The UEFA Champions League semi-finals take place this week. Our soccer expert previews the two games and provides betting tips with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund both at home in their first-leg ties against Real Madrid and PSG respectively.

 

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Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (Tuesday 20:00 UTC)

Stern des Südens welcomes Los Blancos to the Allianz Arena, Munich in what is anticipated to be a prolific clash. Both sides moved into the semi-finals after dousing English hopes of advancement, with Arsenal succumbing 3-2 on aggregate to Bayern and Real Madrid besting Man City in a nail-biting penalty shootout after the gameplay ended 4-4 over both legs.

The German and Spanish giants rolled into continental proceedings after victories in their respective leagues last week. Thanks to a brace from English international striker Harry Kane München prevailed at home over Eintracht Frankfurt, with three points effectively assuring qualification to the UCL next season come what may against Madrid. In comparison, Real travelled away to Basque Country and secured a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad compliments with the goal compliments of Turkish wünderkid Arda Güler.

Redemption for what has been a wayward season for Thomas Tuchel's men can be found in the last few games of the Champions League. An unprecedented season from Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen put to bed hopes of another league title, while Die Roten was ousted from the DFB-Pokal at the hands of minnows 3. Liga Saarbrucken. The theme of the season was seemingly set by the loss in the Super Cup to RB Leipzig in the season's curtain-raising fixture. The manager will be out of work at the season's end and will be replaced by Ralf Rangnick for the 2024-25 campaign. Tarek Buchmann, Sacha Boey, Bouna Sarr, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sané will all miss this bout with injury, though Serge Gnabry may recover in time to play. Both Teams to Score? Yes at 1.55.

A 1-0 second-leg triumph over the Gunners, courtesy of a Joshua Kimmich header, was sufficient for the Bavarian side to progress after a tight 2-2 stalemate in North London. Promisingly This victory represents the second in a four-match winning streak for FC Hollywood, who have since earned three successive wins in the Bundesliga successes over Köln, Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt. A further cause for optimism is that Bayern are on a superb 15-match unbeaten run at home in the Champions League, and importantly the side also has three clean sheets to show from their last three home matches also in the competition.

Kane's two recent goals have taken him to his highest-ever goals total for a season, going past the 41 he scored in the 2017-18 season for Tottenham. He also went past 400 career goals as he looks to carry his form into the European Championships with England this summer. This season he also became the first player to score or assist against every team in the Bundesliga in a debut season, and with just three matches left to play, he is now just six off of the record for goals in a single Bundesliga season, set by former Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski. Team Total - Match Over 1.5 at 2.05.

Carlo Ancelotti's men progressed into the semis following a goal rush in the first leg in Madrid, ending in a 3-3 thriller against reigning champions Manchester City. Hero of the day following another draw after extra time was goal guardian Andriy Lunin who denied Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovačić from the 12-yard spot. The Ukrainian international has had to step in for injured number-one choice Thibaut Courtois and has had a superb season, boasting 12 clean sheets across all competitions. David Alaba is also injured, while Daniel Carvajal will miss the first leg due to a one-match suspension. 

Los Merengues are now poised to snatch the La Liga title after an El Clásico success over Barcelona and a slim 1-0 win over Erreala, courtesy of teenage star Güler who moved from Turkish outfit Fenerbahçe last summer, making it two goals for his 99 minutes of playtime in the league, definitely a player to watch. Fans will be full of confidence in another success here as Madrid will arrive in Munich with a respectable 18-game unbeaten run to protect, and prolifically winning seven of their last eight in all tournaments. Correct Score 1:1 at 7.11.

The acclaimed side also has not registered a single loss in the UCL for 2023-24 and will enter the semi-finals unbeaten in ten straight Champions League contests, just one off their record of eleven successive games without defeat which they achieved in the 2016-17 campaign where they lifted the trophy after besting Juventus 4-1 at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Therefore, it is looking highly plausible that the club will proceed to the final, especially as the visitors proudly boast a six-match win streak against Bayern in the UCL. 

