The Champions League semifinals will conclude this week, with all four sides still having a chance of sealing a passage to the final. We have previewed both ties for midweek.
Champions League | PSG vs Borussia Dortmund | 21:00 | 07 May 2024
PSG will be raring to go on Tuesday night after enjoying a weekend off to prepare for Dortmund, whom they’ll face for the fourth time this season. The Parisians were off their usual best last week and were guilty of missing a couple of chances to earn a decent result in Germany. Talisman Kylian Mbappe cut a frustrated figure for most parts in the reverse leg and may be energised for this tie as he seeks to deliver the coveted Champions League trophy before signing off to Spain for next season. They have only lost once at home in 2024, the 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the quarterfinals first leg. PSG’s only injury worry is Lucas Hernandez, who suffered an ACL tear in the previous encounter. Lucas Beraldo should take his place.
Dortmund’s late-season surge has coincided perfectly with their most important part of the season. The Yellow Wall’s end-of-season flurry has seen them win nine of their past 13 matches, losing three times in the process. They continued their winning spell with a dismantling performance over the weekend, thrashing Augsburg 5-1 at the raucous Signal Iduna. The display was an improvement from the 1-0 win over PSG last week and will serve as motivation for the Germans dreaming of a first Champions League final since 2012. Jadon Sancho dazzled in the first leg and will be fully ready for this tie after sitting out over the weekend. First-leg goalscorer Niklas Fullkrug will spearhead Dortmund’s frontline.
Home advantage will work in PSG’s favor; they have already beaten Dortmund at Parc des Princes this season. Go all in on Luis Enrique’s men.
Prediction: PSG Win @ 1.45 | I would add the over 2.5 total goals pick to another MultiBet
Champions League | Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich | 21:00 | 08 May 2024
Real Madrid will certainly be in higher spirits ahead of hosting Bayern for the return leg of the Champions League semifinals. Los Blancos were crowned La Liga champions for a record-extending 36th time on Saturday, in the aftermath of a deserved 3-0 win over Cadiz, who are facing serious risk of suffering relegation. The win further highlighted Madrid’s strength in their arsenal as they managed to rest eight players who started in the 2-2 stalemate in Germany last week. After seeing his side escape a beating in the first leg, Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping for an improved display at the Bernabeu Stadium, a slaughterhouse where they are yet to taste defeat in 24 matches across all competitions this season.
After enduring a tough night at the Allianz, Lucas Vazquez will make way for Dani Carvajal, who is returning from suspension. Ancelotti has already confirmed that the indispensable Andriy Lunin will return in place of Thibaut Courtois for the showdown.
Bayern’s wobbling season encountered another obstacle in the form of Stuttgart during the weekend. Thomas Tuchel’s men were dispatched 3-1 in this away fixture, a result that extended their poor run on the road. The Bavarians will have to rally themselves to upset the odds in Madrid as they have failed to win in eight previous encounters at the Spanish Capital. Bayern’s pursuit of a momentous win was made tougher by their bluntness in the reverse leg, given the numerous opportunities they failed to convert at home. The Germans suffered a new injury concern on Saturday after Raphael Guerreiro limped off in the first half.
Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, and Matthijs De Ligt were among the rested men in Saturday’s loss and are expected to feature from the onset on Wednesday night.
I can never bet against Real Madrid at home, especially in a Champions League knockout tie. Bayern are inconsistent and unable to produce clean sheets at the moment.
Back the home side.
Prediction: Real Madrid Win @ 1.91
