After a five-month stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic, the second leg of the final four UEFA Champions League fixtures take place this weekend with plenty still on the line. Hot favourites for the tournament, Manchester City, have a 2-1 lead to hold onto against the competition’s most successful club in Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo will have to turn things around for Juventus if he is to try lift his sixth UEFA Champions League trophy as the Old Lady have a 1-0 deficit against Lyon. Elsewhere, Bayern Munich have one foot in the quarter-finals after beating Chelsea 3-0 in the first leg, while Barcelona have it all to do against Napoli.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Friday 7 August
Manchester City 7/10
Draw 32/10
Real Madrid 31/10
(21:00)
Manchester City will be looking to put their domestic troubles behind them when they hope to complete the job they started in the first leg of the Round of 16 against Spanish La Liga champions, Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola’s men showed that history doesn’t win you games as his side claimed an emphatic 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Kevin De Bruyne produced yet another masterclass and comes into this tie in red-hot form after equalling the assist record of 20 in the Premier League. Since that defeat to City, Real Madrid went on to beat Barcelona in the El Clasico and pipped their rivals to clinch a record-breaking 34 league titles. This tie should be just as interesting as the first leg encounter, but like the previous game, City should come through on top. Take Manchester City to Win & Both Teams to Score at 17/10.
Juventus 9/20
Draw 33/10
Lyon 57/10
(21:00)
Juventus head into their second leg tie against Lyon as overwhelming favourites after going down 1-0 in France in the reverse fixture. The Old Lady will be confident of getting the job done in Turin, especially after winning all three of their previous home games in the competition earlier this campaign. Lyon have lost two of their three away games in the UEFA Champions League this term and will have to defend for their lives in Italy, with Juventus expected to throw everything at them from the first whistle of the game. Cristiano Ronaldo tends to shine the most when his team need him, with this fixture being set up for another masterclass from one of the world’s greatest footballers ever. Back Juve to qualify at 8/10.
Saturday 8 August
Bayern Munich 7/20
Draw 17/4
Chelsea 6/1
(21:00)
Complacency could be a key factor here as many would suggest that Bayern Munich wrapped up the tie over Chelsea in the first leg, winning 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. The Bavarians really stamped their authority in that tie and became many pundits’ personal favourites to go on and win the competition for the first time since 2013. Frank Lampard has done an exceptional job, given the tools he’s had throughout the campaign, finishing in the top four to book a spot for Chelsea in next season’s UEFA Champions League, while they also reached the FA Cup final. This delay may have benefitted Bayern with Robert Lewandowski initially scheduled to miss the second leg due to injury, but will now be fit and ready to fire against Chelsea again. The Blues, on the other hand, have suffered crucial injuries to the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta and Christian Pulisic, while Willian’s future remains unclear. Over 2.5 Goals seems the sensible bet here at 4/10 – goals are a given between these two sides.
Barcelona 6/10
Draw 3/1
Napoli 38/10
(21:00)
The mandate is simple for Barcelona. A victory by any scoreline would send them through after the Blaugrana earned a 1-1 draw at Napoli in the first leg of their tie. As simple as it may sound, it certainly won’t be a straightforward game for Barca with Napoli well and truly capable of causing an upset on their day. This season, Napoli are unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League, impressively winning at FC Salzburg whilst they had all their star-studded players, while they also managed a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Liverpool. Barca are also unbeaten this term, and I’m expecting both sides’ unbeaten run to continue, with a massive upset expected at the Camp Nou. My money is on a draw.
Friday DOUBLE @ 4/1
Man City Win & BTTS 17/10
Juventus to Qualify 8/10
Saturday DOUBLE @ 9/2
Bayern vs Chelsea Over 2.5 Goals 4/10
Barcelona vs Napoli Draw 3/1
Written by Jesse Nagel
