Wednesday’s Champions League Predictions: Liverpool channel heroes of Istanbul for goliath task

Joe Crann

15 March 2023

Just a handful of Champions League quarter-finalists are yet to be confirmed, but both Napoli and Real Madrid will believe they are almost through to the last eight.

Wednesday’s games feature a battle in Italy for Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool’s travels to the famous Santiago Bernabeu, but both the aforementioned home sides are heavy favourites to complete the job at hand after dominant first leg displays.

Luciano Spalletti’s high-flying Napoli lead 2-0 on aggregate thanks to goals from the on-fire Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, while Los Blancos put the Reds to the sword in a 5-2 demolition job at Anfield. Here’s how the second legs might play out.

Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt

Kick off: 8pm Wednesday

Napoli have only lost one home game in 90 minutes since April, so it’s no shock to see them priced prohibitively for another victory. Their comfortable lead sees them priced at the minimum 1.01 to progress.

Victor Osimhen as anytime goalscorer (1.82) feels like a better value choice as he has scored eight goals in his last nine games. With the Serie A title pretty much wrapped up, they can afford to enjoy their run in the biggest club competition in European football. And even if they keep the Nigerian striker quiet, they still have Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to contend with.

Napoli have kept six clean sheets in their last seven games, so a win to nil (2.48) may be worth your time, especially as Frankfurt have failed to win a single game on the road since November.

Prediction: Victor Osimhen anytime goalscorer @ 1.82

Real Madrid v Liverpool

Kick off: 8pm Wednesday

It would take a comeback of Istanbul proportions for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds to turn things around in Spain, but scoring three or more goals without response at the Bernabeu can be done – Barcelona proved that almost exactly a year ago.

A Liverpool win on the night isn’t impossible (they’re 2.96 to be victorious in 90 minutes), but odds of 17.5 for the English side to progress show how unlikely it is for them to overcome the deficit. Real Madrid have progressed in the knockout stages of this competition 26 times from 27 games after winning the first leg - they are just a different beast in this competition.

Mo Salah: will need to be at his best to help Liverpool erode the deficit

Carlo Ancelotti should welcome back Karim Benzema (2.12 anytime goalscorer), while Liverpool remain without both Luis Diaz and Thiago for their trip to the Spanish capital.

Liverpool been pretty dismal on the road for months – losing to Bournemouth was the latest case in point – and they have recorded just three victories in their last 10 away games since December. Real Madrid can seal the deal.

Prediction: Real Madrid to win @ 2.38