we’ve reached the semi final stage of this season’s champions league and neutrals couldn’t have wished for a stronger line up as the juventus, the italian champions, take on the current european champions real madrid and barcelona take on bayern munich, who are of course managed by former barca legend pep guardiola. anything can happen at this stage of proceedings, but read on for our predictions of what might transpire with our betting tips and the latest live betting odds comparison.
the first of the champions league semi finals sees italian champions juventus host the mighty real madrid. real boss carlo ancelotti had a two year spell as juve manager from 1999 to 2001, but the only silverware he managed there was the intertoto cup. 14 years and 16 trophies later, ancelotti is hoping his side, that is packed full of talent, can overcome an organised and powerful juventus outfit in turin.
massimiliano allegri’s men, however, will be no pushovers given that they are unbeaten on home soil all season. they eased past monaco in the quarter finals of the champions league after keeping things tight in both legs and we fancy they will be set up to nullify the many and varied attacking options real possess.
in a re-run of last year’s champions league final, ancelotti’s men managed to just about sneak past city rivals atletico with – like juve – a 1-0 aggregate victory. the spaniards will be looking to be more expansive in this one, but juve are hardly renowned for taking chances and against the likes of cristiano ronaldo, karim benzema and gareth bale we fully expect a tentative approach from the italian side.
the champions league meetings between these sides in the past have produced five wins apiece and one draw (in their last meeting in november 2013). despite this, real are the clear favourites to win the first leg, priced at best betting odds of 6/4 with bet365 and others. juve are out at 21/10 with boylesports, while the draw – which could be the smart option – looks enticing at 12/5 with paddy power.
with neither side wanting to take too many risks in the opening match – if their respective quarter finals are anything to go by – we think the match will not possess as much explosive or expansive football as we would hope for. but in that case we can at least make some money by backing under 2.5 goals at a nice price of 4/6 with ladbrokes.
real should have the edge over the two legs, but don’t discount the possibility that the italians might just grind out a narrow victory in the opening game. really though we wouldn’t be surprised if this one went 1-0 to either side, so backing against both teams to score is another betting tip for you to lap up at a great value 17/20 with ladbrokes.
moving to the other semi, which takes place on wednesday evening at camp nou, and we expect a far more open encounter as barcelona host bayern munich. the man who masterminded barca’s dominance during his time as manager, pep guardiola, will be looking to get the better of the club where he won 30 trophies as a player and manager. the catalan club have adapted their style of play somewhat since guardiola’s days, luis enrique having instilled a slightly more defensive but also direct approach that currently has the side sitting pretty at the top of la liga.
barca have won 12 and drawn one of their last 13 liga and champions league matches, and with the scarily good attacking trio of lionel messi, neymar and luis suarez having scored 22 champions league goals between them this season, it is no surprise the bookies make them the odds-on favourites to win the first leg (best betting odds of 7/10 with 888sport).
having said that, in robert lewandowski, thomas muller, arjen robben and mario gotze, bayern have plenty of attacking talent of their own. all in all, it could be a busy, challenging night for defenders on both teams. backing there to be a veritable goalfest could be a sensible tactic, especially given that 888sport are offering betting odds 4/5 for there to be over 2.5 goals scored and a very nice 39/19 for over 3.5.
it’s not often that you can back bayern at odds as long as the 3/1 available at betfred for them to win the first leg. given that barca have lost at home to both celta vigo and malaga this season, there is a temptation to back the germans to sneak a victory from this one. realistically though, the best we think they can muster is the draw (available at betting odds of 11/4 with boylesports), though they could be worth considering at 11/10 with bet365 to qualify for the final.
it is always difficult to predict the outcome when two true giants of european football clash – as is the case in both semis. but with so many fantastic attacking players on the pitch in this one, we simply can’t envisage either side will have enough to keep a clean sheet. our main betting tip for the match is to back both teams to score at best betting odds of 7/10 with 888sport, while those seeking longer odds could do worse than take the 7/2 with ladbrokes for the match to end in a draw and for both teams to find the net at least once.
whether or not guardiola engineers a winning return to catalonia remains to be seen, but the neutrals should be in for a real cracker of a match with lots of chances and plenty of goals. bring it on!