Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid Preview
Where: Allianz Arena – Munich, Germany
When: Wednesday, April 12, 2017, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Bayern Munich -143 vs. Real Madrid +285, draw +280; total 3.0– view all Champions League lines
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 1
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Betting on Bayern Munich (-143)
So much for all the talk of Bayern taking a step back this season without Pep Guardiola. The Bavarians are strolling to yet another Bundesliga title under Carlo Ancelotti, and are coming off a dominant 4-1 home win over bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern aren’t doing too badly in the Champions League, either. They simply tore Arsenal to shreds in the round of 16 as they won both legs, 5-1. Their first-leg home win was their 16th Champions League home win in a row, the longest streak in tournament history. Bayern have been absolutely dominant during that streak, too, with 58 goals scored and just nine conceded.
Of course, the last team to beat them at home at the Allianz was Real, who hammered them 4-0 in 2014. But the architect of that demolition (Ancelotti) is on their side now. And after his unceremonious exit from the club, expect the Italian to show no mercy against his old employers.
Star striker Robert Lewandowski is having another spectacular season for Bayern. He scored two more goals against Dortmund, giving him 26 in 26 Bundesliga games. He also has seven goals in eight Champions League games, and scored in both legs against Arsenal. Lewa famously smashed four goals past Real in the Champions League semifinals during his time in Dortmund back in 2013.
Betting on Real Madrid (+285)
Real Madrid made easy work of what looked like a potentially tricky round of 16 tie against Napoli. The Spanish champions won both legs 3-1 to cruise into the Champions League quarterfinals for the sixth straight season. They’ve also made it to the semis in the previous five seasons, but this tie against Bayern figures to be their toughest test to date.
Real are only one of two unbeaten teams left in this season’s Champions League. They’ve won five and drawn eight, with 23 goals scored. However, they’ve also conceded 12 goals and have failed to keep a clean sheet in all eight games.
It’s that inability to shut opponents down that could prove to be their downfall against Bayern. Real obviously have the world-class attacking talent to simply outscore their opponents, but that tactic might not work against the Germans, who have a defense capable of keeping Real quiet.
The Spaniards will likely need a superb performance from Cristiano Ronaldo to get a positive result in the first leg in Germany, but the Portuguese superstar has not been at his best in this season’s Champions League. He’s failed to score in the last 613 minutes he’s played in the competition, tied for the longest drought in his career.
Writer’s Prediction
Bayern (-143) maintain their home winning streak as they beat Real Madrid, 2-1.
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