Champions League Semi Final 1st Leg Preview And Tips

You may recall a couple of weeks ago we took a look ahead to the Champions League Semi Final ties just after we had seen the quarter finals of the competition completed.

In that article, we said we’d bring you the latest team news, information and of course, previews and tips of the two big games coming up this week, the first legs of the two-legged semifinals between England’s two finest teams and their two Spanish opponents.

We’ve been keeping right up to date with the Champions League throughout the season and seeing as we are now reaching the business end of the tournament, it makes no sense to stop now.

So, over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be focusing on the two semi-final ties taking place that will decide which two teams go through to face off against each other at the Stade de France in Paris at the end of May.

This article is going to be a more in-depth look at both games, and of course all odds are provided with bet365 Sport and were correct at the time of writing, but may have changed in the meantime.

Champions League Semi Finals 1^st Leg

Tuesday 26^th April

Manchester City v Real Madrid

Manchester City

Champions League Stats 2021/22

• Games Played – 10
• Games Won – 6
• Games Drawn – 2
• Games Lost – 2
• Goals Scored – 24
• Goals Conceded – 8
• Leading Goalscorer – Riyad Mahrez – 6 goals

Champions League 2021/22 Results

• Group Stage 1 – v Red Bull Leipzig (H) – W 6-3 (Ake 16, Mukiele OG 28, Mahrez 45(p), Grealish 56, Cancelo 75, Jesus 85)
• Group Stage 2 – v Paris St Germain (A) – L 0-2
• Group Stage 3 – v Club Brugge (A) – W 5-1 (Cancelo 30, Mahrez 43(p),84, Walker 53, Palmer 67)
• Group Stage 4 – v Club Brugge (H) – W 4-1 (Foden 15, Mahrez 54, Sterling 72, Jesus 90)
• Group Stage 5 – v Paris St Germain (H) – W 2-1 (Sterling 63, Jesus 76)
• Group Stage 6 – v Red Bull Leipzig (A) – L 1-2 (Mahrez 76)

Group Stage Table – Group A

1. Manchester City – 12pts
2. Paris St Germain – 11pts
3. Red Bull Leipzig – 7pts
4. Club Brugge – 4pts

Knockout Phase

• Round of 16 1^st Leg – v Sporting Lisbon (A) – W 5-0 (Mahrez 7, Silva.B 7,44, Foden 32, Sterling 58)
• Round of 16 2^nd Leg – v Sporting Lisbon (H) – D 0-0
• Quarter Final 1^st Leg – v Atletico Madrid (H) – W 1-0 – De Bruyne (70)
• Quarter Final 2^nd Leg – v Atletico Madrid (A) – D 0-0

Real Madrid

Champions League Stats 2021/22

• Games Played – 10
• Games Won – 7
• Games Drawn – 0
• Games Lost – 3
• Goals Scored – 22
• Goals Conceded – 8
• Leading Goalscorer – Karim Benzema – 12 goals

Champions League 2021/22 Results

• Group Stage 1 – v Inter Milan (A) – W 1-0 – (Rodrygo 89)
• Group Stage 2 – v Sheriff Tiraspol (H) – L 1-2 – (Benzema 65(p))
• Group Stage 3 – v Shakhtar Donetsk (A) – W 5-0 (Kryvtsov OG 37, Vini Jr 51,56, Rodrygo 65, Benzema 90)
• Group Stage 4 – v Shakhtar Donetsk (H) – W 2-1 (Benzema 14,61)
• Group Stage 5 – v Sheriff Tiraspol (A) – W 3-0 (Alaba 30, Kroos 45, Benzema 55)
• Group Stage 6 – v Inter Milan (H) – W 2-0 (Kroos 17, Asensio 79)

Group Stage Table – Group D

1. Real Madrid – 15pts
2. Inter Milan – 10pts
3. Sheriff Tiraspol – 7pts
4. Shakhtar Donetsk – 2pts

Knockout Phase

• Round of 16 1^st Leg – v Paris St Germain (A) – L 0-1
• Round of 16 2^nd Leg – v Paris St Germain (H) – W 3-1 (Benzema 61,76,78)
• Quarter Final 1^st Leg – v Chelsea (A) – W 3-1 (Benzema 21,24,46)
• Quarter Final 2^nd Leg – v Chelsea (H) – L 2-3 (aet) (Rodrygo 80, Benzema 96)

Manchester City v Real Madrid – Head To Head Record

• Played – 6 games
• Manchester City Wins – 2
• Draws – 2
• Real Madrid Wins – 2
• Manchester City Goals – 7
• Real Madrid Goals – 7

Probable Teams

Manchester City – 4-3-3 – Ederson, Walker, Cancelo, Laporte, Stones, Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Jesus, Foden

Real Madrid – 4-3-3 – Courtois, Carvajal, Mendy, Alaba, Nacho, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.

Manchester City v Real Madrid Preview And Tips

Manchester City can reach their second Champions League final in successive seasons with a win over Real Madrid over two legs, while the Spanish side will be hoping to add to their record haul of trophies in this competition.

Last time the two teams met in 2020, City broke their Real jinx, winning both legs 2-1 at home and away to progress and that means that things are very evenly balanced between the two historically now.

