105)
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Prediction
Chelsea 2, Lille 0
Money line (ML)
PASS. Chelsea is too pricey at -340. Even down many key attackers and likely also without F Mason Mount, Chelsea isn’t worth laying anything on with this price tag.
I do like BOTH TEAMS NOT TO SCORE at -190 even though it’s a tad expensive.
Lille scored just 7 goals in 6 games against weak Group G competition. Lille also has struggled lately, scoring just 2 goals in its last 4 Ligue 1 competitions.
Chelsea allowed just 4 goals in 6 games and has been equally as good in EPL play this season.
Over/Under (O/U)
BET UNDER 2.5 (-105).
This is the best bet in the match. Chelsea is likely without James and Mount, two key transitionary players.
Whoscored.com noted that F Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea’s star 9, could also “be dropped” after just 7 touches in 90 minutes against Palace.
If he’s out, F Timo Werner or F Christian Pulisic will likely get the nod. Neither are quite the threat that Lukaku is and would hurt Chelsea’s attack.
Chelsea had just 1 goal Sunday and have had its last 6 matches against EPL sides go Under 2.5 goals.
With Lille a capable opponent, this should mirror a more competitive match for Chelsea, which it has had trouble scoring in. Given Chelsea’s defensive prowess, the Under is a strong play here.
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