The Champions League is finally back after last week’s amazing matchups which gave us a slew of goals. We have some amazing clashes to look forward to in the next couple of days, which will set up even better matchups in the Semifinals. Can Arsenal make the semifinal for the first time in over 15 years? Will PSG take revenge with a remuntada of their own against Barcelona? Or will Real Madrid triumph once again and reach the European Top 4? Let’s find out and preview this week’s matchups.
Barcelona – Paris Saint Germain, Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Tuesday 21:00CET
This is the game I am most looking forward to again this week. One may say that the Real-City and Arsenal-Bayern ties were just as exciting, if not more, but this tie si also wide open as we turn to the Estadi Olimpic. The first leg was a masterful display in both sides’ offensive [rowess, as Barcelona created more chnaces – but failed to take most of them – in the first half. As the second half began, the French side completely overran Barcelona’s defense, scoring twice in a matter of minutes to get a 2-1 advantage through former Blaugrana Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha. The rest of the match was an absolute thriller, as both sides looked to score, but it would be Barcelona that found the net twice through Raphinha and Christensen, who had just come on.
In this return leg, expect much of the same. Neither side will sit back and defend, and both teams have conceded goals in the knockout rounds so far. PSG will undoubtedly need to start the match on the front foot, as they need a two-goal win to advance. Mbappe will also need to step up, as he was limited to juts a few forays on the flank in the first leg by his compatriot Jules Kounde. I suggest playing PSG to score the first goal (2.05), or for a riskier play PSG to Qualify at 3.75. For some reason, I just think the remuntada will be their this time around, but don’t be fooled: Barcelona may well advance as well.
Barcelona to Win – 2.20
Draw – 4.00
PSG to Win – 2.90
Borussia Dortmund – Atletico Madrid, Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Tuesday 21:00CET
Less hype but still a huge degree of tebnsion is floating around this tie. The first leg was an entertaining match ful of comedic defensive errors on both sides – more on the German one though. Atletico’s 2-1 win at home last week came courtesy of two first half goals by Samuel Lino and Rodrigo De Paul, but it could and probably should have been much more. In the second half, Dortmund managed to steady the ship defensively and hit Atletico on the counter several times, ultimately deserving to score the goal they did towards the end of the game through the substitute Sebastian Haller. However, if Dortmund defend like they did for most of the first leg again tonight, there will certianly be no semifinal for them – which would be the first since 2013.
This game promises, if not elegant football, to be throughly entertaining fro neutral fans. Dortmund know how to score at home, and haven’t lost at the Signal Iduna in the Champions League in years. Atletico are not the defensively minded- team we have always known them to be under Simeone this season, as they have been extremely poor away from home. While the first leg should indicate Atletioc as favoprites given how the match panned out, its difficult to see how they don’t concede at least one tonight in Germany. The key will be to see if Dortmund’s defense will improve at all from the first leg. I suggest a risky 2.71 on Dormtund to Qualify, of an Over 2.5 if you want to keep it simple, listed at 1.66
Borussia Dortmund to Win – 2.22
Draw – 3.60
Atletico Madrid to Win – 3.10
Manchester City – Real Madrid, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Wednesday 21:00CET
Arguably the two best teams in the world go head to head again after last week’s memorable Quarterfinal clash in Madrid. The 3-3 encounter was the result of masterful football, as goals by Foden, Gvardiol and Valverde demonstrated, but aslo of circumstances and poor defending, such as Bernardo’s free kick which caught Lunin off his line and Real’s two deflected goals. The encounter was as exciting as any game I’ve seen this season, and I expect the same to happen tomorrow in Manchester. Real Madrid have conceded 4 goals on their last two trips to the Etihad in the last couple of years, losing in a thriller 4-3 in the 2022 semifinals before getting battered 4-0 in last year’s edition, sending City to the Final in Istanbul to face Inter Milan. The Blancos will need to step up defensively if they are to advance at the Etihad tomorrow.
The draw in the Bernabeu ensures that essentially all outcomes are still possible and on the line in this clash of giants. Real will be without Tchouameni, who played mightily well last week, through suspension. On the other hand, City will be able to rely on De Bruyne, who did not play at the Bernabeu through illness. This certianly poinst the way of a City win, and I would probably have to agree, i think the Citizens will ultimately have too much for the Blancos and will send them crashing out of the Champions League for a secod year in a row. City to Win at 1.70 is a good place to start. For a similar odds but wiothout having to choose a winner (as I realize this is a very tough game to call) play the Over 3 at 1.85 – there will be goals in this one again.
Man City to Win – 1.70
Draw – 4.20
Real Madrid to Win – 4.50
Bayern Munich – Arsenal, Alianz Arena, Munich, Wednesday 21:00CET
As the odds suggest, this is the toughest tie to call out of all four Quarterfinals after last week’s 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium in London. It was a difficult game to analyze, as Bayern played their best game in quiet some time, while Arsenal seemes a bit under the races – and they were again this weekend whe they lost at home to Aston Villa and compromised their chance to win the Premier League title for the first time in two decades. Harry kane came back to North London to haunt the Gunners, who eventually managed to grab the draw following Trossard’s second half heroics. Bayern usually do not lose home games in Champions league knockout ties – the last one being during covid against PSG when no fans were yet allowed back. This bodes poorly for Arsenal, who have struggled on the road in Europe this season, winning just one of their four games.
And they will need a win tomorrow night. Both teams have had their issues defensively in recent games (Bayern maybe even more than that) but the Gunners have also not been the same team in Europe that they have shown they can be in the Premier League this season. Whether its the inexpereince or the pressure on some key players to perform, Arsenal has not been able to get great results in the UCL. I don’t count them out just yet, but I will give Bayern a minimal advantage here: they cannot win th Bundesliga anymore, so they have to compete and focus solely on this front. i can see this match going to extra time and maybe even penalties – more than any of the other ties. I suggest playing Kane as Anytime goalscorer – anytime he sees Arsenal, he goes ballistic.
Bayern to Win – 2.37
Draw – 3.66
Arsenal to Win – 2.80
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