Champions League Preview 23rd Apr

The Champions League reaches the semi-final stage this week and it is a battle between Germany and Spain. Here is our guide to the best of the bets from the opening legs.

Barcelona take on Bayern Munich on Tuesday night at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The German team are 13/10 (paddy Power/ladbrokes) to win the first leg and 5/4 (general) to qualify for the final. Despite the return to action of Lionel Messi I still think these two bets look worth taking. Munich looked impressive in seeing off Juventus in the last eight while Barcelona only just scraped through against PSG. The Spanish side have won just one of the last six competitive encounters with Bayern (two draws, three defeats). In addition they have not won away against Bayern (two draws, one defeat). Munich are on a crazy run of form winning each of their last eight in all competitions scoring 32 goals (an average of four per game) while conceding just five in these games. Barcelona meanwhile have won just two of their last seven away in the Champions League and just three of their last 15 away in the knockout stages. Barcelona can be backed at 13/5 (BetVictor) to win in Munich on Tuesday night while the draw is 51/20 (You Win). Lionel Messi has already netted four away from home in the Champions League this season and he is the 9/2 (betway) favourite to grab the first goal. betway will not be beaten on price on any of the top ten players in this market and are recommended for those looking for a bet on first scorer. Others that feature highly in the market are Mario Gomez at 6/1 (also with BetVictor/Coral) and Claudio Pizarro at 7/1 (also with ladbrokes/You Win).

Wednesday night sees the first leg of the second semi-final as once more Germany take on Spain with this time Borussia Dortmund doing battle with Real Madrid. The first leg is at Dortmund and bookmakers are struggling to split the pair with the German side 9/5 (general) for victory while Madrid are 13/8 (BetVictor) and the draw is available at 5/2 (general). Both sides come into the game in good form with Dortmund going seven games unbeaten, winning six of them. Madrid meanwhile have lost just one of their last 15 games. In the Champions League Dortmund have won each of their last five home games while Madrid have won just one of their last four away, losing two of these. The head-to-head record favours the Spanish side who have lost just one of their six competitive meetings though Dortmund did take four points off Real in the group stages. The both teams to score market is the obvious first place to look as this bet has paid in nine of the ten Real Madrid Champions League games this season. In addition only once in the last 55 home games have Dortmund failed to find the net though at odds of 4/7 (bet365/BetVictor/ladbrokes) this is not a bet that appeals to me. I like the look of Mesut Ozil in the goalscorer markets after a run of form that has seen him net four times in his last three games. The German international has been playing in a role just off the striker and this has improved his goal return. Ozil is value at 16/1 (bet365/BetVictor/betway) in the first goalscorer market, be sure though to take him EW at a third of the odds unlimited scorers with bet365.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Bayern Munich to beat Barcelona in first leg, 13/10 (paddy Power/ladbrokes)
SILVER: Bayern Munich to qualify for the final, 5/4 (general)
BRONZE: Mesut Ozil to score v Dortmund, EW 16/1 (bet365)

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23/04/2013     © Frixo 2024