Chelsea a decent bet for the Champions League despite tough draw
Chelsea are struggling domestically but might well be a decent bet for the Champions League.
When it comes to betting on football, sites like BettingNews.com have suggested Liverpool and defending champions Manchester City will again be the front runners for the title.
Leicester have been the surprise package so far this season, while Chelsea have found the going tough after a bright start under Frank Lampard.
After a cracking spell in which youngsters like Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount took the Premier League by storm, Lampard now has problems to deal with.
Chelsea have looked vulnerable at the back all season and their 1-0 loss against Bournemouth was their fourth defeat in their last five league matches – and their third home defeat of the campaign.
The Blues are currently fourth but have Tottenham and Manchester United breathing down their necks – so they face a tough battle in their pursuit of a top-four finish.
A loss to Spurs in Sunday’s big game would take the north London club above Chelsea in the table, so these are worrying times for Blues fans.
New signings expected
What could swing things back in Chelsea’s favour is the prospect of new players arriving in January.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport lifting the club’s transfer ban means Lampard will now be able to add to his squad.
A defensive signing seems like a must and there is every chance that Nathan Ake could be returning to west London.
Chelsea inserted a £40m buy-back clause in the deal when Ake was sold to Bournemouth in 2017 and the Dutchman’s performances on the south coast suggest he would be a shrewd January capture.
But Lampard is also in the market for attacking players, with Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha and England international Jadon Sancho among Chelsea’s targets. Borussia Dortmund are unlikely to part with Sancho at this stage but Zaha would certainly be an exciting signing – and has made it clear he wants to leave Palace.
Returning to Munich
Improving the squad would surely improve Chelsea’s chances in the second half of the season – and that includes the Champions League.
Lampard’s side have been handed a tough draw in the last 16 in the shape of Bayern Munich. They will be underdogs, but shouldn’t be ruled out.
The second leg in Munich will mean a return to the city where Chelsea won the trophy in 2012. Lampard was part of their team that night and will no doubt relish a return.
While most betting sites have the likes of Bayern and holders Liverpool among the favourites to lift the trophy in May, betting on Chelsea could well be a shrewd move. The squad has real potential and with one or two signings could yet make it a season to remember.
