Champions League Bets & Preview:
Real Madrid v Manchester City

Manchester City travel to Madrid to face Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash. This fixture brings together two of the biggest teams in European football, who also faced off at the same stage of the competition last season in extraordinary circumstances:

A year to the day since one of the worst #UCL capitulations in history… 🔻

Man City had a 2 goal aggregate lead in stoppage time! 😳

1️⃣ Rodrygo 90’
2️⃣ Rodrygo 90’+1
3️⃣ Benzema 95’ pen#MCFC | #RMCF | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/I8NOcig4nC

— Footy Odds On (@FootyOddsOn) May 4, 2023

Real Madrid are the defending champions of the UCL, having won the competition four times in the last six seasons. They will be looking to secure a third consecutive final appearance, and a 15th overall title. However, their recent form has been mixed, with two wins and two losses in their last four matches in all competitions.

Despite their indifferent form, Real Madrid come into this match on the back of a 2-1 victory over Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final. They will be buoyed by the fact that they have won 13 of their last 16 European home games, with just one draw and two losses in that run.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are still searching for their first UCL title. They have been one of the most consistent teams in Europe in recent years, winning the Premier League three times in the last four seasons. They come into this match after a narrow 2-1 victory over Leeds in the Premier League.

Manchester City have been eliminated by Real Madrid in two of their last three semi-final appearances in the UCL. They will be hoping to overcome their psychological obstacles and make it to the final this time around. Manager Pep Guardiola has won the competition twice before, but has seen his side eliminated at the semi-final stage in six of his last nine UCL campaigns.

As ever, Vinícius Júnior for Real Madrid and Erling Haaland for Manchester City are the players to keep an eye on. Vinícius Júnior has been Real Madrid’s star Champions League man, 11 goal contributions in 10 apps this UCL campaign. Haaland, similarly, has been in scintillating form this season, scoring a huge 12 goals in just in 8(!) appearances.

Manchester City’s recent UCL away form has seen them draw their last four matches on the road. They will be hoping to break that streak and secure a positive result at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of this tie. This promises to be a real heavyweight clash between two of the biggest clubs in Europe and two of the biggest managers in Europe. Whoever wins over the two legs, will be strong favourites to win the final.

Champions League: Real Madrid v Manchester City
Best Tips & Bets

Haaland, De Bruyne, Benzema & Vinicius Jr all to have at least 1 SoT
Was 5/2 Now 5/1 – Double Odds

William Hill x2 Odds:
Haaland averages 2.7 shots on target in the UCL this campaign, he shouldn’t be a worry for this bet.
Likewise Benzema, who averages over 2 SoT per game in the Champions League (2.1).
Vinicius Jr averages 2 Shots on Target per Champions League outing, which drops to 1.4 in all comps.
De Bruyne is where the bet may fail. De Bruyne only averages 0.4 SoT per UCL game (0.7 all comps) but we all know with the right opportunity he will deliver.
1pt stake.

Double Odds with William Hill!

Erling Haaland To Score, Man City To Win & Both Teams To Score – Was 18/5 now 9/2

With Erling Haaland’s extraordinary goal scoring record this term not faltering in the UCL, if Man City score expect the Norwegian to be involved.
Manchester City are on a 20 match unbeaten run across all competitions and the Champions League is the one they really want. On the other hand, Real Madrid have not been at their sharpest recently, losing 2 in their last 5 and falling to 3rd in the league behind bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.
BTTS has landed in 5/10 of Madrid’s Champions Leagues games this campaign compared to just 4/10 of Manchester City’s. However, the stakes are now higher and the competition is harder.
1pt stake.

Enhanced odds here with William Hill

Rodri & Vinicius Jr both to be carded – Unibet – 17/2

Both players represent their teams most booked player this season and will likely play the vsat majority of the 90 minutes.
Vini Jr has racked up 10 yellows this campaign whilst Rodri has registered a club high of 5, level with Haaland.
Artur Manuel Soares Dias is the referee for today’s match and the Portuguese has handed out 9 yellows and 2 reds in just 3 UCL matches this season. Also averages 5.28 yellow cards per game.
1pt stake.

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All odds correct as of 9th May 10:30 BST.

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