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Madrid dealt real blow with Bale ruled out

LEICESTER are likely to be the only Premier League top seeds in next month’s Champions League last-16 draw after Manchester City and Arsenal were held to draws on Wednesday.

City’s 1-1 draw at Borussia Monchengladbach means they are certain to finish second in Group C, while Arsenal are 8-1 to win Group A after a 2-2 draw at home to Paris St-Germain which allowed the French side to move above them by virtue of a better head-to-head record.

PSG are 1-14 to win the group and they can take the matter out of Arsenal’s hands if they defeat Bulgarians Ludogorets Razgrad in Paris on matchday six.

Arsenal have been knocked out in the last 16 in each of the last six seasons and are 4-6 with Sky Bet to be eliminated at the same stage this term.

Arsenal and City are 25-1 and 12-1 to lift the trophy, while Barcelona and Bayern Munich top the betting at 10-3 and 4-1.
Real Madrid are 11-2 despite reports that Gareth Bale faces four months on the sidelines after news that he requires ankle surgery.

That absence would probably rule out of Champions League action until the quarter-finals and makes him a doubt for Wales’s 2018 World Cup qualifier at home to Ireland on March 24.

Tottenham are heading for the Europa League if they avoid defeat at home to CSKA Moscow in their final Champions League game but may still continue to play European games at Wembley.

Mauricio Pochettino has said he expects Spurs to carrying on playing at Wembley if Europa League qualification is achieved and his comments are at odds with Betway, who believe that White Hart Lane is a more likely venue.

Betway opened a book on where Spurs will play Europa League matches and made White Hart Lane the 1-3 favourite, Wembley a 9-4 chance and any other venue 25-1. Spurs face Chelsea and are 21-5 to claim their first win at Stamford Bridge in 30 attempts.

Ladbrokes have cottoned onto the Black Friday frenzy by offering punters a one-off chance to take 5-2 about Manchester City winning the Premier League.

The firm had been offering 15-8 that the Citizens finish top of the pile.

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