Quarter-Finals Preview

The 2011/2012 Champions League has reached the quarter-final stage and the tournament now starts to get serious with the final in Munich very much in sight for the eight remaining teams.

And it is German club Bayern who will perhaps be most determined to make the showpiece which will take place on their home turf.

Standing in their way at the next stage is Olympique Marseille who defied the odds to knock out 2010 champions Inter Milan in the last round despite losing 2-1 at the San Siro.

Didier Deschamps’ side have endured a significant slump domestically however it seems as if that has been the price to pay for prolonged success on the continent.

The French outfit will look to assume a first leg advantage at Stade Velodrome and that will surely be required following Bayern’s excellent 7-0 victory over Basle at home in the last 16.

Munich are a shade of odds on to snatch a win in the south of France but this looks a tie to follow over the course of both legs from a betting perspective.

There isn’t much value available about the Bavarians progressing to the last four, but with Ribery, Robben and Gomez in their ranks they have to be regarded as absolute certainties at 1/4 – as Marseille look set to struggle against a far higher class of opposition.

AC Milan vs. Barcelona is arguably the tie of the round and the Italian’s will feel that they have to take a significant lead to the Nou Camp in order to advance.

Nevertheless, the Rossoneri almost blew a 4-0 first leg lead against Arsenal in the last 16 and in truth looked woefully short of Champions League quality at the Emirates.

Barcelona should be more than capable of winning both legs and could be a decent bet at 3/4 to triumph in Italy – especially if Lionel Messi can produce the kind of performance which saw him net five goals against Bayer Leverkusen in the last round.

Barca are as short as 1/7 to qualify and considering that Milan are top of Serie A, those odds more or less sum up the story of the two sides and the gulf which lies between them.

The biggest mismatch on paper however unquestionably goes to Apoel Nicosia vs. Real Madrid; however the Cypriots should not be underestimated following their excellent campaign to date.

Madrid may not get everything their own way in the first leg and 5/1 about the draw cannot be discounted.

The tie should, nonetheless, be decided at the Santiago Bernabeu and Madrid will surely ease clear of their opponents in Spain.

Benfica vs. Chelsea completes the quarter-final line-up and could easily be the most balanced match up out of all the ties.

The first leg in Portugal will be absolutely crucial and Chelsea will above all hope to snatch a vital away goal to take back to Stamford Bridge.

The match at the Stadium of Light looks too tight to predict but the Blues should edge it overall and are a solid 8/15 to reach the semis.

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28/03/2012     © Frixo 2024