Bayern have a superb run of form at home they will look to continue here and will be glad for the amazing season of their English international hitman, who is in contention for the UCL's Golden Boot. However, they will go into the match with a severely depleted roster due to injury. In comparison, Real have as ever had another superb season and will be strong contenders to take a win or a draw here back to Madrid. though it'll be an interesting night either way in Southern Germany.

 

1x2 2.42 3.61 2.84

 

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Borussia Dortmund vs PSG (Wednesday 20:00 UTC)

PSG hops across the border to visit die Schwarzgelben in the Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund. The respective clubs landed a spot in the semis after tough quarter-final matches where goals were abundant. Borussia fought back a 1st leg 2-1 deficit to conquer Atlético de Madrid on aggregate, while Les Rouges-et-Bleus silenced the naysayers to undo the damage caused by Barcelona in Parc des Princes and bounced back similarly to eventually triumph 6-4 in goals across both legs.

The sides were in action over the weekend, with Les Parisiens hosting Le Havre with the match ending 3-3. The visitors will be especially happy to have taken a point away as it puts them one place above relegation-threatened 16th position Metz via goal difference. Regardless, Les Parisiens was crowned Ligue 1 champions for the 12th time after Monaco lost to Lyon, though fans will lament that an almost perfect season is blemished by a solitary loss at the hands of Nice 3-2 last September. Dortmund buckled away in Leipzig, suffering a massive blow to attain a guaranteed UCL spot for next season, as the loss means that Die Roten Bullen is now in 4th position, five points clear of Borussia who is 5th with 57. Correct Score 3:1 at 18.82.

Paris has an excellent chance here to move onto the final at Wembley on the 1st of June if they can bring a draw or a win back to France for the 2nd leg. Fans will be full of enthusiasm as the club has won three of their last four fixtures in all competitions, while promisingly they also took four points off Borussia Dortmund in the group stage. This run of form could not have arrived at a more opportune time, as winning three matches in a row by 4-1 scorelines before their 3-3 draw with Le Havre, the side was down on the scoreboard initially in the latest match though rallied well compliments of goals from Bradley Barcola, Achraf Hakimi and Gonçalo Ramos.

The club has always fallen afoul in the UCL at its latter stages and this season's campaign run will be the last opportunity Kylian Mbappé will have to lift the trophy with the side before completing the expected move to Real Madrid this summer. The prolific French striker has had a superb season, and currently leads the goal tally in the UCL with eight and as well for Ligue 1 with 26 where there are three games left to play. Making his league senior team debut this season is PSG academy player and brother Ethan Mbappé, many are eager to see how the midfielder's career progresses as the years go on. Sergio Rico and Presnel Kimpembe will be absent from this game injured. Total - Match Over 3.5 at 2.24.

Dortmund's recent loss is a bitter one which threatens UCL qualification altogether now, though with 12 points over 6th placed Frankfurt, we'll see them in the Europa League come what may. They must go into the 2nd leg with the upper hand, though confidence will be raised that the side has always been a tough nut to crack on home turf in front of the 'Yellow Wall'. Dortmund's shaky defence was all too evident in the recent thrashing at the hands of Leipzig and will need reinforcing as in each of their last five fixtures across all competitions they have conceded. Ramy Bensebaini, Abdoulaye Kamara, Donyell Malen and Sébastien Haller will be omitted from the selection due to injuries.

We could be on for a goal fest here, as both of these clubs had the second legs of their quarterfinals showcase at least four goals and indeed, each of PSG's last five contests has also featured over 3.5 goals. Dortmund will revel at home and need to snag a win to take to France next week, though Les Parisiens will be especially voracious as they chase the club's first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.

1x2 2.79 3.66 2.45

 

**Odds are subject to change. Odds accurate as of 10:00 UTC Tuesday 30th April**

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