The 2015-16 Champions League has reached the quarterfinal stages of the competition and there are a lot of big and exciting match ups. Continue reading for our Champions League quarterfinals leg 1 Preview and Betting Tips.
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Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid (Wednesday 4.45am AEDT)
A classic Spanish match up will take place in the quarterfinals as Barcelona will look to return to winning ways after suffering a loss to Real Madrid earlier in the week. Lionel Messi has come under a lot of scrutiny as he didn’t have one of his best games however it is hard to play at such an elite level continuously. As he is arguably one of the best players of all time we expect him to come back with a bang in this one as he along with Suarez and Neymar will lift Barcelona to a victory in the opening match.
Atletico Madrid were lucky to advance to this stage after they escaped against PSV Eindhoven on penalties after playing out two scoreless draws. After that match they suffered a shock loss to Sporting but returned to winning ways on the weekend with a big 5-1 victory over Real Betis. Whilst Atletico Madrid has the ability to challenge Barcelona, the home field advantage as well as the Spanish giants entering the match on a loss will be enough incentive for them to get off to the perfect start in their opening leg.
TIP: HT/FT – Barcelona/Barcelona @ $2.25 with Sportsbet
Bayern Munich vs Benfica (Wednesday 4.45am AEDT)
The German club will expect a much easier quarterfinal opponent after having taking part in one of the most entertaining round of 16 legs of all time. After leading 2-0 in Italy, the Germans found themselves trailing on Aggregate 4-2 but they were able to muster a comeback and take the match into overtime where they would earn the victory. It showed a lot of character of the club and they are big favourites to earn the win in their opening leg.
Benfica held of Zenit in their round of 16 match up as they drew one of the easier teams in the competition. It is a tough task for them to take on Bayern Munich as the German side has lost just once to a Portugal opponent in 22 matches. These two sides have no recent history against each other as the last time they faced off was 20 years ago. We are backing the firepower of Lewandowski, Ribery, Robben, Gotze and Muller to be too much for the Portugal side to overcome.
TIP: Bayern Munich -2 @ $2.40 with CrownBet
Paris Saint Germain vs Manchester City (Thursday 4.45am AEDT)
The French side hasn’t lost a match in its last six matches and it has already been crowned the champions of Ligue 1 as it holds an insurmountable lead. This gives them to ability to focus solely on winning the Champions League and the French Cup.
Meanwhile Manchester City has found itself fighting for a position in the top four after entering the season as one of the title favourites. They have progressed through to the furthest stage in the Champions League after having a relatively easy pool and one of the easier opponents in the round of 16. The side did return to winning ways with a 4-0 victory against Bournemouth and there were a lot of positives to take out of the match. Kevin De Bruyne made a solid return from an injury and found himself on the scorers sheet whilst marksmen Sergio Aguero did the same.
However, unfortunately for Manchester City they have been incredibly inconsistent this season whilst they have crumbled in big matches as they have lost to Liverpool twice, Manchester United, Tottenham and Leicester City when it matter the most. We are backing the home side to take victory into the second leg.
TIP: Saint Germain @ $1.67 with Ladbrokes
Wolfsburg vs Real Madrid (Thursday 4.45am AEDT)
Wolfsburg has never previously faced Real Madrid and it is their first time reaching the quarterfinal stages of the competition. Their lack of experience could hinder the side as they are forced to take on the biggest club in world football. Wolfsburg shouldn’t be treated lightly though after topping their group and defeating Manchester United earlier in the competition whilst playing the opening match on home soil should give them a much needed boost.
However, Real Madrid will be full of confidence as they are coming off their biggest victory of the season that saw them end the unbeaten streak for Barcelona as they had gone 39 matches without a loss. The victory will be even sweeter for fans as Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner that silenced his critics that say he never turns up in big matches. To make matters worse for the German side, Gareth Bale has returned to full fitness and has been playing at a high level whilst Real Madrid also has a strong recent record in the Champions League, as they will be searching for their sixth straight appearance in the semi-finals.
TIP: HT/FT - Real Madrid/Real Madrid @ $2.60 with William Hill
You can find the full champions league schedule here.
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
