With the UEFA Champions League quarter finals getting underway on Tuesday, we have two pulsating fixtures featuring four of Europe’s most devastating sides. Here’s a break down and match prediction for Arsenal vs Bayern and Real Madrid vs Man City.
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich | 09 April | 21:00
Looking to make a Champions League statement, Arsenal take on a wounded Bayern Munich side in the quarter finals first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
The Gunners continued their fine form over the weekend, recording a 3-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion to end the weekend at the summit of the English Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s side edged FC Porto in the Round of 16 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with the Bavarian giants. The Gunners have won an impressive 10 games in their last 12 games in all competitions, netting 39 goals in the process.
Arsenal’s scoring prowess is as impressive as their tough backline. They have kept four consecutive clean sheets across all formats and they boast the league’s best defensive record with 24 goals conceded in 31 matches. Jurrien Timber remains Arsenal’s only injury absentee for the European showdown while Gabriel Martinelli is likely to start from the bench after overcoming his injury niggle.
The Bavarians surrendered a 2-0 lead at half-time to lose the match 3-2 away to newcomers FC Heidenheim over the weekend. The collapse followed the previous weekend’s home loss to rivals Borussia Dortmund in De Klassiker, leaving Thomas Tuchel’s side 16 points behind Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga.
The loss to Heidenheim underlined Bayern’s issues on the road and they have now won just one away game in their last six fixtures. The poor away record includes a 1-0 first-leg loss to Lazio in the Round of 16 last month. Tuchel is still sweating on the fitness of Leroy Sane, Manuel Neuer, and Kingsley Coman who all missed the defeat to Heidenheim. The Germans will draw inspiration from Harry Kane who has registered 50 goal contributions already this season, with 38 goals and 12 assists.
Bayern enjoyed a 10-2 aggregate win in the last Champions League meeting between these two teams in 2017. The Gunners will smell the opportunity to pile more misery on the wounded German side, and I am predicting a tight win for the home side.
Prediction: Arsenal Straight Win @ 1.69. Click here to take that bet now!
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Real Madrid vs Manchester City | 09 April | 21:00
Meeting in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the third consecutive season, Manchester City and Real Madrid resume their rivalry with a first-leg quarterfinal tie to be held at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night.
The Spanish giants, searching for a record-extending 15th Champions League crown, have set the tone in LaLiga Santander this season. They have opened an eight-point lead over second-placed Barcelona with eight regular matches remaining.
Los Blancos are undefeated in their last 13 matches across all competitions, a run stretching back to January 13 when they lost to Atletico Madrid in the Copa Del Rey round of 16. Madrid’s upturn in form has been aided by an improved defensive showing; they have kept four clean sheets in their last six home matches, winning by an aggregate of 15-3. It has been over a month since an away side has scored at the Santiago Bernabeu, the last of which was RB Leipzig in a Round of 16 encounter that ended 1-1.
RODRIGO 💬 What can I say about Pep?! You watched it in the last few years. You are talking about maybe the two most successful managers in this tournament -Ancelotti and Pep. They have their own styles but two winners in their own way and what can I say about Pep, he is our… pic.twitter.com/AOYAKRUZ4E
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 8, 2024
Manchester City has been swashbuckling in this season’s Champions League, winning eight matches in a row in the group stages coupled with the Round of 16. Pep Guardiola’s men are peaking at the right time heading into the business end of the season. They are unbeaten in 25 appearances in all competitions, their last loss coming in the league against Aston Villa on December 6.
The Cityzens picked up an exciting 4-2 away win over Crystal Palace at the weekend on Saturday, extending their undefeated away record to 12 straight games. City dispatched Copenhagen 3-1 on both legs in the last 16, marking a new historic chapter for the club as they qualified for the quarterfinals for the sixth successive season.
Five of the last six encounters between these two Champions League contenders finished with both teams finding the net. The two giants canceled each other out to a 1-1 draw in last season’s first-leg semi final at the Bernabeu. This will be a great spectacle for neutrals; back both teams to score in the market.
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Prediction: Both Teams To Score (Yes)
