The primary leg of Champions League knockouts didn’t go properly for Nook Picks, however we’re treating it the identical means the competitors does: the mixture outcomes are the one factor that issues in the long run. That is the great thing about the competitors. When you’ve got a nasty match (or, in our case, eight unhealthy matches), you may dig your self out of the opening and transfer on.

This week, we start the method of digging ourselves out.

Bayern Munich vs. Lazio

Date: Tuesday, March 5 | Time: 3 p.m. ET | Watch: Paramount+

They are saying the definition of madness is doing the identical factor repeatedly and anticipating completely different outcomes. I say the definition of stupidity is repeatedly doing one thing you recognize will not work, like, for instance, attributing that madness quote to Albert Einstein though it has been confirmed Albert Einstein by no means stated it in any respect. Or betting on Bayern Munich regardless of being burned repeatedly doing so.

I guess Bayern within the first leg pondering that, with the Bundesliga seemingly out of attain, they’d throw every little thing that they had on the Champions League to maintain their dignity intact. Then they misplaced 1-0 to Lazio. Not a lot has modified since that match, with Bayern managing solely 4 factors of their three matches since, but when there’s been something constant, it is poor defending. One thing we will additionally say about Lazio, which has picked up solely three factors of their final 4 matches. I anticipate Bayern to win, and I anticipate them to advance. However I will not guess on that final result. As an alternative, I will guess on targets. The Choose: Over 2.5 (-160)

Actual Sociedad vs. PSG

Date: Tuesday, March 5 | Time: 3 p.m. ET | Watch: CBS/Paramount+

PSG’s 2-0 win within the first leg was one of many few we obtained right within the first legs, and I stay assured in PSG within the second. Whereas the outcomes have not been nice since, as PSG have solely 5 factors in three matches for the reason that context issues. PSG have additionally been resting Kylian Mbappe within the second half of those matches. Why? As a result of they’ve a 9-point lead over Brest in Ligue 1 with 12 matches to play. It’d take an epic collapse to blow that lead, so we will assume PSG is emphasizing this competitors extra.

Then there’s Actual Sociedad, a tough crew to place a lot religion in. Sociedad struggled earlier than the 2-0 loss to PSG and have continued to take action. They’ve received solely as soon as of their final 9 matches throughout all competitions, and it does not have what it takes to get previous PSG, even when the Parisiens chill out a bit. The Choose: PSG or Draw (-195)

Actual Madrid vs. RB Leipzig

Date: Wednesday, March 6 | Time: 3 p.m. ET | Watch: Paramount+

The primary leg of this match was painful. We guess the over 2.5 after which watched these two rating one aim though Leipzig put 9 (9!) photographs heading in the right direction, whereas Madrid completed with solely three. The match’s mixed xG (anticipated targets) was 2.8, and we completed with one. It sucked.

I will not put us by means of it once more. Actual Madrid got here out way more conservative than I anticipated within the first leg, and I extremely doubt that’ll be the case again at residence, even with a 1-0 lead. Madrid shall be salty over a controversial end in a 2-2 draw towards Valencia over the weekend, and so they’ll take it out on a Leipzig crew that may rue all of the missed probabilities within the first leg. The Choose: Actual Madrid (-170)

Manchester Metropolis vs. Copenhagen

Date: Wednesday, March 6 | Time: 3 p.m. ET | Watch: CBS/Paramount+

A match like this one is tough to get an ideal learn on for a large number of causes. The first one is that Metropolis is so significantly better than Copenhagen, and it is additional sophisticated by Metropolis having a 3-1 lead. The percentages of Metropolis shedding this match are extraordinarily low, and the probabilities they lose by two or three want high-powered microscopes to be seen in any respect.

However it is a difficult spot for Metropolis! They beat Manchester United in a fierce rivalry match on Sunday, and so they have one other enormous match towards Liverpool this Sunday. Copenhagen won’t win this match, however they may expertise a magical second by scoring towards Metropolis on the Etihad. So we’re doing the precise reverse of what we did within the first leg and betting Copenhagen will rating this time. The Choose: Each Groups To Rating (+144)