In terms of form, both are in good shape heading into this game, but City’s form is probably a little better in the Champions League, where they are yet to concede a goal in the knockout stage while Karim Benzema has been key in steering Real past PSG and Chelsea in the last two rounds, scoring 7 goals in those four games.

I can see both teams scoring, but City winning, and that is my first tip at 21/10 with bet365 Sport and if you want a correct score bet, then I think a 2-1 win for Manchester City at 7/1 is a good priced option.

I also think Kevin De Bruyne to score at any time at 8/5 is a good goalscorer bet.

Wednesday 27^th April

Liverpool v Villarreal

Liverpool

Champions League Stats 2021/22

• Games Played – 10
• Games Won – 8
• Games Drawn – 1
• Games Lost – 1
• Goals Scored – 25
• Goals Conceded – 11
• Leading Goalscorer – Mo Salah – 8 goals

Champions League 2021/22 Results

• Group Stage 1 – v AC Milan (H) – W 3-2 (Tomori OG 9, Salah 48, Henderson 69)
• Group Stage 2 – v FC Porto (A) – W 5-1 (Salah 18,60, Mane 45, Firmino 77.81)
• Group Stage 3 – v Atletico Madrid (A) – W 3-2 (Salah 8,78(p), Keita 13)
• Group Stage 4 – v Atletico Madrid (H) – W 2-0 (Jota 13, Mane 21)
• Group Stage 5 – v FC Porto (H) – W 2-0 (Thiago 52, Salah 70)
• Group Stage 6 – v AC Milan (A) – W 2-1 (Salah 36, Origi 55)

Group Stage Table – Group B

1. Liverpool – 18pts
2. Atletico Madrid – 7pts
3. FC Porto – 5pts
4. AC Milan – 4pts

Knockout Phase

• Round of 16 1^st Leg – v Inter Milan (A) – W 2-0 (Firmino 75, Salah 83)
• Round of 16 2^nd Leg – v Inter Milan (H) – L 0-1
• Quarter Final 1^st Leg – v Benfica (A) – W 3-1 (Konate 17, Mane 34, Diaz 87)
• Quarter Final 2^nd Leg – v Benfica (H) – D 3-3 (Konate 21, Firmino 55,65)

Villarreal

Champions League Stats 2021/22

• Games Played – 10
• Games Won – 5
• Games Drawn – 3
• Games Lost – 2
• Goals Scored – 18
• Goals Conceded – 11
• Leading Goalscorer – Danjuma – 6 goals

Champions League 2021/22 Results

• Group Stage 1 – v Atalanta (H) – D 2-2 – (Trigueros 39, Danjuma 73)
• Group Stage 2 – v Manchester United (A) – L 1-2 (Alcacer 53)
• Group Stage 3 – v Young Boys (A) – W 4-1 (Pino 6, Moreno 16, Moreno.A 88, Chukwueze 90)
• Group Stage 4 – v Young Boys (H) – W 2-0 (Capoue 36, Danjuma 89)
• Group Stage 5 – v Manchester United (H) – L 0-2
• Group Stage 6 – v Atalanta (A) – W 3-2 (Danjuma 3,51, Capoue 42)

Group Stage Table – Group F

1. Manchester United – 11pts
2. Villarreal – 10pts
3. Atalanta – 6pts
4. Young Boys – 5pts

Knockout Phase

• Round of 16 1^st Leg – v Juventus (H) – D 1-1 (Parejo 66)
• Round of 16 2^nd Leg – v Juventus (A) – W 3-0 (Moreno 78(p), Torres 85, Danjuma 90)
• Quarter Final 1^st Leg – v Bayern Munich (H) – W 1-0 (Danjuma 8)
• Quarter Final 2^nd Leg – v Bayern Munich (A) – D 1-1 (Chukwueze 88)

Liverpool v Villarreal – Head To Head Record

• Played – 2 games
• Liverpool Wins – 1
• Draws – 0
• Villarreal Wins – 1
• Liverpool Goals – 3
• Villarreal Goals – 1

Probable Teams

Liverpool – 4-3-3 – Alisson, Alexander Arnold, Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Diaz

Villarreal – 4-4-2 – Rulli, Foyth, Alfonso, Pau Torres, Albiol, Iborra, Parejo, Capoue, Lo Celso, Moreno.G, Danjuma

Liverpool v Villarreal – Preview & Tips

Liverpool have come through an incredibly tough run of games superbly well of late. They drew away to Manchester City, then beat them in the FA Cup, knocked out Benfica in the Champions League and have beaten their most fierce Premier League rivals, Manchester United and Everton in their last two Premier League games, without conceding a goal.

Villarreal remain 7^th in La Liga and they are unbeaten in their last five games, which includes their two quarterfinal ties against Bayern Munich. They’ve played and not been beaten by some top teams this season, but have still lost 9 times in the league.

However, when they lose, Villarreal don’t lose by much and its clear they are going to set up to defend and hit Liverpool on the counter attack. The question is whether their defence can keep out the Reds attack.

If Liverpool score early then the Reds could rack up a big first leg win here, but I think in the end a 2-0 win for Liverpool at 11/2 feels about right and I like the look of Luis Diaz to score at any time in the game as a 6/4 shot.

The second leg for both these games will be played next week on Tuesday 3^rd May (Villarreal v Liverpool) and Wednesday 4^th May (Real Madrid v Man City).

Check back next Monday for our review of both semi-finals and a preview of the second leg games.