Sports Blog 12/04/2016: UEFA Champions League Preview – Quarter-Final 2nd Legs, Tuesday 12th April 2016

After an impressive 2-2 tie in Paris can Manchester City make history and reach their first ever Champions League semi-final with victory over PSG at 7.45pm on BT Sport Europe?

Not that City necessarily even need a win; with 2 away goals thanks to Kevin De Bruyne (who has made a huge impact since returning from injury and heads into Tuesday at a Super Mega PGM of18-22) and Fernandinho, a goalless draw would still see the Manchester side reach the semis. That achievement would go some way alone to atoning for what has transpired to be a rather disappointing season (despite that League Cup win), as well as capping off Pellegrini’s era (one that arguably failed to truly build on the foundations created by Roberto Mancini’s management and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s money) quite nicely.



Yet all it will take is one goal from the French champions to change the tone of the game, and PSG will be yearning for a Champions League title just as much as their Manchester rivals. Like City PSG have never reached a semi-final, adding an extra frisson of energy to an already exhilarating tie. As if the match needed any extra layers, it could be one of the final times Zlatan Ibrahimovic (who is 35 in October) is realistically in a position to win Europe’s top competition, an honour that has so far eluded him in his storied career. The Swedish giant already has 37 goals this season (including the initial equaliser in the 1st leg) and, at a Super Mega PGM of 43-50, and nothing could be more apt than for him to score the decider this Tuesday.

Whilst neutrals across the globe will be hoping for a match that brings the same intensity seen in the 1st leg City will be praying for something far duller if they want to secure safe passage to the semis. Our Spreadex traders, however, are expecting a far tougher time of it, offering a PSG/Manchester City Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 with a Total Goals spread of 3-3.2.

Tuesday’s other Champions League quarter-final looks set to be just as intriguing, as Real Madrid attempt to overturn an unlikely deficit against Wolfsburg at 7.45pm on BT Sport 2. Whilst a 4-0 win over Eibar at the weekend, combined with Barcelona’s lacklustre defeat to Real Sociedad, puts Real back in the running for the La Liga title, their European position is far more precarious. In perhaps the biggest shock of the competition this season, Wolfsburg won the 1st leg 2-0, Real’s lack of away goal perhaps set to haunt them when the German side visit the Bernabeu.



What makes it even more shocking is the fact that Wolfsburg haven’t even won a Bundesliga game in a month, most recently managing a 1-1 draw against Mainz to leave them stuck in 8th place and likely absent from Europe next season. That is, unless they can manage to win the whole competition. The chances of that still remain incredibly slim, though better than they did a week ago. Yet realistically the German club’s advantage may not escape the Spanish capital intact, Spreadex offering a rather conclusive Real Madrid/Wolfsburg Goal Supremacy spread of 2.15-2.35 with a Total Goals spread of 3.85-4.05.

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