Bayern Munich within reach of Last 16 in Champions League

UEFA Champions League Group F leader, Bayern Munich, is within reach of a berth in the last 16 and as they prepare to host Steaua Bucharest, they will try to secure the coveted pass at home. The Bundesliga champions are the favourites in the sports betting market to emerge at the top of Group F and given they are undefeated thus far in the championships everything would appear to be pointing to a home win on Tuesday.

Steaua Bucharest enters this match with no hope of advancement. All that is left for them in their third successive Champions League outing is to secure a third place finish in the group that would be enough to ensure a UEFA Cup qualifying berth for next season.

Currently, Fiorentina (at three points) is two points better off than Steaua in Group F. Therefore, to ascend to the third spot, Steaua would need three points. That means they would have to beat Bayern. What is the likelihood of that happening?

Soccer Betting Line:

FC Bayern Munich -1½ Ev -350 2½ O -140 U +120 Draw +375

Steaua Bucharest +1½ -120 +800 2½ O -140 U +120 Draw +375

Match Time: 02:45 P.M. Eastern Time Tuesday November 25, 2008

Venue: Fußball Arena München - Munich - Germany

Soccer Betting Analysis: After looking at the soccer betting line, it is clear the likelihood of Steaua masterminding the upset is extremely low in the soccer betting market. Bayern still has to gain a point to secure passage in to the knock out round and given they are undefeated they are not likely to accommodate Steaua’s ambitions at the expense of their own.

Munich -350: Klinsman’s side has been criticised quite a bit on the domestic front but in the prestigious club competition that is Champions League, critics cannot find much to fault. The Bundesliga side has gone 2-2-0 in their first four fixtures, scoring six and conceding two.

Bayern are level with Lyon on eight points but sit at the top of the table on goal differential. They are poised to take their place in the last 16 for a fifth successive season. There is no reason to believe they will be challenged by the Romanians.

Steaua Bucharest +800: The Romanian side is out of contention. They are now playing to qualify for a UEFA Cup berth, which would be secured with a third place finish in the group. However, the odds of them achieving that goal against Bayern are so long that it is unlikely it will happen. They have gone 0-1-3 so far, conceding eight goals and contributing three.

Soccer Betting Verdict: Bayern is undefeated in the championships thus far and needing just one point from their last two fixtures to make sure they progress, they will try to secure the all-important passage on match day five. They will have home edge. They are in fine form and full of confidence.

Soccer Free Picks: Bayern -350 |Over 2.5 goals -140

Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room