Real Madrid’s Champions League survival is in real danger now. The defending champions were decidedly second best in their 2-1 semifinal first leg loss to Juventus in Italy. Carlos Tevez and former Madrid youngster Alvaro Morata did the damage for the Old Lady, who are now one step closer to their first Champions League final since 2003.
But a 2-1 advantage is still not safe, especially as they must go and defend it at the Bernabeu next week. Can Real recover and overturn their deficit? Read on below for our comprehensive second leg preview.
Meanwhile, check out our preview of the weekend’s marquee English Premier League matchup in Chelsea vs. Liverpool.
[sc:Soccer ]Real Madrid vs. Juventus Betting Preview
Where: Estadio Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
When: Wednesday, May 13, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Real Madrid vs. Juventus – view all UEFA Champions League lines
Betting on Real Madrid
By all accounts, Real Madrid were lucky to escape with only a 2-1 defeat in Turin. Real were outplayed by Juve almost from the first whistle, and couldn’t cope with their hosts’ superior intensity.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Captain and goalie Iker Casillas almost made a catastrophic error within the first minute, which spelled the start of another shaky evening for him between the sticks. He wasn’t helped by the fact that the defense in front of him looked very disjointed.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical moves also didn’t work out as planned. Putting Sergio Ramos in midfield worked very well against Atletico in the quarterfinal, but he was sloppy in possession against Juve. Meanwhile, the move to play Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale as a front two did not quite pay off.
Real’s midfield without Luka Modric, who’s still nursing a knee injury and will likely miss the second leg, remains a very pressing concern. He provides the solidity and composure Real simply missed against Juve. After the Ramos move failed, it’s hard to see what else Ancelotti has up his sleeve back in Spain.
Nevertheless, Ronaldo’s crucial away goal – his ninth, tied for the most in this year’s competition – gives Real all the hope in the world. Having striker Karim Benzema, who failed to return to fitness from a knee injury in time for the first leg, back for the home leg next week would be huge. It would allow them to return to their more traditional formation, and should help them play with more attacking flair.
With the likes of Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema and James Rodriguez, Real Madrid have more than enough weapons to overcome their slim deficit at home. Real have won all five Champions League home games this season, with 14 goals scored in those five games.
Betting on Juventus
Juventus already have arguably the sturdiest defense and midfield units out of the four teams left in this year’s competition, and if their strikers keep playing in the level they did in the first leg, they might just be the most complete team.
Carlos Tevez absolutely terrorized Real’s defense all night long in Turin, as he constantly found the gaps in their leaky backline. He also scored the decisive penalty which he won himself for his seventh goal in the competition.
His strike parter, Alvaro Morata, was equally terrific as he opened the scoring after eight minutes against his former team. The Tevez-Morata strike partnership has been amazing in these knockout rounds. They’ve now scored seven of the eight goals in Juve’s last five Champions League games, and should be favored to add to that tally against a Real defense that seemingly had no answers for them.
Juventus will be in quite an advantageous position heading into the second leg. They have the luxury of sitting deep and defending away from home to protect their slim lead, which they are more than comfortable doing. They’ve kept three consecutive away clean sheets in the Champions League.
With Real obligated to commit men forward in search of a goal, Juve can also hit back on the counter-attack. They clinically executed that gameplan in their 3-0 demolition of Borussia Dortmund in Germany in the round of 16. Juve may also have the added boost of having star midfielder Paul Pogba back after a lengthy layoff, and could bring him on as an impact substitute in the second leg.
Writer’s Prediction
Juventus’ stellar defense holds on for a 1-1 draw, which will be enough to see them through to the final. Create a betting account now and get ready to wager on another epic Champions League final.
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