Champions League: two key bets for Real Madrid vs Manchester City

Semi-final for the ages

Manchester City and Real Madrid produced an all-time classic Champions League semi-final first leg in England, which leaves the tie on a knife edge heading back to Spain on Wednesday. 

City hold a 4-3 advantage over their rivals, but with Carlo Ancelotti’s side having wriggled their way out of tougher situations in the competition already this season, the Premier League leaders can take nothing for granted.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s men are 2.16 to get the win on the night, with Los Blancos available at 3.35. A draw is on offer at 4.1. 

Benzema to be key

Real Madrid were crowned Spanish champions on Saturday as they swept past Espanyol 4-0 at the Bernabeu – and they did so while preserving many of their leading stars, including Karim Benzema, who made a 30-minute cameo that was capped with a goal.

It is to the Frenchman that Ancelotti will primarily look for goals in this game. He has been the club’s undoubted talisman this term and has struck 14 in just 10 Champions League matches, including back-to-back hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea. 

His ability to find the net is likely to be needed. After all, Real Madrid have failed to keep a clean sheet in the knockout stages of the competition and have leaked seven in their last two games.

City manager Pep Guardiola has yet to win the Champions League with the Manchester club

Thoughts fixed on Madrid 

Manchester City arrive at the Bernabeu still embroiled in a tense race for the Premier League crown. A 4-0 win over Leeds on Saturday means they retain top spot ahead of Liverpool, but a single slip could cost them. Newcastle loom at the weekend, but they cannot afford to be distracted ahead of this crucial encounter. 

Pep Guardiola’s side, after all, have not been infallible in Europe. Indeed, from their last six matches they have picked up only three victories, albeit one of these fixtures was a dead rubber in the group stage against RB Leipzig.

Equally, Guardiola has contrived to find ways to come up short in the Champions League with City before, with exits against the likes of Monaco, Tottenham and Lyon meaning nothing can be taken for granted.

Another classic in store? 

Real Madrid have won just one of their last six matches against Manchester City, so it is hard to see them turning this tie on its head. Having performed miracles against both PSG and Chelsea earlier in the competition, odds of 4.3 could be appealing, though. 

Meanwhile, after a slugfest in the first leg, more of the same should be expected in the return match. The last three between these sides have produced at least three goals and both teams have scored in each of these encounters. Given the wilfully attacking stance of both at the Etihad, plus Real Madrid’s last four Champions League outings all producing at least four goals, this trend should continue. 

Recommended bets

Manchester City @ 2.16

Over 3.5 goals @ 2.42