Manchester City – Real Madrid, Picks and Tips
Despite not owning a Champions League trophy, Manchester City are strong favourites to beat Real Madrid, the team with the most European 'Queen' trophies. The odds on a win on Tuesday night at the Etihad are 1.55, compared to 6.25 for Los Blancos. Manchester City are trying to win the world's most coveted inter-club competition for the first time, and meanwhile they are also battling it out in the Premier League at arm's length with Liverpool to retain the league trophy they won last season. A battle that looks set to go down to the final round. There are two fronts left for Pep Guardiola & co, eliminated from the FA Cup semi-finals precisely by Liverpool. It would also be an achievement for the Spanish coach of the "citizens", who hasn't won the Champions League trophy since the 2010-2011 season, when he did it with Barcelona, otherwise the only team with which he achieved this feat. Don't forget that we've also reviewed City's league match against Watford this weekend!
Carlo Ancelotti has had more time to prepare for the Manchester City match. Real Madrid, near champions in La Liga, did not play at the weekend in the league. A competition in which they are leading by a reassuring lead with just five rounds left to play. So Madrid's only objective remains to win the Champions League trophy. It would be their 14th in history, Real being by far the best performer in the competition. In their last official game before Manchester City-Real Madrid, the Spanish capital side beat Osasuna away. It was 3-1, although Benzema missed twice from the spot! The goals were scored by Alaba, Asensio and Lucas.Madrid, however, had a much tougher route to the semi-finals compared to Manchester City. In the last 16 they got past PSG, the Citizens' former group opponents. In the round in Paris it was 1-0 to PSG, who lost 3-1 in Madrid at the Bernabeu. Next up was a representative from England. At Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, Real won 3-1. Benzema was in top form and scored all his team's goals. But Madrid were hardly tested in the return leg, with the game being pushed into extra time by the Londoners. Where the same Benzema was providential and scored for qualification.
Our recommendation tip for Manchester City – Real Madrid: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @ 1.85