Champions League Predictions > Apr 5th & 6th

[StevieDay1983]

[StevieDay1983]

Check out the odds and ratings for the first leg matches in the 2021/22 Champions League Quarter-Finals right here! Give us your bets and predictions below! 

[StefanBB]

Benfica vs Liverpool

Benfica will be looking to improve on their last outing here following a 3:2 Primeira Liga defeat last time out to Braga. That defeat held them to 3rd spot in the domestic championship, and the eagles are far from the title battle. Benfica hasn’t been able to stop scoring goals, finding the back of the net every time they’ve gone out to play in their last six games. They have hit an aggregate of 11 during that period while also conceding a total of 6. Darwin Nunez and the lads were very successful in the previous round, eliminating Ajax 2:1 on aggregate.

Liverpool comes into this encounter following a 2:0 Premier League win with the downing of Watford in their previous game. It was their fourth straight victory in all competitions, and they are still in the game for the Premier League title. A sequence of steadfast performances by the Liverpool defensive unit has seen their ‘goals against’ tally amounting to 1 from their past six fixtures overall. During the same period, their own attack force has managed to score 8. The Reds want to go far in this competition and will search for a win here. From a largely healthy squad, there is only a single fitness worry for the Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp to contend with. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Hamstring Injury) won’t be in action.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

Benfica has had a pretty good campaign in the Champions League so far, but they face one of the favorites for the continental title. Liverpool is in a much better momentum, and we believe they will secure the advantage at halftime. 

Goals Market Prediction

Both teams have participated in many high-scoring matches this season, and this one shouldn't be much different. Although Liverpool kept the clean sheet four times in a row, we think this game will go over a 2.5 margin.

Liverpool HT-FT @ 2.05

Over 2.5 FT @ 1.65

Correct score 1:3 @ 11.00

[StefanBB]

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid

Manchester City will be looking for another win after a 2:0 Premier League success versus Burnley. Thanks to that victory, the Citizens remained on the top of the Premier League table. Their more recent scorelines really do illustrate the point that huge efforts have been put in by the Manchester City defense. Manchester City has been stingy, resulting in the total number of goals that have gone in at their end during their past six games, standing at 2. Pep Guardiola’s side was pretty confident in the previous round, eliminating Sporting Lisbon 5:0 on aggregate. Regarding the selection issues, Rúben Dias (Unknown Injury) will miss out.

Atlético Madrid comes into this match following a 4:1 La Liga win against Alaves in their previous match. They have improved their form lately, winning six times in a row in all competitions. Over the course of their last half-dozen outings, Atlético Madrid has bagged the sum of 13 goals. Atlético Madrid has also scored on each one of those occasions. During those fixtures, they’ve had three goals go into their own net. Los Colchoneros faced Manchester United in the previous round and managed to beat them 2:1 on aggregate.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

Both teams have been in very good form lately and will search for a positive result in the first leg. Although the hosts are favorites in this tie, we don’t believe they will win by more than two goals. 

Goals Market Prediction

Atletico Madrid has tightened its defense lately, allowing three goals in the previous six matches. Therefore, we don’t think we’ll see more than two goals in total in this one.

Atletico Madrid AH +1.5 @ 1.80

Under 2.5 FT @ 2.15

Correct score 1:0 @ 6.50

[StevieDay1983]

Benfica vs Liverpool

The 2021/22 Champions League Quarter-Final first legs are upon us and we begin the pre-game chat covering Portuguese Primeira Liga club Benfica versus Premier League team Liverpool in an 8pm BST kick-off from the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. The home team have been consistently written off by many including myself but have defied the odds to reach this stage. Will they come undone against a strong visiting side?

Benfica are a real underdog story in this competition this year. Nelson Verissimo is still the interim head coach at the club and despite the club being in 3rd place in the Primeira Liga and struggling to compete with Sporting CP and Porto they remain the only Portuguese team left in the Champions League. It may well be just 1 win from their last 3 league games but they are unbeaten in their last 4 matches in this competition having knocked out my dark horse tip Ajax in the previous round. Both teams have scored in 11 of the previous 13 matches involving Benfica. The Eagles have only lost 1 of their 6 home games in Europe this season so far.

