Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich Preview
Where: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium – Madrid, Spain
When: Tuesday, April 18, 2017, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Real Madrid +128 vs. Bayern Munich +170, draw +230; total 3.5 – view all Champions League lines
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 1
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Betting on Real Madrid (+128)
Real Madrid are firmly in the driver’s seat for a seventh straight trip to the semifinals after a huge 2-1 first-leg win away at Bayern Munich last week. That win, which snapped Bayern’s impressive 16-match home winning streak, was Real’s fifth in their last six meetings against the German giants.
Real maintained their unbeaten record in this year’s competition (six wins, three draws), and will be big favorites to keep that streak going at the Bernabeu. Since 2010-11, Real have gone an incredible 34-4-2 in 40 Champions League home games. They’ve also been amazing at home this season, as they’ve lost just one competitive game at the Bernabeu.
Real will be without star winger Gareth Bale for the second leg, but even with the Welshman’s absence, the Spaniards still have more than enough firepower to find the back of the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo snapped his personal goal drought in the competition with two goals in the first leg, and will be hungry for more back home. Isco, who will likely take Bale’s place in the starting XI, will also be in fine form after he scored twice in Real’s 3-2 win over Sporting Gijon over the weekend, including a 90th-minute winner. Real have scored in 34 consecutive Champions League home games, which is a tournament record.
Betting on Bayern Munich (+170)
A lot of things went wrong for Bayern in their first leg defeat. First, star striker Robert Lewandowski was a late scratch due to a shoulder injury. His replacement, Thomas Muller, struggled to lead the line. Arturo Vidal squandered some big chances, including a penalty miss. Then, Javi Martinez was sent off, which means he will be suspended for the return leg. Down to 10 men, they eventually conceded a second away goal.
But despite a 2-1 deficit heading into the second leg in Spain, Bayern are not out of the tie just yet. Lewandowski is set to return to the lineup, which should instantly improve their attack. Lewandowski has scored in three straight Champions League games, and will be going up against a Real defense that could be starting fourth-choice central defender Nacho due to injury concerns to Raphael Varane and Pepe.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti rested veterans Xabi Alonso, Arjen Robben, and Franck Ribery in their weekend matchup against Leverkusen, so they should be fairly fresh.
However, the defense will be a bit of a concern. Bayern will be missing both Mats Hummels (injury) and Javi Martinez (suspension), which is not good news for a defense that has kept just one clean sheet in its last eight Champions League games.
Writer’s Prediction
Real (+128) seal another semifinal berth with a 2-1 home win over Bayern.
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