Sports Blog 21/04/2015: Match Preview – UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals 2nd Leg, Tuesday 21st & Wednesday 22nd April 2015

By Wednesday evening we will know the final four teams in the Champions League, with the second leg of the quarter finals taking place over the next two nights.

Make sure to check out Spreadex’s brand new Super Mega Player Goal Minutes. Our SMM spreads are a prediction of the total number of goalscoring minutes for a player, where the minutes are doubled for a player’s second goal, and trebled for their third, with all subsequent goals added as just their original goal minute. First and second half injury time goals will count as 45 and 90 respectively.

First up on Tuesday is a trip to Spain for PSG as they visit Barcelona at 7.45pm on ITV. An emphatic display from Luis Suarez, who got a brace in Paris, saw PSG’s 33 home game unbeaten record disappear. With Barcelona undefeated in 12 games, and only one of those a draw, the Catalan side will be confident they can see off PSG; in fact, Barca have led at half-time and full-time in 6 of their last 7 home games. Considering Barcelona have Luis Suarez at 17/4 to score first, with a Super Mega PGMs spread of 39-46 (after adding up to 225 in the first leg) alongside Messi at 13/5 with a Super Mega PGMs spread of 70-80 and Neymar at 5/1 with a Super Mega PGMs spread of 34-40, they shouldn’t be short of goals, and will likely be able to keep up their push for a treble this season.



Paris Saint-Germain, for what it’s worth, need to win by 3 goals clear at the Nou Camp if they want to get to the semi-finals. This may sound like a tall order, but with Zlatan Ibrahimovic (at 15/2 to score first with a Super Mega PGMs spread of 24-29) making his return after being suspended for the first leg, PSG have a slim chance of a victory. However, it is a very slim chance indeed, with our Spreadex traders and clients alike fancying the Spanish side at a Barcelona/PSG Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 1.5-1.7, with an excitement-promising Total Goals spread of 3.45-3.65.

Tuesday’s other game looks less clear cut than it did before the first leg, as Bayern Munich host an in the lead Porto at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 1. Bayern’s 3-1 defeat in Portugal was shocking; however, that important away goal means the German side still have a good chance of getting to the semis. They have won have won 9 of their last 12 games without conceding a goal, a run that translates to wins in all 4 Champions League home games this season, with 13 goals and none conceded; more than enough to see Bayern get the 2-0 win they need to progress. Like Barca, Bayern are on track for a domestic double and will be desperate to secure a potential third title this season.



Yet Bayern were surprised once, and could well be surprised again. An energetic performance at home, with two goals from Ricardo Quaresma (who is at 12/1 to score first) and a single goal from Jackson Martinez (at 9/1) means Porto can go into this second leg knowing that if they can hold Bayern off they can get to their first semi since they won the tournament back in 2003/04. However, a victory at the Allianz Arena might be too much to ask, and our Spreadex traders are favouring a home win at a Bayern Munich/Porto Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 1.5-1.7 with a Total Goals spread of 3.15-3.35.

Turning to Wednesday, Juventus have a tense trip to the Principality of Monaco as they try and protect their first leg lead at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 5. Monaco played well in the first leg, but suffered their usual problem of failing to turn a strong performance into goals. Still sitting in 3rd in Ligue 1 after drawing to Rennes at the weekend, Monaco are, like Porto, chasing their first semi-final appearance since they lost to the Portuguese side in the 2003/04 final.



However, Monaco will go into the second leg 1-0 down, and may rue their failure to get an away goal in Turin. This slim margin will likely be enough to see Juventus through, even though they face Monaco’s notoriously tight defence, something that was only broken with an Artuo Vidal penalty last week. Yet Juventus have only lost 1 away game in their past 14, and should manage to hold off the rather meek Monaco front line, with Spreadex offering a tight Juventus/Monaco (h) Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.15-0.35 with a Total Goals spread of 2.1-2.3.

Finally, the only goalless game of the quarter final first legs will have to have a victor on Wednesday, as Atletico Madrid make the short trip to the Bernabeu to play Real at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 1. Real have won 17 of their last 20 home games, an imposing stat for a visiting side; however, Atletico will be less intimidated than most, with Real failing to beat the traditionally smaller Madrid side in their past 7 fixtures. On top of this, Real will be missing both Garth Bale and Luka Modric, reducing their creativity in midfield. Yet Real do still have Cristiano Ronaldo, at 14/5 to score first with a Super Mega PGMs spread of 51-59, alongside the potentially returning Benzema, at 11/2 with a Super Mega PGMs spread of 25-30.



Atletico managed to shut Real out at home, and an away goal could just see them sneak it if they can do the same on Wednesday. The return of Mario Mandzukic, who has been explosive for Atletico when not injured, will boost their chances, and is at 7/1 to score first. However, our Spreadex traders cannot see beyond the home side’s intimidating form at the Bernabeu, offering a Real Madrid/Atletico Madrid Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.6-0.8 with a Total Goals spread of 2.55-2.75.