Real Madrid and Manchester City lock horns in the Champions League semi-finals once again on Wednesday, with high hopes over another epic encounter.
Last week’s tussle between the respective champions of England and Spain at the Etihad was an instant classic, with early goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus seeing the hosts race into a 2-0 lead inside 11 minutes.
City could and should have scored a hatful more before the evergreen Ballon d’Or front-runner Karim Benzema reduced the deficit in trademark fashion. The second-half was eventful as well. Goals from Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva then sandwiched between a sensational Vinicius Junior effort followed by an outrageous Benzema Panenka penalty that left a thrilling tie brilliantly poised at 4-3.
Despite being ahead, there is a sense of real potential missed opportunity as Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders head to the Bernabeu, where Real are typically so dominant, though very nearly came unstuck in humiliating fashion against Chelsea in the quarter-finals.
Form Guide: Manchester City
Manchester City are coming from another big win. They thrashed Leeds United 4-0 away from home for their second clean sheet in five matches and the fourth straight game in that they scored three or more goals. Manchester City have scored a total of 18 goals in their last five matches. Each of the five matches has produced over 3.5 goals.
Pep Guardiola’s teams are never wired to sit back, so we expect them to keep on attacking even as they take to the Bernabeu with a narrow lead. Gabriel Jesus has been in great form going into this game, scoring six times in the last three matches, and it is in defense that Guardiola will have worries, with City having conceded seven in the last five matches.
Kyle Walker has been missing with injury and while there’s hope that he may feature here although Guardiola may not want to risk him in this type of game. It is tougher with John Stones out as well, and playing Fernandinho in the right-back position came with its concerns in the first leg.
Form Guide: Real Madrid
Real Madrid have secured one title and they will be in the hunt for another when they host Manchester City in the return leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal. Manchester City lead 4-3 from the first leg and Real Madrid will be counting on home advantage to finish this off.
The hosts eliminated an English side in the last round, but it was never a smooth ride, as they lost at home to Chelsea. This will even be tougher, as they head to the match trailing. The Spanish giants celebrated winning the 35th La Liga title this past weekend. Despite resting key men, one of the players they will really count on here is Casemiro, who wasn’t fully fit for the first leg. Karim Benzema came from the bench in the La Liga game and scored, and he will be among the key men in focus here.
Real Madrid have scored 15 goals in their last five matches and only have one clean sheet in that time. Each of these five matches has posted over 2.5 goals and with the nature of the forward lines at play, we expect another high-scoring game.
How the match could go
Manchester City have won their last three Champions League matches against Real Madrid and they’re out to make it four on Wednesday night. While the Citizens have progressed from the last two rounds with 0-0 draws in the second leg, Pep Guardiola suggested their intent will be a lot different this week.
Sitting back and holding what they have will no doubt only end one way for a Man City side whose best form of defense is to attack, especially with Benzema and Vinicius Junior capable of plucking goals out of nowhere for the Spanish champions.
Guardiola’s side could have easily made the net ripple on several more occasions at the Etihad, and while the presence of Casemiro is a humongous boost for the hosts – whose European nous cannot be questioned – City can strike back a couple of times themselves to progress to their second final in as many seasons.
Betting Predictions
Over 2.5 Goals
These two teams went at it hammer and tong in the first leg and there is little reason to expect this match to be any different. With that in mind, we’re steering clear of a match result tip and instead focusing on the goals as we believe there will be lots of them. Real Madrid and Man City both hit four in their respective league games after the first leg meaning their recent form is very strong in regards to over 2.5 goals. Each of Real Madrid’s last five has gone north of 2.5 whilst Man City have seen over 2.5 in four of their last five. Bet9ja have 1.49 odds, while 1xbet have 1.50, and Paripesa have 1.50 odds.
Both teams to score (YES)
The next prediction here would be that both teams are sure to find the back of the net here today. After the first leg ended 4-3, you probably don’t need much more convincing but the stats run deeper than just that one game. Real Madrid have scored 15 goals across their last five games – that’s an average of 3.0 goals scored per game. In the same timeframe, Man City have scored 18; that’s 3.6 per game. With both teams’ strengths in attacking, a clean sheet for either is highly unlikely. Bet9ja have 1.50 odds, while Paripesa have 1.55 and 1xbet have 1.55 odds.
Anytime Goalscorer (Real Madrid)
Benzema
Karim Benzema is enjoying an incredible season, scoring again at the weekend as they lifted the Spanish title. The Frenchman has now scored in 11 of his last 13, notching 18 goals in that run. Benzema has also scored in eight of his last nine Champions League games, scoring nine goals across his last four. While he’s not the most surprising pick, we just can’t ignore Benzema in this kind of form. Back him to strike anytime in Wednesday’s tie. Bet9ja have 2.50 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 2.10 odds for him to score.
Vinicius
Vinicius Jr. scored a sensational solo goal in the first leg, dusting Fernandinho on a signature nutmeg turn. The left-winger has been one of Real Madrid’s most important players this season, quite literally the difference in leading the Merengues to a successful La Liga title. Poised to have a more difficult matchup in the second leg, Vini Jr. is one of those players who rises to a different level with the home support at the Santiago Bernabeu. Bet9ja have 3.60 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 2.875 odds for him to score.
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.
