Midweek tips: Champions League semi-final second legs

With the Champions League second legs coming up, there's plenty of midweek action to preview. Liverpool and Man City will both be looking to book their place in the final.

The Nap 

Liverpool proved they are a class above Villarreal after recording just about the most dominant 2-0 win you are ever likely to see last week, and they look a solid bet to win Tuesday’s return without conceding.

Jurgen Klopp bemoaned the fact his team only had 63 hours to rest and prepare for Saturday’s Newcastle trip after beating Villarreal last Wednesday, but they got the job done on Tyneside and look good things to progress here given there was such a visible gulf in class in that first leg.

The Yellow Submarine’s intensely defensive approach had been good enough to KO Juventus and then Real Madrid, but this Liverpool side are special. In that first leg it felt like Villarreal were always just hanging on, and their lack of ambition in the final third was shameful at times. They could not have complained if it ended 5-0, such was Liverpool’s dominance on the night.

Villarreal have recorded some great results this season, but they are not a great side. Indeed Manchester United won 2-0 at the Estadio de la Ceramica earlier in the campaign and it’s pretty clear that this Liverpool side are infinitely superior to the Red Devils these days.

Unai Emery’s disruptive tactics attempted to limit the scoring at a bouncing Anfield, and while the Spanish side obviously have to take the shackles off from here, I reckon if they go on the offensive this will play into Liverpool’s hands. The Yellow Submarine have not lost at home in over five months, but will inevitably leave gaps trying to chase the tie and you would fully expect Klopp’s men to cash in.

The Reds rested key men Mo Salah and Thiago at the weekend, and both should play a starring role in Spain, where the Reds are a tempting 9/4 to win to nil.

The Nap – Liverpool to win to nil at 9/4 (bet365/Coral/Skybet)

 

Value Tip

Nottingham Forest will take the battle for automatic promotion from the Championship down to the final day if they avoid defeat against Bournemouth on Tuesday night, and The Tricky Trees don’t look a bad bet at 12/5 to win at the Vitality Stadium.

Forest have won their las four and they recorded a thumping 5-1 win over Swansea at the weekend, with Sam Sturridge bagging a hat-trick.

It’s a huge game down on the south coast. Bournemouth have the opportunity to secure a return to the Premier League with victory, but Forest are in great form and scoring goals and 12/5 looks too big.

Value Tip – Nottingham Forest to beat Bournemouth at 12/5 (bet365)

 

First Goal Flutter

Riyad Mahrez could be worth a tickle at 13/2 to score first when Manchester City resume Champions League hostilities with Real Madrid on Wednesday.

The tie is delicately poised but it was quite astonishing how many chances Mahrez actually missed in that frenetic semi-final first leg. The pain and anger was etched on Pep Guardiola’s face as he screamed "Riyad, Riyad," after the Algerian elected to lash the ball into the side-netting rather than serving it on a plate for Phil Foden to make it 3-0 at the Etihad. Instead he went for glory and the rest, as they say, is history with Karim Benzema giving Madrid a lifeline with a brace in an unforgettable game that ended 4-3.

Benzema – having the season of his life – dominates the market and is as short as 4/1 to score first. The Frenchman is the complete forward. He's a number 10 and a number nine rolled into one. His stats this season are just phenomenal. However, City won’t be going to Spain to park the bus, and in Mahrez they have a genuine match-winner.

He has been really consistent for Man City in Europe, finishing as their top scorer in the Champions League last season and bagging 6 in 11 games so far, and gets the vote to notch first at the Santiago Bernabeu.

First Goal Flutter – Mahrez to score first at 13/2 (Bet Victor)

 

The Euro Banker 

West Ham face Eintracht Frankfurt in the second-leg of the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday, and the German side look a tempting bet at 6/4 to win in 90 minutes. Oliver Glasner's side were excellent as they won the first leg 2-1, with Ansgar Knauff nodding them in front after just 51 seconds.

The Hammers didn’t show enough quality at London Stadium, and they are up against it now as they attempt to reach a first European final in 46 years.

Frankfurt knocked Barcelona out in the quarter-finals, and in Filip Kostic have a wonderful talent down the left flank. West Ham have not kept a clean sheet since winning in Lyon on April 14, and Frankfurt are an attractive price to win at The Waldstadion.

The Euro Banker – Eintracht Frankfurt to win at 6/4 (bet365/Coral/Ladbrokes)