Back Bale at 10/3 to blast Inter

With British clubs falling like confetti in the Champions League, it is up to the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Chelsea to keep the interest in Europe going in the Europa League.

Without a shadow of the doubt, the tie of the Round of 16 is the one between Tottenham and Inter Milan at White Hart Lane, and this fixture will be particularly special for Gareth Bale.

It was the Welshman as a raw 20-year-old who lit up the San Siro by scoring a hat-trick in Spurs’ 4-3 defeat to the Italian side in the Champions League group phase in 2010, while in the home game in North London - Bale was once again the star man, with full-back Maicon enduring a torrid time in both encounters.

Bale has scored 10 goals in his last eight appearances, and it is more than likely he will keep his tremendous run going, so with bet365 offering 10/3 on the hottest player on the planet right now to score the opening goal this evening, that price looks too good to refuse.

Having claimed the unprecedented record of becoming the first winners of the Champions League not to qualify from the group stage, Chelsea are determined to redeem themselves, and facing a trip away to Romanian champions Steau Bucharest is going to be tough for Rafael Benitez’s men.

The tournament favourites Chelsea are priced at evens to emerge victorious, but given their performances on the road in recent weeks have been patchy, you will be better off sticking to 5/2 for the draw.

Newcastle face stiff opposition in the form of Anzhi Makhachkala, and have suffered too many draws. However, boss Alan Pardew would bite your hand off for one on the artificial surface tonight, and there could be some value in 3/1 for the first leg to end all-square. On the other hand, Anzhi could run riot, and 8/13 for them to win with former Barcelona and Inter star Samuel Eto’o scoring first at 11/4 could earn you some money.