Midweek Tip: Champions League and Europa League second legs

The Champions League and Europa League Quarter-Finals continue this week with the second legs. Manchester City will be looking to put Atletico Madrid away amongst other feature games.

Manchester City maintained their position at the top of the Premier League after a breathless 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, and now face another huge game when they travel to Spain to take on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

A point against Liverpool wasn’t a disastrous result of course, but City had the chance to deliver a hammer blow to the Reds’ title hopes and might have done but for some poor finishing and even worse decision making at times.

They are creating chances however which will please boss Pep Guardiola, and they look a tempting price at 5/6 to win at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

City dominated possession (68%) in the first leg but Atletico under Diego Simeone are nothing if not organised and resilient. It won’t be easy of course but the fact that Atleti need to score should play into Manchester City’s hands and with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings they can march into the semi-final by winning on Wednesday.

 

The Nap - Manchester City to win at 5/6 (Coral)

 

Lyon and West Ham meet in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday, and the Hammers could be worth a punt at 11/4 to progress.

The pair drew 1-1 in London but that wasn’t the worst result in the world considering West Ham had to play the entire second half with 10 men after Aaron Cresswell was controversially sent off.

West Ham do blow hot and cold but won’t fear this trip to France as Lyon’s home form is not particularly strong and they currently sit in tenth in Ligue 1.

David Moyes has complained in recent week that the Hammers are feeling the effects of their Europa League exploits, but he will have them up for this and odds approaching 3/1 look decent about the away win.

 

Value Tip - West Ham to win at 11/4 (bet365)

 

Age is proving no barrier to Real Madrid's 34-year-old forward Karim Benzema, who looks the logical call at 4/1 to score first when Los Blancos host Chelsea this week.

Benzema was magnificent as he scored all three goals in a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge last week, and even though Chelsea claimed a confidence-boosting 6-0 win against Southampton at the weekend they look up against it here.

Benzema has scored 11 goals in just eight Champions League matches this season and can add to that tally by scoring first against Chelsea, who may struggle to cope with Real Madrid’s craft and guile in the final third.

 

First Goal Flutter - Karim Benzema to score first at 4/1 (Betfair/Paddy Power)

 

Bayern Munich were not at their best as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Villarreal last week, but with the tie technically only at the halfway point the champions of Germany should be trusted to bounce back and make it into the semi-finals.

The Yellow Submarine were forced to absorb long periods of Bayern pressure in that first leg, and if the Bavarian giants are more clinical this week they can cover a two-goal handicap as well as booking their place in the last four.

The six-time winners are hugely experienced and won’t panic against Villarreal, who might crumble at a packed out Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich left it late to beat a brave Augsburg at the weekend, as goal number 32 of a fabulous season from Robert Lewandowski proved the difference.

Lewandowski is absolutely lethal in and around the box and will definitely be the man Villarreal fear the most, but the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane are all top drawer and if Bayern – who are 9/5 to win by more than two goals - click they should win this without much fuss.

 

The Euro Banker - Bayern Munich (-2) to win at 9/5 (Betfair/Paddy Power)