Previewing Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League fixtures

Last week, the likes of AC Milan, Benfica, FC Barcelona and APOEL Nicosia booked their places in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

After Wednesday night, all eight quarter-finalists will have been determined, but four matches must be played before then.

On Tuesday, March 13, Bayern Munich will host Swiss giants FC Basel, while Marseille will travel to the San Siro to face Inter Milan.

Both of Tuesday’s ties are still up for grabs, with the away sides — FC Basel and Marseiile — each ahead 1-0 on aggregate.

As a result, I expect 180 minutes of intense football tomorrow.

Enough banter, let’s get started.

Betting Odds

Bayern Munich (2/9) v FC Basel (14/1); Draw: (13/2)

Inter Milan (11/10) v Marseille (3/1); Draw: 5/2)

UCL Preview: Bayern Munich v FC Basel

Fresh off their 7-1 thrashing of TSG Hoffenheim at Allianz Arena on Saturday, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich will play host Swiss side FC Basel on Tuesday.

Despite recording a 7-1 win on Sunday, Bayern have won just two of their last games in all competitions, including their 1-0 loss to Basel at St Jakob-Park on February 22.

Meanwhile, Basel are on an amazing 16-match unbeaten run, with their last loss coming on October 18, 2011 against Benfica.

The Swiss giants currently hold a 12-point lead, with a game in hand, over Lucerne in the Swiss Super League, while Bayern are five points adrift of first-place Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga table.

Players to Watch

Mario Gomez, who bagged a hat-trick versus TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday, is the danger man for Die Bayern. Gomez’s hat-trick took his tally to an eye-opening 37 goals for both club and country in 2011-12. Remarkable.

For Basel, goalkeeper Yann Sommer is the player to watch. If the Swiss side are to advance passed Bayern, Sommer and Basel’s back four will need to be on top form.

Prediction

Bayern get the result they need, 3-1 Der FCB.

UCL Preview: Inter Milan v Marseille

Ligue 1 outfit Marseille are scheduled to take on struggling Inter Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday night.

Prior to defeating Chievo Verona in their last game on March 9, Internazionale had been on a 9-match win-less streak. Woeful to say the least.

On the other side of the touchline, Marseille have had their own problems in 2011-12, and are currently in 8th place in Ligue 1.

Players to Watch

Andre Ayew, Marseille’s leading-scorer in the Champions League this season, is surely the player to watch for the French outfit, while Giampaolo Pazzini is the main man for the home side.

Prediction

Inter win 2-1, but fail to advance on away goals.