Real Madrid can send Liverpool packing from the Champions League on Wednesday when they look to build on a 3-1 first-leg advantage at Anfield.
Spanish Giants Set Sights on Semis
A brace from Vinicius Junior and a strike from Marco Asensio earned Real a 3-1 win at their temporary Alfredo Di Stefano base on April 6.
Mohamed Salah bagged an away goal in the Spanish capital and that effort could prove crucial if Liverpool manage to turn things around back on home soil.
The major concern for the Reds is their lack of form on Merseyside since the turn of the year, although they did win 2-1 last time out when hosting Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Saturday’s victory over Villa was their first Premier League triumph on home soil since December 12.
They also saw off RB Leipzig in the last-16 of the Champions League at Anfield and have won back-to-back games on home soil.
However, Real’s current form and the fact that Liverpool are chasing the game makes this tie different from the previous round when they kicked off with a 2-0 aggregate advantage over Leipzig.
Real Firing On All Cylinders
Zinedine Zidane’s side are riding a 13-game unbeaten streak, winning 11 during that sequence and they are full of confidence after downing Barcelona 2-1 in Saturday’s El Clasico encounter.
Wednesday’s tie looks set to be an open and expansive affair, with both sides looking slightly vulnerable at the back this term.
Paris and Chelsea = semi-finalists
Pick the winners of each tie and decide who lifts the trophy in Istanbul!
@gazpromfootball | #UCLbracket | #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 14, 2021
Los Blancos have conceded at least once in 13 of their 20 away games this campaign, while Liverpool have kept just six clean sheets in 21 home engagements.
Both teams to score, which is available at 10/19, looks the standout pick but a Real win and both teams to score at 4/1 is also worth considering.
Meanwhile, Salah is enjoying a good run of form in front of goal, netting in each of his last three for Liverpool, while he has scored five in his last four when taking his exploits with Egypt into consideration.
The forward can be backed at 4/5 to score anytime and he’s priced at 11/4 to score first at Anfield.
City Seeking Elusive Semi Spot
Manchester City have been hugely successful under Spanish tactician Pep Guardiola but they have often underperformed in Europe.
One of the main mysteries of Guardiola’s tenure is his failure to meet expectations in the Champions League.
City haven’t reached the semi-finals since he took the reins in 2016-17, going out in the quarter-finals in each of the last three seasons.
The Premier League leaders are 33/20 favourites to win the competition this term as they continue to press on in pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple.
They hold a 2-1 first-leg advantage ahead of Wednesday’s outing in North Rhine-Westphalia and can be backed at 20/29 to win.
Goals Likely in Dortmund
Guardiola rotated his side as they lost to 10-men Leeds in the league on Saturday and the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan are likely to be restored.
He has ruled out any notion that they will sit back and defend their lead and feels the best plan of action is to attack the game.
Dortmund boss Edin Terzic has also called on his men to show “courage” and with the tie finely balanced, it could be another eye-catching game.
City to win and over 2.5 goals, available at 7/5, offers interest when taking into account recent results for both clubs.
Over 2.5 goals have been scored in five of Dortmund’s last six games, including the reverse, while they have lost three of those.
*All odds correct at time of writing.