Home Football Champions League Quarter-Finals – The Verdict

Champions League Quarter-Finals – The Verdict

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With the Champions League now reaching fever pitch, we assess in depth the quarter-final games in what promises to be a stunning few weeks of European football.

Benfica v Inter Milan

(First leg – April 11; second leg – April 19)

From a blockbuster appeal, this is perhaps the least compelling of the four quarter-finals. That said, this nonetheless has all the hallmarks of a compelling showdown that could go down to the wire.

Inter have reached this stage of the competition for the first time in 12 years, but they had to work hard to defeat Porto in the round of 16. Simone Inzaghi’s side are defensively astute – Inter fans demand nothing less – but goals are a problem. Indeed, no side has scored fewer to reach this season’s quarter-finals.

By contrast, Benfica cannot stop finding the back of the net in the Champions League. Suitably inspired by their excellent domestic form, they swept aside Club Bruges in the round of 16 by a 7-1 aggregate scoreline. Strikers Joao Mario and Goncalo Ramos have been inspired this season, but they are also streetwise at the back – with goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos an especially towering presence.

The Verdict:

It would be a huge surprise if Benfica were to cut loose like they did against Bruges as Inter are far stronger in every department. History suggests the Italian side might prove too streetwise, but the free-scoring Portuguese side could not be in better form and they look the value call to progress at odds of 11/10.

Manchester City v Bayern Munich

(First leg – April 11; second leg – April 19)

Hyperbole is not necessary when it comes to assessing this tie. Two wonderful clubs with wonderful players go head to head for the first time since the 2014-15 Champions League group stages, when Bayern were managed by a certain Pep Guardiola.

That Guardiola is now at City merely adds to the sense of expectancy that this could be one of the most memorable quarter-finals in Champions League history.

Bayern were brilliant against PSG in their round of 16 clash, with a 3-0 aggregate scoreline a telling yardstick by which to measure the German’s dominance.

City, at least on paper, had an easier tie against Leipzig but it was still mildly astounding that they managed to win the second leg 7-1 – with Erilng Haaland scoring five goals.

The Verdict:

City are hot favourites to go through, but it would be folly to underestimate six-times Champions League winners Bayern Munich. That said, with Haaland in such imperious form, Julian Nagelsmann’s team might well get overwhelmed in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium.

According to the VBET UK odds City can be backed at odds of 3/4 to reach the semi-finals.

Real Madrid v Chelsea

(First leg – April 12; second leg – April 18)

Real manager Carlo Ancelloti returns to his former club in what should be an absorbing duel between two well-known rivals. This will be the third consecutive season the two sides have met in the Champions League, with Chelsea having defeated Real in the semi-finals on their way to winning the trophy in 2020-21.

The London club then lost 5-4 on aggregate to the 14-times Champions League winners in the quarter-finals, with Real emerging victorious in the final.

Ancelloti’s men were stunning against Liverpool in the round of 16, but Chelsea also caught the eye at home to a bang-in-form Borussia Dortmund side – with their 2-1 victory on aggregate just rewards for their endeavours at Stamford Bridge.

The Verdict:

There are signs that Graham Potter is beginning to get a real tune out of Chelsea, whose marquee players are finally stepping up to the plate. Be that as it may, if Real get to anywhere near the levels they reached against Liverpool, this tie is likely to be over by half-time.

The Spanish giants are 4/6 to go through to yet another Champions League semi-final.

AC Milan v Napoli

(First leg – April 12; second leg – April 18)

An all-Italian quarter-final has the makings of an underrated epic. Many observers might anticipate a staid encounter, but Napoli have been in such explosive form that it would be hard not to envisage goals.

This is the first time the two sides have met in the Champions League, but history, of course, is with AC Milan, who have won the competition three times. On all known recent form, however, this appears to be Napoli’s time to shine.

Luciano Spalletti’s men have been sensational all season – both domestically and in Europe – and ran rings around Milan at the San Siro in September, when the visitors won 2-1.

Milan, though, looked defensively sound in their professional round-of-16 victory against Spurs, but their Serie A form has been chequered at best and they are a mile adrift of runaway leaders Napoli.

The Verdict:

AC Milan will make life as difficult as they can for Napoli and will hope for a strong first-leg performance at the San Siro. Napoli are, however, streets ahead of Stefano Pioli’s men in every department and are likely to overpower their Italian rivals in the return leg.

Napoli are a solid odds-on shout to make the semi-finals for the first time in their history.

Now that you have some idea of both horse racing and other sports betting you can make a decision. Of course, eventually choosing what to bet on boils down to personal preference. Never forget to draw the line between loving sports and getting swept away by betting. Always keep in mind to set time and budget limits and follow safer gambling tools.

*Odds subject to change and were correct at the time of publication

( 27.03.2023 )

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