And then there were four! The semi-finals of the 2023 UEFA Champions League kick off this Wednesday morning, with four of the biggest clubs in the world set to do battle for two places in the final. Check out our preview and betting tips for the 1st leg of both semi finals below.
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UEFA Champions League Semi Finals Betting Tips
1st Leg, Wednesday 10th/Thursday 11th May
Real Madrid vs Manchester City
Wednesday 5am (AEST)
The hottest team in world football at the moment, Manchester City, will travel to Spain for the opening leg against juggernaut Real Madrid on Wednesday morning. Manchester City will be riding high after completing the comeback in the domestic competition, but will now need to shift their focus to this big matchup away from home. Luckily, they come into the clash at near full strength, with only Benjamin Mendy (suspended) and Cole Palmer (ankle) set to miss the clash.
Real Madrid haven't been the powerhouse that Man City has in their respective domestic competition, currently sitting 14 points behind arch rivals Barcelona with just five games to play, but they will be looking to add a 2nd trophy to the case in the 2023 UCL after taking out the Copa Del Ray final against Osasuna on Sunday. They have a 21-5-7 record in the La Liga and will enter the semi near full strength as well, with just Ceballos and Militao on the sidelines.
Man City have had the wood over their Spanish rivals in recent history, winning four of their last five matchups with a combined goal aggregate of 13-9. They did square off in the semi final of the Champions League last season, where Real Madrid were able to advance after splitting the tie and going to penalties.
These two teams are still very evenly matched, I think this one goes in a similar fashion, with the home team winning both games. Back the Spanish side to get the job done here as home underdogs.
AC Milan vs Inter Milan
Thursday 5am (AEST)
The semi final battle everyone wanted to see, as the fierce Milan rivals will face off in the Champions League for the first time since all the way back in 2005. It also means that an Italian side will make their way into the UCL Final for the first time since Juventus did so in the 2016-17 season.
Neither of these two teams have been forces in the Serie A this season, sitting in 4th and 5th place respectively behind champions Napoli, Juventus and Lazio. Although their league hopes are dashed, Inter still have two chances at silverware this season, as they also find themselves in the Coppa Italia Final set to be played on May 25. They have been the better form of the two teams as well, winning their last four games in the Serie A, the most recent of which, a 6-0 thrashing of Verona.
To add more favour to Inter in the cross town rivalry, they have had the wood over AC Milan in recent times, maintaining a 3-1-1 record in their last five meetings.
They are on the road but I think Inter can get the job done here, and there is still plenty of meat left on the bone there at $2.45.
