Champions League Outright
This year it’s wide open, really, there is no one team that you would point at and say that they are the firm favourites; out of the eight teams in the quarter-finals only two teams are sitting at the top of their domestic leagues, obviously Napoli and Benfica. Do they have the knowledge and experience or even know how at this stage of the competition, which is the business end. Have they got enough to get across the line. All the elements about them suggest that, players in form, style of play and managers they all are positive but when it comes to that two-legged affair, crucial fine margins, can they do it?
For me I am going to throw in a shock in the mix, Bayern Munich now with a new coach in Thomas Tuchel, you know, City who can’t seem to do it in this competition, you have two Italian teams meeting, and than you have Chelsea who aren’t in great for;, Real Madrid, anything can happen with Real Madrid. You see them get beat by Barcelona a couple of weeks ago, you just don’t know about them. Can they keep Karim Benzema fit? Can that ageing midfield cope towards the end of the season?
I am gonna go with Napoli to win the Champions League at 4.50, I think just not having the experience could help as well, they have so many good players, they have a mix of everything and a great manager as well. I am gonna go with Napoli as a good outside bet.
Quarter-Final Picks
Man City V Bayern Munich
I think the worst thing that could happen for Pep is Thomas Tuchel taking over the job at Munich. I think if anyone could plot a downfall for City it could well be him. He has got the experience of playing against a Pep Guardiola team. I was really surprised about the sacking of Naagelsman, I know they are sitting second in the Bundesliga but they are unbeaten in the Champions League, and they were so good against PSG, so efficient and they don’t give anything away. It really doesn’t matter for Bayern if they are playing home or away, I think they are a machine.
I think for Pep he would have rather played the second leg at the Etihad but unfortunately for him, they are at home first, I think it will be very tight affair and I am going for a 0-0 scoreline here priced at 9.75. In the second leg, I am going for Bayern two or three, I am gonna put Bayern Munich to go through to the semi-final.
Real Madrid V Chelsea
Well Chelsea, they haven’t been able to buy a win for so long and are now unbeaten in four, goals which have been their Achilles heel this season, they obviously are coming around. Joao Felix has been a great signing for them this season, he’s not an out-and-out goalscorer but his energy and quality in around the box make him valuable for the Blues. The only thing for Chelsea is that they have top-quality players, but they just don’t have a top goalscorer which they will assess in the transfer window. Real Madrid, you know, as good as they were against Liverpool they showed the other side of them, drawing and losing against teams that you would expect them to beat in La Liga. The midfield part, as functional as it is I think against a team that has more legs in midfield they can be caught out. Benzema is picking up small injuries here and there and goals could be a problem for them, certainly was when he was missing from the team.
There is an opportunity for Chelsea but I think that Real Madrid has that extra motivation when it comes to the Champions League, and over the two legs, I think Madrid could beat them easily at the Bridge and certainly at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid to go through for me for this one. Real Madrid to win the first leg is priced at 1.82.
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*Odds subject to change. Odds correct at time of publishing