With the first legs of the Champions League and Europa League semi finals taking place this week, here we take a look at each of the matches and bring you some winning bets.
Tuesday 22nd April 2014
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea (19:45) – Correct score of 1-1 (6/1 with Coral)
Atletico Madrid have – for many – been a real surprise this season. At the time of writing they are sitting pretty at the top of La Liga three points ahead of their city rivals Real and four ahead of Barcelona, who they beat in the quarter final of the Champions League, 2-1 on aggregate. In short, this is going to be a very tough match for Jose Mourinho’s men. In Diego Costa, the Spaniards have something Chelsea don’t: a prolific, consistent striker. But the Brazilian-born forward has a hamstring injury and might not be fit in time for this one.
Whether he is or not, Mourinho knows that his side will have their work cut out to get a win in the Spanish capital and it is almost certain they will play for the draw – or at least to keep things as tight as possible in the hope of nicking an away goal. Chelsea are as solid as anyone when they are focussed on defending – as they have shown on many occasions in recent years, not least when they won the Champions League themselves in 2012. While the home side are rightful favourites to win this one, we think Chelsea will have enough to eke out a draw, with 1-1 our predicted scoreline.
Wednesday 23rd April 2014
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich (19:45) – Both teams to score (6/5 with Bet365)
Two of the giants of European football go head to head at the Bernabeu on Wednesday with a place in the Champions League final at stake. Real’s (and the world’s) best player Cristiano Ronaldo is in danger of missing this one with a hamstring injury, and if he doesn’t make it, Bayern will receive a massive boost in confidence. Pep Guardiola’s men have had something of a poor run of form of late having lost two and drawn two of their last five (prior to the weekend game). But the former Barca boss knows Real extremely well and we feel he’ll have the tactical astuteness to send his team out to soak up the pressure and hit hard on the break through Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery. As such they could have enough to earn a draw or even nick the victory.
If Ronaldo is fit, of course, it could be a very different story. But not knowing at this stage the safer option would be to back both teams to score, as has happened in each of the last four matches between them in this competition, including when they met at this stage in 2012.
Thursday 24th April 2014
Benfica v Juventus (20:05) – Under 1.5 goals (21/10 with Ladbrokes)
Serie A table toppers Juventus are strong favourites to win this year’s Europa League after dropping down from the Champions League after Galatasaray got the better of them in the group stage. But Benfica are going great guns in the Portuguese league where they have lost just once all season, and having won 15 and drawn one (against Tottenham) of their last 16 matches (prior to their weekend game) they will be full of confidence when Juve come to town.
The bookies are not overly sure how this first leg will go, but we think the visitors will take no chances at this stage of the competition and will play a measured game in the hope of not conceding and perhaps nicking one. Experts at defending, we think Juve could well have enough to keep a clean sheet, but while Benfica might be frustrated they will recognise a 0-0 isn’t the end of the world and might – in the latter stages – settle for such a result. As such, backing a low-scoring game of under 1.5 goals looks a sensible option here, which also covers the possibility of either side nicking it 1-0.
Sevilla v Valencia (20:05) – Sevilla to win to nil (23/10 with Coral)
The other Europa League semi final is an all-Spanish affair, and despite Sevilla being three places above Valencia in La Liga, it is Juan Antonio Pizzi’s men who have had the better of the league meetings between them this season, winning 3-1 on home soil and earning a creditable point away from home.
Valencia don’t have a great record away from home, however, and have just the 15th best attack on the road in La Liga. They will no doubt aim to keep this one tight and get a repeat of the 0-0 they earned in Sevilla in February, but we feel the home side won’t let them get away with that again and – having beaten Basel 5-0 at home in the last round – we feel backing Sevilla to win to nil has to be worthwhile, with 1-0 or 2-0 both worth considering.