Tottenham v Leipzig: Champions League last-16 betting preview & free tip

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Tottenham v Leipzig in the Champions League last 16.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Leipzig draw no bet
1pt 19-20 Coral, Ladbrokes
Back this tip with Coral

Dani Olmo to score first
0.5pt each-way 9-1 Betway, BoyleSports
Back this tip with bet365

Team news

Tottenham
Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko are long-term absentees while Erik Lamela is a doubt and Heung-Min Son is out with a broken arm.

Leipzig
Tyler Adams has been ruled out with a groin injury and Kevin Kampl is a doubt. Dayot Upamecano is suspended and Will Orban and Ibrahima Konate are both sidelined.

Match preview

Any punters thinking that Tottenham have been dealt a soft draw in the Champions League last 16 need only look at the Bundesliga table to see that Leipzig should not be written off.

A routine 3-0 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday has kept the Red Bull one place and one point behind leaders Bayern Munich in the race for the title.

Prior to that win Leipzig became the only Bundesliga side this season to shut out the Bavarians, who put ten goals past Spurs in their two group-stage meetings.

Their defensive resolve is testament to the meticulous planning of Julian Nagelsmann, one of the most highly-rated young managers in Europe, but it is free-flowing, attacking football which has seen them rise from the second tier to the Champions League knockout phase in just six years.

Star striker Timo Werner is the obvious threat for the visitors with 20 Bundesliga goals in 21 appearances, averaging a strike every 94 minutes, but there are plenty of other Leipzig players Tottenham need to keep tabs on.

Electric winger Marcel Sabitzer has scored 12 goals in all competitions while playmaker Emil Forsberg found the net three times in the Champions League group stage.

As if nullifying the threat of those three was not taxing enough, Spurs must also be cautious of January addition Dani Olmo, who looks a value each-way bet to open the scoring in north London.

The Spaniard, a product of Barcelona's La Masia academy, has already scored against Eintracht Frankfurt since signing from Dinamo Zagreb and his vision, dribbling and ability to cut inside make him a danger if Tottenham's defence focus their attention too much on Werner.

Spurs blew away German opponents Borussia Dortmund 4-0 at this stage of last season's competition but the current crop under Jose Mourinho look a far cry from the side who made the Champions League final, at least as far as performances are concerned.

The absences of Tottenham's main man Harry Kane and deputy Heung-min Son does not help their cause this time around, especially against a physically imposing defence featuring Nordi Mukiele and Lukas Klostermann who should make life difficult for the home side's diminutive forwards.

The hosts have not been overly convincing at the back either, conceding in two games with Southampton and matches against relegation-threatened Norwich and Aston Villa in recent weeks.

Belgian pair Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are shadows of the duo once considered among the fiercest in the Premier League and full-back Serge Aurier looks far more accomplished attacking than defending.

Leipzig topped an open Group G at the end of last year and look well equipped all over the pitch to cause a stir in their first meeting with English opponents. Backing them on the draw-no-bet market could be the best punting strategy.