Liverpool are eyeing up an unprecedented quadruple this season and the team will have their eyes firmly set on a semi-final berth here. The Reds are flying in the league at the moment in 2nd place and just 1 point behind league leaders Manchester City having gone unbeaten in domestic action in 18 matches. Form in Europe hasn't been quite as impressive having lost the second leg to Inter Milan by a 1-0 score at home but the 2-1 aggregate score was enough to see them through. Jurgen Klopp's men have won 15 of their last 17 matches in all competitions. It is also 7 wins from their 8 games in Europe this season. Mohamed Salah is undoubtedly the best tip for anytime scorer with the Egyptian international scoring 6 of his 8 goals in this competition away from home this season.

I know I've repeatedly bet against Benfica and they've proven me wrong but I'm going to have to do it again. There is no denying Benfica performed well in both legs and I really thought failing to beat Ajax at home had undone them. That tie goes to prove even if they don't get the result they desire here then they are still a threat. I just feel Liverpool are on another level right now and they should get the job done.

Liverpool to Win & BTTS @ 3.00 with Bet365

Anytime Scorer: Mohamed Salah @ 2.34 with SBK

[andypandy23]

Hey @StevieDay1983 ELO ratings for today are not displaying, for any leagues, any chance you can post a screenshot here ?

[StevieDay1983]

On 3/29/2022 at 4:52 PM, StevieDay1983 said:

Check out the odds and ratings for the first leg matches in the 2021/22 Champions League Quarter-Finals right here! Give us your bets and predictions below! 

Sorry, @andypandy23, not sure why they're not showing for today. Will look into it. Here are the ELO ratings for today's games when I posted up this thread initially.

[andypandy23]

Just now, StevieDay1983 said:

Sorry, @andypandy23, not sure why they're not showing for today. Will look into it. Here are the ELO ratings for today's games when I posted up this thread initially.

lol I meant for all games today.

 

[StevieDay1983]

12 minutes ago, andypandy23 said:

lol I meant for all games today.

 

Ah, I see what you mean. I'll speak to our tech team now and look to get it resolved.

[andypandy23]

5 minutes ago, StevieDay1983 said:

Ah, I see what you mean. I'll speak to our tech team now and look to get it resolved.

Quick screengrab or 2 of the whole shebang for today posted here would be mighty helpful, I'm on the clock.

[StevieDay1983]

2 minutes ago, andypandy23 said:

Quick screengrab or 2 of the whole shebang for today posted here would be mighty helpful, I'm on the clock.

The ones that are showing for me in today's ELO ratings tab should be showing for you too. Not sure why they're not showing for the Champions League and a couple of other competitions. I can't screen shot those because I can't see them either. I've contacted the tech team to see if they can get them back up.

[andypandy23]

35 minutes ago, StevieDay1983 said:

 

 

Edited April 5, 2022 by andypandy23

[StevieDay1983]

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid

The second game from the Champions League Quarter-Final first legs on Tuesday night is coming up in an 8pm BST kick-off when Premier League leaders Manchester City host Spanish La Liga reigning champions Atletico Madrid at the Etihad Stadium. This game is seen as a clash of playing styles with the home side renowned for their fluid attacking play and the away team adopt a more reputedly pragmatic approach. Who will prevail victorious here?

Manchester City are still waiting to lift the Champions League trophy and you get the feeling it's becoming a bit of an obsession for Pep Guardiola now.  The Citizens haven't been without their stutters in the competition so far having already suffered two defeats in the group stage and being held to a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their last 16 tie with Sporting CP which they won 5-0 on aggregate. City have also shown they are far from invincible at home having suffered losses to both Crystal Palace and Tottenham on home turf this season. The team remains free-scoring though having scored 23 goals in their 8 matches in the competition so far. The two clean sheets kept against Sporting CP were the first two shut outs they had achieved this season in Europe's elite competition though.

Atletico Madrid have gone slightly under the radar so far but have now won each of their last 6 matches in all competitions. Diego Simeone's side are struggling on the domestic front with the club in 3rd place but they have only just climbed back into the Champions League qualification spots after their decent run of form. Atleti have had mixed fortunes against English clubs so far having suffered back-to-back defeats in the group stage against Liverpool but actually knocking out Manchester United in the last 16 with a 2-1 aggregate win. The second leg of that tie producing a vintage Atletico display that delivered a 1-0 victory away. Away form has been hot for the Spaniards with the team winning each of their last 4 away matches across all competitions so they should be treated with caution here.

