*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
After Manchester City and Real Madrid’s sensational Champions League semi final first leg last week, you’ll forgive me for getting a little over excited at the prospect of another thigh rubber on Wednesday night. City ran out 4-3 winners but couldn’t kill off the Terminator-like Real who just kept finding a way to stay in the contest.
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City were 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 up at various stages but Karim Benzema’s cheeky Panenka penalty in the 82nd minute means there’s just one goal in it as we pack up and head to the Spanish capital. These are two sides with contrasting fortunes in the Champions League, City are still striving for their first title and face a massive challenge to overcome Real, the undisputed kings of Europe, who have a whopping 13 in the cabinet.
Will it be the plucky upstarts progressing or the wizened old warriors who’ve been there and seen it all? City play the better stuff but Real just get the job done. Let’s see if we can work out who’s going to triumph through the all-conquering medium of a Bet Builder for Wednesday’s huge clash.
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Wednesday 8pm: Real Madrid v Manchester City
TV: BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Ultimate
Real Madrid (+1)
Try as I may, I just can’t see City making light work of this and cruising through with a nice two-goal cushion. They might get a two-goal aggregate lead with another fast start, but it just feels like this will go right to the wire again.
Real warmed up for this with a nice 4-0 battering of Espanyol to wrap up the Spanish title. City also won 4-0 at the weekend, away at Leeds, but there was a certain degree of huffing and puffing involved.
I think we’re getting a really good price on the Real Madrid (+1) handicap. Essentially we’re backing Real to Win or for this game to end in a draw after 90 minutes. This one will surely be close and we should have a good chance of this going into the last kick of the game as we possibly head into extra time.
Over 3.5 Goals
It’s hard to see this being low scoring. Man City have scored two or more in their last five and have racked up 18 goals alone in that time. Overall they’ve witnessed a stunning 25 goals in their last five in all competitions, an eye-watering average of 5.0 per game.
For Real, they too have scored a minimum of two goals in each of their last five, scoring 15 and also seeing 25 goals and there’s that whopping average of 5.0 per match again. There is some quite eye-catching value in Over 4.5 Goals but I’ll play it a little safer and go with Over 3.5 Goals.
This emphatically clicked in the first leg and City are averaging 3.6 goals for alone over that run. It’s 3.0 for Real so this really could be anything. Anything, that is, other than a 0-0, surely?
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Karim Benzema to Score 2 Goals or More
You don’t need me to tell you just how incredible Karim Benzema has been in both the Champions League and La Liga this season but, as we’re all here, I’ll indulge. He’s scored 40 and assisted 12 goals in 40 games for Real this season, averaging 1.08 goals per 90 minutes played.
In the Champions League he’s got 14 goals from an xG of around 7 which just tells you that he’s enjoying a purple patch that comes around once in a career. A good chance for us to capitalise on that, then, with Benzema to Score 2 or More Goals.
It’s not that Real are a one-man team, they’ve some outstanding players, but they really, really rely on the French hitman at the top end of the pitch. He’s got five in his last five in all competitions and nine in his last four on the biggest stage.
Kevin De Bruyne to Score Or Assist
Manchester City’s talisman, Kevin De Bruyne, should be back in the starting line up here after watching the 4-0 win at Elland Road from the bench. He was a victim of Atletico Madrid’s brutality in the quarter final and missed a few games but he was only rested on Saturday ahead of this one.
He’s been involved in 27 goals this season in his 40 games, scoring 15 himself and setting up another 12. He’s City’s man for the big occasion and opened the scoring in the first leg last week. He also netted against Liverpool in the crucial Premier League clash in April so De Bruyne to Score Or Assist is a nice price to round us off.
Real v Man City tips
Real Madrid (+1)
Over 3.5 Goals
Karim Benzema to Score 2 or More Goals
Kevin De Bruyne to Score Or Assist
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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