Preview
After losing in last year’s UCL final against Real Madrid, Liverpool will look to exact their revenge with a win here. However, our Champions League picks believe Real Madrid has all the weapons to win the first leg. The Champions League gives us an absolute blockbuster on Tuesday with two of the most successful teams in the tournament’s history meeting with Liverpool vs. Real Madrid. Between both clubs, they’ve won 20 European Cups.
This Round of 16 games gives Liverpool a chance at revenge from last year’s UCL final, but with Real Madrid winning five of the six meetings, it’s a tough ask. Don’t miss our Liverpool vs. Real Madrid betting picks and predictions to find out if Jurgen Klopp’s men can pull off the win.
Both these sides have constantly met each other at some other stage of the Champions League tournament. Two of those fixtures have been the showpiece event—the UCL Finals, where Los Blancos have come out on top in both those fixtures. It seems like the Champions League is incomplete if these two teams don’t match up against each other. Taking a look at the bigger picture, since 2014, the two European giants have met on six occasions. The Reds surprisingly lost five of those six games and salvaged a draw. The 2022/23 Round of 16 ties between the two clubs will be their 7th encounter since 2014 and Jurgen Klopp and his men will be hopeful of getting past their bogey team this time around.
Form Guide: Liverpool
Liverpool won back-to-back games, which is extremely important for Jurgen Klopp’s team, who has been struggling with form this year. Since the beginning of the campaign, Liverpool has underachieved and posted poor results.
After beating Everton in the Merseyside Derby, 2-0, the Reds were better than Newcastle at the St.Mary’s stadium, 0-2. They are the only team in the Premiership to defeat the Magpies this season.
Three clean sheets in the previous five events are incredibly important and encouraging things for the Reds. The defense has been an Achilles heel for Klopp this year, with Liverpool conceding goals in a vast majority of the games. Virgil Van Dijk’s comeback will have a major impact on the back line because the Dutchman is its heart and soul.
Form Guide: Real Madrid
Real Madrid failed to win a couple of games in La Liga, which later allowed Barcelona to pull away from the champs and create a solid gap in the standings. In the meantime, Real won the FIFA Club World Cup and boosted its morale with four victories in a row, in which they netted 15 goals.
Their latest two La Liga games saw clean sheets, as Los Blancos defeated Elche, 4-0, and Osasuna, 0-2. We need to remind you that Real had plenty of injuries ravaging the roster and the majority of those players are now back in training and ready to play.
Of the past six road games, Real won five. In all but one, the European champs scored at least two goals, and overall, Los Blancos’ attack has been pretty effective this season.
How the game could go
The result of Tuesday’s highly-anticipated first leg may very well hinge on how many players Klopp and Ancelotti can recover from the treatment room, but an exhilarating showdown should be on the cards nonetheless.
While Liverpool has regained some momentum at the right time and can expose Real’s fitness concerns in midfield, Los Blancos are never to be underestimated in the Champions League and should have Benzema fit and firing in a fearsome attack, so we simply cannot separate the two continental giants and believe that everything will be left to play for at the Bernabeu next month.
Even though Liverpool improved its defense, we expect to see them concede at least once because Real’s attack is one of the best in the world. That’s with or without Benzema. On the other side, the Reds have a powerful offense as well, and they, too, are to score in this clash.
Betting Predictions
Real Madrid to win
We see Real Madrid bagging the victory in this clash. The Reds are enduring a pretty horrid season by their high standards and just one win in their last four suggests the tide isn’t turning any time soon. Real Madrid by contrast is showing signs of life despite facing their domestic challenges having won three games on the bounce. On top of that, our prediction is supported by the head-to-head record too. Five of the last six head-to-head games have been won by Real Madrid with Liverpool failing to win any of those meetings. Bet9ja have 2.98, 1xbet have 2.98 and Paripesa have 2.98 odds.
Over 2.5 goals
We are due to see goals on Tuesday. Real Madrid saw 21 goals in six Champions League group games, with Liverpool seeing 23. These are both teams who are more than capable going forward. Liverpool’s biggest question mark this season has been over their defensive issues, with injuries and an aging midfield causing problems. Those issues still haven’t been solved, and I struggle to see them getting through this without conceding at least one goal to Real Madrid and in all likelihood more than one. Bet9ja have 1.86 odds, Paripesa have 1.75, and 1xbet have 1.75 odds.
Anytime Goalscorer (Liverpool)
Cody Gakpo
Liverpool has lost their attacking flair after Sadio Mane left to join Bayern. Cody Gakpo looks like the perfect candidate to fill in Sadio Mane’s position. Gakpo just like Sadio Mane can act as an inside forward as well as a wide playmaker. Gakpo is also starting to find form in the Premier League after scoring in the past 2 games. Bet9ja have 3.90 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 3.40.
Salah
The Egyptian has a long history with this Real Madrid side as he has faced them more than three times in his career. He too like his team has underdelivered this season but looks to turn things around as he has been spectacular in his last two games. Today is a chance to enact revenge and help his side to win. Bet9ja have 2.75 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 2.70.
Anytime Goalscorer (Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema
The Brazilian had managed to garner a goal contribution of 30 in the previous La Liga season. His best and mention and he also scored the only goal against Liverpool in the UCL final. Vinicius has been a bit inconsistent this season in terms of goal-scoring however even when not at his best, he’s a goal threat for sure. With his flashy skills, pace, and precision, Vinicus Jr can bag a goal against Liverpool. Bet9ja have 4.00 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 4.50.
Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.