I'm not sure it's wise to write Atletico Madrid off here. It's being labelled as a clash of styles but I think that's a little naive. Yes, Atletico aren't exactly prime early 2010s Barcelona but they still play some decent football. They're organised, hard-working, but also have match winners who can turn it on. Manchester City will be keen to take a lead into the second leg in Madrid. I think it's probably fair to compare this game more to Liverpool versus Atletico Madrid rather than Manchester United versus Atletico Madrid. Simeone has lost 2 of his 3 games against Guardiola but he did knock Guardiola's Bayern Munich out of the Champions League in Guardiola's final season with the German club so that will have left a mark on the former Barcelona head coach. I am backing City to win here though.

Manchester City HT/FT @ 2.08 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 1.88 with SBK

[StefanBB]

Villarreal vs Bayern Munich

Villarreal wants a better result here following the 2:0 La Liga defeat in their last game at the hands of Levante. It was their second straight defeat which might impact their continental qualification bid. From their previous six clashes leading up to this one, in as many as 5 of them, a wager on both teams scoring would have been a loser. Nevertheless, the Yellow Submarine managed to eliminate Juventus in the previous round, and they eye another upset. There aren’t many personnel worries, with just a single fitness concern for the Villarreal boss Unai Emery to be concerned about from an otherwise fully-primed group. Alberto Moreno (Cruciate Ligament Rupture) won’t play.

Bayern Munich will come into the meeting after a 4:1 Bundesliga win in the defeat of Freiburg in their last game. They increased their advantage over Borussia Dortmund to nine points, and the visitors march to another title. In their last six clashes, Bayern Munich has helped themselves to a total of 18 goals. Bayern Munich has also managed to score on each one of those occasions. During those fixtures, their defenders have had four goals scored by their opponents. They are favorites in this tie, but they shouldn’t let themselves become complacent.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

Although Villarreal is a tricky opponent and Unai Emery is an expert in two-leg games preparations, the away side is closer to the victory. We believe Bayern Munich will meet expectations and return home with an important win.

Goals Market Prediction

The home side hasn’t been involved in many efficient games lately, while three of Bayern's last four went over a 3.5 margin. This one should be a fairly productive match, and the crowd should be able to see at least three goals in total.

Bayern Munich to Win @ 1.60

Over 2.5 FT @ 1.60

Correct score 1:3 @ 12.00

[StefanBB]

Chelsea vs Real Madrid

Chelsea will be hoping for a better result after a 4:1 Premier League defeat last time out to Brentford. The Blues now need to beware of Arsenal to keep the 3rd spot in the Premier League intact. That defeat broke their six-game winning streak, and the home side looks forward to bouncing back. Chelsea has been on a persistent run of goalscoring form, hitting the target in their last six matches. They have totted up the amount of 13 during that period and have conceded a total of 6. However, they need to do much better in this one to secure the home advantage ahead of the trip to Madrid.

Real Madrid will go into this clash following on from a 2:1 La Liga win to beat Celta Vigo in their previous game. Karim Benzema returned to the starting eleven, and Los Blancos managed to recover from a heavy 4:0 loss against Barcelona. Indicating their bias toward productive matches, the back of the net has been hit 20 times in the last six games in which Real Madrid has taken to the field, giving a mean average of 3.33 goals each fixture. Opposing teams have managed seven from this total. Real Madrid comfortably sits on the top of the La Liga table, and they can focus on having a successful Champions League campaign.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction                                                                            

It is going to be a tight match, and it can easily go either way. Chelsea eliminated Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League's latest edition, and the visitors will search for revenge. We won’t be surprised if this match ends in a draw.

Goals Market Prediction

Both teams have a very talented offense, and the crowd should enjoy an entertaining match. Although Chelsea is disciplined in the back, we expect both teams to find the back of the net.

Draw @ 3.45

BTTS Yes @ 1.90

Correct score 1:1 @ 6.50

[DarrenTse]

Villarreal vs Bayern Munchen

Villarreal is going head to head with Bayern Munchen at Estadio de la Ceramica stadium, Villarreal city, Spain on Wednesday Night. Villarreal performed very well this season to get this far in the Champions League. Villarreal have lost 3 of their last 5 matches in all competitions, while Bayern Munich have remain unbeaten in their last 6 games, The 1x2 odd favor the away team. 

Bayern Munchen  @1.55

[StevieDay1983]

Chelsea vs Real Madrid

The Champions League Quarter-Finals continue on Wednesday night and it is games like this that are the very reason we love the competition so much. Two of the favourites meet when reigning champions Chelsea take on Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid in an 8pm BST kick-off from Stamford Bridge. It's too tight to call but the pressure will be on the home side to get a result otherwise it could be too much to ask for them to turn the tie around away in the second leg.

