Expert Jury: Bayern Munich well-fancied to reign supreme in Champions League

We asked our top team of writers and a leading odds-compiler for their thoughts on this week's big talking points and this is how they answered...

What is your best football bet this weekend?

Racing Post's Joe Casey: Ryan Lowe has impressed at Preston since taking over, losing just two of his 11 games, and they can pick up a win against Peterborough. Posh look destined to make their return to the Championship a single-season one, having lost five of their last six, conceding 18 times in the process.

Racing Post's Steve Davies: Colchester enjoyed an excellent transfer window which coincided with an upturn in form which will ensure they finish the season heading up. They lost at winning machines Mansfield on Tuesday but there's no disgrace in that. They can bounce back by taking care of League Two's biggest back-pedallers Carlisle, who have lost four in a row and won't relish this pig of a round trip.

Racing Post's Liam Flin: Nice should be in high spirits after crushing Marseille 4-1 in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France and they look a decent bet to see off Lyon. Nice have won seven of their last nine games in all competitions, drawing 0-0 with PSG in one of the other matches, while Les Gones lost their last game 2-0 against Monaco.

Chris Wood from Coral: Salford away at Leyton Orient. Orient have been pretty appalling in the last month or so, their strikers have lost all confidence and there is a dearth of creativity throughout. A lot of the home support is quite negative as well which doesn't help.

Who are the most vulnerable favourites?

Joe Casey: Everton were poor against Newcastle and look short enough against Leeds. The Whites showed their fighting spirit to come back from 3-1 down against Aston Villa, something that seems to be lacking in the blue half of Merseyside.

Steve Davies: The League One table might not suggest it but Cheltenham v Fleetwood is a clash of two in-form sides and one the hosts are too short to win. They'll be buzzing after coming from behind to beat Sunderland and have lost just one of their last seven. But stalemate kings Fleetwood know how to avoid defeat having drawn their last four and lost just two of their last 11.

Liam Flin: Manchester United followed their dismal FA Cup exit at the hands of Middlesbrough with a 1-1 draw with Premier League basement boys Burnley and I would not rush to back them at odds-on against Southampton. The Saints blow hot and cold but have held Man City to a draw and beaten Tottenham in their last two league contests.

Chris Wood: Tottenham look a bit short at home to Wolves. Antonio Conte has undoubtedly improved them but Spurs looked brittle against Southampton and Wolves were unlucky against Arsenal on Thursday.

Who wins the Champions League?

Joe Casey: Bayern Munich have a natural advantage over most of their rivals as their domestic title is likely to be sewn up by the time the Champions League reaches its conclusion. They also have a fairly easy tie against RB Salzburg and a strong track record in this competition. I fancy them to beat an English team in the final.

Steve Davies: I like Bayern Munich and their ability to absolutely blow opponents away. They won all six group games and scored 22 goals, and they won't change their approach going into the knockout rounds. I'm not convinced that Manchester City won’t run out of steam yet again and PSG are the big dangers to Bayern. I fancy they'll take care of Real Madrid in the tie of the round.

Liam Flin: The Premier League title looks out of reach for Liverpool, who can continue the recent trend of English clubs excelling in Europe by winning the Champions League this season. Anfield is a fortress again with the fans back, they won all six of their group games in a tough section and they now have potential game-changing quality on the bench in January addition Luis Diaz.

Chris Wood: It's a boring answer but if Manchester City don't win it this season I'm not sure it will happen for them under Pep Guardiola. The squad is well rested compared with others and they look like they have plenty left in the tank while many of their rivals at the head of the market are in a period of flux.

How about the Europa League?

Joe Casey: Atalanta’s Serie A challenge looks like it may well have petered out but they have the squad to challenge the European elite and their tie with Olympiakos in the Europa League could be the start of a deep run in the competition.

Steve Davies: It's the clubs who dropped out of the Champions League who make the market yet I'm going for one of the Europa League group-stage winners, Leverkusen. Having a round less to play is an obvious edge and Gerardo Seoane's free scorers look like a side who can bully opponents. Now a consistent top-six Bundesliga outfit, they can improve on their quarter-final appearance of two seasons back.

Liam Flin: Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga title hopes are fading fast but they could compensate by winning Europe's secondary competition. Having also been knocked out of the DFB Pokal, they can give the Europa League their full attention and in Erling Haaland, Marco Reus, Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard among others, they have the attacking quality to go all the way.

Chris Wood: Atalanta have flattered to deceive but it's about time they won something rather than just provided a conveyor belt of players to the bigger teams.

Complete the treble with the winner of the Europa Conference League

Joe Casey: Rennes were unbeaten in a group that contained Tottenham and have a squad packed with young talent, particularly Jeremy Doku and Kamaldeen Sulemana. They can take home the inaugural Conference League title.

Steve Davies: When you've got the betting being headed by bang-average sides like Roma and Leicester you know this is wide open. Chuck a dart at AZ Alkmaar, unbeaten in the Eredivisie in over three months and super smooth progressing to this stage by winning their group very handily. Given a kindly draw they should have every chance. They sit out the knockout round of the playoffs and shouldn't be more than twice the odds of stablemates PSV.

Liam Flin: Marseille dropped out of the Europa League after an underwhelming group stage but it was by no means a disaster and their attacking options such as Arkadiusz Milik and Cedric Bakambu could wreak havoc at Europa Conference League level. A Copa America winner as a manager, Jorge Sampaoli has also made Marseille a tough side to break down and the Ligue 1 team could rise to the top.

Chris Wood: AZ Alkmaar have beaten both Ajax and PSV in the Eredivisie this season and have quietly assembled a strong team. They could go well at a decent price.

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