The four European Cup ties taking place in midweek won’t just decide the semi-finalists in this season’s UEFA Champions League. They’ll go a long way to telling us who has the potential to go all the way in the competition.
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Across Europe, players such as Kylian Mbappe (pictured above), Neymar, Leroy Sane, Mason Mount, Timo Werner, Mo Salah and Karim Benzema will be plying their trade this week in an effort to reach the last four. Who’ll reach the promised land and which team would play which? Let’s take a look at three bets at 5/1 or better while you ‘take five’.
Paris St. Germain to win -1 goal (5/1)
Last week, we expected goals. This week, we expect absolute carnage. Paris St. Germain’s stunning 3-2 victory in Munich sent shock waves around Europe a week ago, so can Mauricio Pochettino’s men repeat the trick at the Parc Des Princes? You can count on it.
With the attacking tandem of Neymar and Mbappe ripping Bayern’s trusty back four to shreds in Germany, many observers will point to Bayern’s slight recovery in the second half and tell you that the tie is far from over and that the reigning Champions League winners will be tough to eliminate from the competition.
Those observers are wrong, and we’ll tell you how.
Bayern Munich have to win by either two or more goals in Paris or by a score of 4-3 or better, meaning that under pressure Hansi Flick and the Bavarian club have got to throw the Spülbecken (or kitchen sink to you and me) at the Ligue 1 champions.
The problem with that plan is that by doing so, Munich will play into the Parisians hands. This is a team – and a coach – in PSG that is set up to counter-press then break at pace, and they could hardly have better players to do so. Across Europe, perhaps only Manchester United have won on the counter with more regularity than PSG this season and with Flick’s side needing to attack from the first whistle, this could be any scoreline you like to the hosts if they want it to be. The single-goal handicap at 5/1 seems like Christmas Day to this punter.
Don’t forget, you can register now at Bet365 for £100 in free bet credits. Make sure you so before the action kicks off around Europe on Tuesday night and you’ll be winning already.
Chelsea to come from Behind and Win (8/1)
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea hold a 2-0 lead heading into the second leg of their quarter-final against Porto. Having been a 22/1 shot to win the Champions League back in the Group Stage, we’re very glad we took that price, because under Thomas Tuchel, the Blues look an entirely different outfit than the one given the runaround under former Chelsea player Frank Lampard.
Under the German Tuchel, players such as his countryman Kai Havertz have come on leaps and bounds. The former Borussia Dortmund coach hasn’t marginalised talents like Reece James and Mason Mount either, trusting a British core of players too as his West London outfit move ominously into the top four in the Premier League and towards the top table in Europe.
Chelsea should win this game easily, so why are we tipping them to go behind before doing so? Purely due to the remarkable diligence and strength of Porto. We have no doubt that Chelsea will progress in the tie, but Porto need to ‘do a West Brom’ and attack Chelsea from the start. If they do score, then they have to keep coming forward thanks to that late second goal in the first leg, which will inevitably lead to gaps at the back for Tuchel’s side to exploit.
Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City go to Extra-Time (18/1)
Our long shot this week should be way shorter that it currently is, and as such is surprisingly available on Bet365 (and on that site only) at the time of going to press.
While Manchester City dominated much of the match when they hosted Dortmund last week, there’s every chance that City will go to Germany in a frustrated mood, not least because a far inferior Leeds United side became only the second team after Manchester United to take four league points off the champions in waiting.
Pep Guardiola’s side look wasteful up front and it is highly ironic that the very striker who would solve their problems will be aiming for their goal on Wednesday night. Erling Braut Haaland is almost certain to move this summer and City are currently the frontrunners to land his signature at a best price of 5/2.
Dortmund should not be 18/1 to beat The Citizens 2-1 (the score required to take the game to extra time). Guardiola’s side should progress, but it would be just like them to suffer exactly the same margin of defeat as they did at the weekend, thereby making their task as difficult as possible. It’s the Manchester City way.
Don’t forget, you can register now at Bet365 for £100 in free bet credits. Make sure you so before the action kicks off around Europe on Tuesday night and you’ll be winning already.
UEFA Champions League Fixtures:
Tuesday 13th April, 2021
Chelsea vs. FC Porto (8pm GTM kick-off) (Agg. 2-0)
Paris St. Germain vs. Bayern Munich (8pm GTM kick-off) (Agg. 3-2)
Wednesday 14th April, 2021
Borussia Dortmund vs. Manchester City (8pm GTM kick-off) (Agg. 1-2)
Liverpool vs. Real Madrid (8pm GTM kick-off) (Agg. 1-3)
May all your bets be live until the final whistle!
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