Chelsea are undoubtedly a powerful unit under head coach Thomas Tuchel. The German has managed to instil a siege mentality in the squad as the controversial takeover talks continue. The Blues are 3rd in the Premier League but did suffer a shock 4-1 loss at home to London rivals Brentford on the weekend so it's going to be interesting to see how the team bounces back against an arguably far more formidable opponent here. It's been a campaign of ticking boxes in the Champions League for Chelsea so far. They may have failed to top their group behind Juventus but still finished 2nd by a comfortable margin ahead of Zenit St Petersburg and Malmo. It was a business-like 4-1 aggregate win over Lille in the last 16 as well. Chelsea have won 11 of their 15 games in this competition under Tuchel. The former PSG gaffer also remains unbeaten in 5 matches against Spanish clubs as Chelsea manager.

Real Madrid have not had the easiest of routes to this stage of the competition. Los Blancos finished top of a group consisting of Inter Milan, Sheriff Tiraspol, and Shakhtar Donetsk and but did suffer a surprising home loss to Sheriff in that phase. The team then dramatically came back from 2-0 down on aggregate versus PSG to win 3-2 overall. French striker Karim Benzema bagged a hat-trick to seal the victory on the night and over two legs. The 4-0 loss at home to rivals Barcelona in El Clasico last week will have left a sour taste in the mouth but the players hit back with 2-1 victory away to Celta Vigo on the weekend. Real may have struggled to perform against the so-called "elite teams" this season with disappointing defeats coming against Barcelona and PSG but they have also beaten both of those teams this season and have shown they can deliver the goods when it matters.

I was initially tempted to back a home win here but then the Chelsea loss to Brentford came and it exposed some tactical weaknesses within the Chelsea set-up. There is no doubt that Carlo Ancelotti will have been watching that game with interest and making notes. This will be a game between two very evenly matched sides and I completely understand why the bookies are keeping Chelsea above an evens price. If one team is going to snatch a victory here then it will be Chelsea I think but Real Madrid will be smelling blood and will believe they can take at least a draw here.

Draw @ 3.40 with BetVictor

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.77 with SBK

[StevieDay1983]

Villarreal vs Bayern Munich

The final game I'm previewing from the Champions League Quarter-Final first leg matches this week is the 8pm BST kick-off on Wednesday night between Spanish La Liga club Villarreal and German Bundesliga team Bayern Munich at the Estadio de la Ceramica. The home team have upset the odds to get this far in the competition but they face one of the ante-post favourites here so can they continue their fairytale story?

Villarreal may be falling short in La Liga with the club in 7th place and on course to miss out on qualifying for European football next season but Unai Emery is working his magic on the European front once again. The former Sevilla head coach has led his team past a group phase including Manchester United, Atalanta, and Young Boys before defeating Juventus by a 4-1 score-line on aggregate. The 3-0 win in the second leg away sent shockwaves through the competition. Scoring goals has not been a problem for the Yellow Submarine this season with the team scoring in 7 of their 8 games played in this year's competition.

Bayern Munich come into this game as overwhelming favourites and it's no surprise. Julian Nagelsmann has led his team to the summit in the Bundesliga with the club also winning 7 and drawing 1 of their 8 matches in the Champions League so far this season. Bayern cruised through their group with a 100% which is impressive given they faced Barcelona, Benfica, and Dynamo Kiev. Two of those opponents are still involved in European competition now. A dominant 8-2 aggregate win over RB Salzburg in the last 16 showed that they are showing no signs of taking their foot off the accelerator. Bayern have now scored more than 100 goals since they last failed to score in this competition. 9 of their last 11 matches they have played have seen both teams scoring. Leroy Sane could be the pick for anytime scorer having scored in 5 of his last 7 appearances in the Champions League.

I think there's a clear shout for Bayern Munich being backed to win the Champions League this season. The team is settled, dangerous in attack, but also relatively competent at the back. Even on the defence's off days the attacking prowess delivers. Villarreal are exceeding expectations and they went toe-to-toe with a European heavyweight in the last round and won convincingly. I just feel Bayern are on course for a final spot and they should do the business here with a narrow win.

Bayern Munich to Win & BTTS @ 2.75 with Bet365

Anytime Scorer: Leroy Sane @ 3.80 with SBK

[harry_rag]

4 hours ago, StevieDay1983 said:

Anytime Scorer: Leroy Sane @ 3.80 with SBK

Non-starter; I've gone for Coman at 4.7 if anyone's desperate enough for an interest to follow me!