Just a few games left in this season Champions league but we have some great looking matchups in the Semi Finals with all combinations pointing to a great final regardless of who makes it through. The match between rivals Atletico and Real Madrid gets things going on Wednesday morning though it’s not one that looks like producing a lot of goals though it will no doubt have a lot of gasps and heart racing moments. The flipside is the other Semi Final on Thursday morning between Monaco and Juventus which could well produce goals. Monaco have been a machine in producing goals this season and their blistering pace and attack could go a long way to producing another cracking Semi Final in their first leg. Either way these two match-ups are going to be very closely fought.
**Odds from Sportsbet as at 1st May
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
A rivalry here that will be fiercely fought once again with Real Madrid hosting Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Semi Finals. Real Madrid have lost just once in their last 14 across all competitions whilst Atletico are in just as good a form with the trend over their last 14 matches. The last time these two met it ended in a tight 1-1 draw and this one looks likely to follow with a similar result. Atletico unsurprisingly have the tightest defence in La Liga with just 25 goals conceded from 35 games which is 14 fewer than Real Madrid. That defence is what will ultimately make this first leg a pretty tight contest and certainly a 0-0 draw wouldn’t be out of the question heading towards the 2nd leg where things may open up ever so slightly. Back in 2015 in the final stages of the UCL, these two produced just the one goal over two legs and with neither set to give much away, this doesn’t look like producing a lot of goals.
Predicted score: Draw 0-0
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at $1.77 (90%)
Next Best: Half-time Draw at $2
Monaco vs Juventus
Monaco are still a bit of a surprise packet but their style of play and energy that their young emerging stars are playing with could well upset the defensive strength that Juventus possess. The last time these two met in 2015 in the UCL final stages, there wasn’t a lot of goals produced with Juventus narrowly progressing after their 1-0 home win in the first leg. With the tables turned here and Monaco a much different side to the one that ran out last time, this first leg could be one that produces a couple of goals at least. Going by their league form alone, Monaco have scored a mammoth 95 goals from 34 games. This is of course a much stronger side that they will face than what they do in Ligue 1 but they haven’t been shy of scoring in the UCL either. Monaco will know all too well that they need to produce a result here at home to have a great chance of progressing. Heading into an away leg at Juventus won’t be easy but they will give themselves a chance here by surprising with a 2-1 win.
Predicted score: Monaco 2-1
Best Bet: Half-Time Draw at $2.1 (80%)
Next Best: Monaco to win either half at $1.92
