It’s another huge week of European action as both the Champions League and the Europa League reach the quarterfinal second leg stage, with these eight games providing the eight teams that will go on to compete in the semifinals of the respective competitions.
We enjoyed a decent return on our tips last week and I am hoping that we can do the same this week across the eight matches, the current standings after the first leg of which are outlined below.
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Champions League Quarterfinals
1st Leg Results
- Manchester United 0-1 Barcelona
- Ajax Amsterdam 1-1 Juventus
- Liverpool 2-0 FC Porto
- Tottenham 1-0 Man City
2nd Leg Preview and Tips
Barcelona v Man Utd
After beating the Red Devils on home soil, Barcelona will take their 30 game unbeaten record in Europe at the Nou Camp into this second leg knowing that the odds seem well stacked against Manchester United repeating their incredible success over PSG away from home in Spain on Tuesday. The Red Devils laboured to a win over West Ham at the weekend and they’ll need to be ten times better to even stand a chance here.
The Nou Camp is a bastion for Barcelona and that big pitch provides plenty of space for their key players to perform and with Luke Shaw suspended, I feel that Lionel Messi and co will have a much bigger say here. I’m backing Barcelona to win to nil which is a 7/5 chance at bet365.
Juventus v Ajax
This was a competitive first leg and I think a draw was the right result. I do feel though that it was a result which favoured Juventus far more than Ajax and although Ajax came back from a losing position against Real Madrid away from home, I cannot see them doing the same here against this experienced Juventus side.
Defensively, Juventus are about as good as it gets in Europe and in attack with Ronaldo leading the line, they are always a massive threat. Ajax have youth, speed and energy which served them well in Madrid but that lack of experience could be key here and I am backing Juventus to win to nil on the night at 15/8 with bet365.
FC Porto v Liverpool
Liverpool take a solid lead into the second leg, with no away goals conceded and I think that puts Jurgen Klopp’s men in pole position here. They also beat FC Porto 5-0 in Oporto last season and that result will certainly have FC Porto being a little more circumspect when they decide on their tactics for this game.
The Reds are also very dangerous on the counter attack and I think they are certainly going to score in Portugal and I would not back against them winning the game outright anyway. I do feel Porto will grab a goal if they are more clinical than they were at Anfield, but even so, I think Liverpool to win and both teams to score at 3/1 is a great value bet.
Man City v Tottenham
Tottenham take a single goal lead into the second leg at the Etihad on Wednesday night and while that is a slim lead, the fact City did not get an away goal makes this a somewhat precarious tie for the home side, as just one goal for Tottenham will see City needing at least three goals to qualify.
I can see City winning this game but my gut instinct tells me that Tottenham, even without Harry Kane through injury, do have the capability to hit City on the counter attack and score a goal, much like Liverpool did against them last season. If Spurs can score, I fancy they could sneak through on away goals, but I am going to hedge my bets and back City to win and both teams to score which is a 7/5 shot at bet365.
Europa League Quarterfinals
1st Leg Results
- Arsenal 2-0 Napoli
- Benfica 4-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
- Slavia Prague 0-1 Chelsea
- Villarreal 1-3 Valencia
2nd Leg Preview and Tips
Chelsea v Slavia Prague
It is fair to say that the first leg of this game was more a battle than the beautiful game but Chelsea showed they have the heart for that by coming away with a superb 1-0 win thanks to Marcos Alonso’s fine header. Prague will rue a couple of missed chances in the game that could have seen this tie a lot closer.
Chelsea in Europe have been excellent this season and from a winning position, I can’t see them throwing this away in the home leg. Slavia have played well to reach this far, but I am backing Chelsea to win this game to nil, which is an even money bet with bet365.
Eintracht Frankfurt v Benfica
Frankfurt suffered after going down to ten men in the first leg midway through the first half and they were then put to the sword by a hattrick from Joao Felix. The Benfica youngster will be their key man again this week, but I feel with 11 men Frankfurt will be a very different proposition, especially at home. This tie is not dead by any means yet.
Indeed, I fancy Frankfurt to be able to claw back that two-goal deficit on home soil, the question is, will it be enough to go through. I have a sneaky feeling this game could have late drama and I’m backing Frankfurt to win the game, but only by a 2-1 scoreline, and that would be enough for Benfica to squeeze through. Back Frankfurt to win and both teams to score at 21/10 for this game.
Napoli v Arsenal
Napoli will rue the couple of good chances that they squandered in London last weekend. A 2-1 win for Arsenal would have been a much better result for Napoli and they now face the prospect of needing four goals to win should Arsenal manage to grab a goal in Italy.
The Gunners are dangerous on the break but Napoli have been solid at home in Europe this season, so this is another tie far from over. I can see the Italian side winning it, but I also feel Arsenal will score a goal and while I can see a Napoli win, I can’t see them scoring four goals here. As such, I am backing Napoli to win 3-1 at 12/1 but for Arsenal to make progress.
Valencia v Villarreal
Valencia’a late double salvo in the El Madrigal has put paid to any realistic hopes Villarreal have of progressing in this tie I believe. The home side in this second leg have lost just four games in La Liga this season and they hammered Villarreal 3-0 at the Mestalla just a few weeks ago.
In truth, I can’t see Valencia quite going for that kind of scoreline again simply because they don’t need to. A draw or a narrow win will be more than enough for them to progress without any drama and that is precisely how I see this game going. I’m backing Valencia to win to nil, which is a 15/8 shot with bet365 Sport.
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