Previewing the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The most important club soccer tournament in the world is down to the final four. Exciting times if you bet on soccer, SBG Global has an exclusive first look into the two interesting matchups for European soccer’s top prize. Full disclosure, the odds have not yet been posted but the draw has just been announced, so we can now speculate based on what we have seen on the quarterfinals, who might reach this stage to stamp out their ticket to the UEFA Champions League Final at Milan.
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
After an epic comeback versus the German side of Wolfsburg, Real Madrid enters the Semifinals with a great momentum. Their star player Cristiano Ronaldo found much needed form in their last couple of games and they couldn’t be at a better position. They will come as good favorites in this series against, what could be the weakest team in the competition. Furthermore, much to Madrid’s advantage they open at Manchester and close the series in Madrid to seal the deal at home.
The main gripe that experts on betting on football and online sportsbook insiders for Manchester City is that they had a tough time putting away PSG at home. Sergio Agüero’s missed penalty and inability to score in the second leg of the series really raises a lot of concern for their match-up for the Semis. Fans that bet on soccer will remember that Agüero played for Atletico Madrid previously, and he has never been able to beat Real Madrid. But, considering and comparing how both team will reach the semifinals, the merengues will hold on to a draw in the UK and hand Manchester City a tough loss at the mythical Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid
Based on an eye test from what we saw at the Quaterfinals the favorites going into this match up are Cholo Simeone’s boys. Both are elite level teams, but after putting down arguably the best team in world soccer, Atletico has a clear and well-deserved edge if you are going to bet on soccer. After losing with a valiant effort at Nou Camp against Barcelona, Atletico played some of the smartest near perfect executed soccer at home knocking out the blaugranas that had all their starters at their disposal. Antooine Griezman and the returning Fernando Torres are going to provide a boost to the colchoneros front line, and they are going to be a real head ache to the Bayern back side that had some lackluster performances against Benfica.
Bayern’s hopes could be higher up; after all they sealed their pass to the semis at Portugal. They managed to handle Benfica’s pressure and were able to put the game to rest taking a 2-1 lead, but ultimately ended up tying a game they should have won. Let’s not forget also, that the first leg of the series their attacking end was rather unfruitful. Robert Lewandowski’s goal drought is worrying, and if they are not going to be able to score, they are not going to make it to Milan. If you bet on football, the pick on this series will be Atletico Madrid.