The Champions League quarter-finals are upon us, with Manchester City hosting Bayern Munich while Chelsea travel to face holders Real Madrid.
We preview the two blockbuster fixtures as well as AC Milan v Napoli.
Manchester City v Bayern Munich, Tuesday 20:00
Arguably the biggest tie of the quarter-finals sees the two favourites meet in the Champions League for the first time since 2014.
Manchester City are chasing the first Champions League title in their history, while Bayern Munich are seeking to win the competition for the third time since 2010, and both clubs will be thinking that this could be their year.
City are favourites to win the competition outright at 9/4 and therefore are the favourites to beat Bayern in this tie at the Etihad at 13/20. Though the odds favour them to win, we predict this one will be a lot tighter than anticipated as the new Bayern manager and very recent Champions League winner, Thomas Tuchel, imprints his winning mentality on a talented group.
While Bayern have odds of 4/1 to win in 90 minutes in Manchester, they have some of the most talented players on the planet and on their day can really threaten City. Jamal Musiala is one of the players than can cause Pep Guardiola’s side a lot of trouble with his pace, agility and ability to make the right decision in the danger area. He is 9/2 to assist a goal at any time, a bet that could supply great returns.
City also have their fair share of danger men; Kevin De Bruyne, their maestro in midfield can be the key to unlock any defence and at 10/1, we are backing the Belgian to score from outside the box.
If it is not De Bruyne, there is another man in sky blue that will almost certainly have a say on the outcome of this match. Erling Haaland is 7/2 to score first with top price guarantee, and is 15/1 to score a hattrick with enhanced odds.
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Real Madrid v Chelsea, Wednesday 20:00
Chelsea have had one of their poorest seasons in recent memory yet still find themselves in the Champions League quarter-final and with the most expensive club squad in Europe. They face the holders and all-time most successful team in the history of the competition, Real Madrid.
In all honesty the outcome of this game is anyone’s guess. Real Madrid have also had a poor season with arch-rivals Barcelona set to win La Liga, and Los Blancos’ numerous trophy winning squad is looking older and older by the season.
Madrid are the favourites to triumph in 90 minutes at 8/11 and Chelsea, who won the Champions League only two seasons ago, are 19/5 to secure victory at the Bernabeu.
Despite the poor chances Chelsea are given by the odds, we expect them to turn up and play better than they have in the last few months of the season and to be more at the level we expect from a team that cost almost £1 billion to put together. Therefore, a draw at 27/10 looks quite likely.
Over two goals, over three cards and over ten corners is available at 9/2, with the match to feature three goals at 3/1, another one of our picks.
AC Milan v Napoli, Wednesday – 20:00
This is another match that is very close to call with the two sides possessing great history in Europe and playing very well domestically.
It looks set in stone that Napoli will win the Serie A title after one of the best seasons in their history; so far having won 24 out of their 29 games and with one of the best squads they have had since the glory days of last century. They look to be a real threat for this seasons Champions League title.
Napoli are the joint second favourites to win the trophy at 7/2, and are the favourites at 8/5 to win in 90 minutes here despite being the away team and losing 4-0 to AC in their meeting in Serie A two weeks ago. The general form they have been in should give them the edge but AC Milan are always a threat and at 9/5 there is no reason why they couldn’t cause an upset.
We predict this to be a close game and the correct score of 1-1 at 5/1 looks appealing, though we expect there to be more goals. A goal in both halves at 10/11 is our pick and a great bet to give an accumulator a boost, with Napoli to come from behind and draw at 11/2, another punt that could offer good returns.
This will likely be a game of attrition as both teams are good in possession and will likely try to break each other down from the edge of their box. Over one corner for each team in each half at 4/1, looks to be a great punt.
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