The UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League quarter-finals will be settled next week, as we have eight big European second legs to look forward to.
There are a host of European football giants of the likes of Real Madid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Manchester United and Ajax all in action, with several of the ties still delicately poised. We’ll be previewing all eight Champions league and Europa League fixtures right here.
- Leicester City v Atletico Madrid – Draw (23/10 at Sky Bet)
- Real Madrid v Bayern Munich – Real Madrid to Win (11/8 at BetVictor)
- Barcelona v Juventus – Barcelona to Win 2-0 (17/2 at BetVictor)
- Monaco v Borussia Dortmund – Borussia Dortmund to Win -1 (16/5 at Coral)
- Besiktas v Lyon – Besiktas to Win 1-0 (12/1 at Bet365)
- Genk v Celta Vigo – Celta Vigo to Win (13/8 at Ladbrokes)
- Manchester United v Anderlecht – Manchester United to Win and Both Teams to Score (23/10 at Betfair)
- Schalke v Ajax – Schalke to Win -1 (5/2 at BetVictor)
Champions League
Bayern Munich, Leicester City and Borussia Dortmund will be looking to overturn narrow deficits next week, whilst Juventus hold a handsome first leg lead over Barcelona. Will the Foxes make it through to the last four of Europe’s elite competition, and can Barca do the unthinkable again to overturn a big deficit?
Leicester City v Atletico Madrid – 18th April
We kick things off with the intriguing looking match from the King Power Stadium, where Craig Shakespeare’s Leicester City welcome Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
Antoine Griezmann’s controversial penalty was the only thing to split the two at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday evening. The Premier League champions more than held their own in the Spanish capital, though, and will no doubt fancy their chances of turning this tie around.
Unfortunately for Leicester, Atletico are a very hard nut to crack these days, whether they are at home or on the road. We can see last year’s runners-up leaving with a draw, with Sky Bet offering 23/10 for that outcome.
Draw – 23/10 at Sky Bet
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich – 18th April
Also on Tuesday, Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid entertain Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu in a match that would be fit to be the final. Real hold a 2-1 advantage, courtesy of two Cristiano Ronaldo strikes.
Things could have been so different if Arturo Vidal had not blasted his penalty over the bar in first half injury time. Instead, Ronaldo popped up twice, as Javi Martinez saw red for the hosts.
We’re predicting another close and enthralling battle between the pair, but we believe the Champions League holders will be too strong on their own patch. BetVictor are offering 11/8 for a home win.
Real Madrid to Win – 11/8 at BetVictor
Barcelona v Juventus – 19th April
Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus were exhilarating in their first leg against Barcelona in Turin, fully deserving their 3-0 victory. However, after what Luis Enrique’s Barca did to Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round, this tie is not over just yet.
Two Paulo Dybala goals inspired the Old Lady to their big win over the five-time European champions. Meanwhile, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci were outstanding keeping the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at bay.
Nonetheless, with Barca being Barca, you would still expect the Spanish giants to have a real go on home soil. Therefore, we’re backing the hosts to win in the 90, but we don’t think they will turn this tie around. BetVictor have a 2-0 Barcelona victory priced at 17/2.
Barcelona to Win 2-0 – 17/2 at BetVictor
Monaco v Borussia Dortmund – 19th April
Borussia Dortmund and Monaco put on a superb show on Wednesday night, with the Ligue 1 side taking home a narrow 3-2 victory. Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe proved to be the difference, with a goal either side of half time inspiring Leonardo Jardim’s men to victory.
However, second half goals from Ousmane Dembele and Shinji Kagawa has given Dortmund a chance in this one. To be fair, after what happened less than 24 hours earlier, both put on a brave and enthralling spectacle for the fans.
We can see Thomas Tuchel’s troops turning this tie on its head at the Stade Louis II. A victory by more than one goal will see BVB through to the last four, with Coral offering 16/5 for the Bundesliga outfit to win -1.
Borussia Dortmund to Win -1 – 16/5 at Coral
Europa League
Out of the four first legs played, Ajax were the only side to win by more than one goal, as they beat German side Schalke 2-0 at the Amsterdam Arena. Lyon and Celta Vigo sealed narrow wins, whilst Anderlecht left it late to draw 1-1 with Manchester United. Will United get the job done at Old Trafford?
Besiktas v Lyon – 20th April
On Thursday, Senol Gunes’ Besiktas go head-to-head with Bruno Genesio’s Lyon at the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul. The French side hold a narrow 2-1 lead, with two late goals at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais turning the match around.
With the tie in the balance, Thursday’s game could go either way. The Turkish side may have lost in France, but Ryan Babel’s away goal could prove to be vital. Besides, defeat in Lyon was their first loss since February.
Lyon head to Istanbul as the favourites to progress and win in the 90, but we believe Besiktas will make the most of being on their own patch. A 1-0 home win would be enough to see the Turks through, and we like the look of Bet365’s 12/1 for that to happen.
Besiktas to Win 1-0 – 12/1 at Bet365
Genk v Celta Vigo – 20th April
Celta Vigo and Genk played out a thriller at Balaidos on Thursday, with the home side running out 3-2 winners. However, how important will Thomas Buffel’s 67th-minute strike prove to be for the hosts?
There was not a lot to split these two in Spain, as the pair looked pretty evenly matched. Celta would have no doubt preferred a bigger lead, whilst Genk have two away goals to cling on to.
Nevertheless, Celta, who are the favourites to win in Belgium, should have enough within their ranks to see off Genk on Thursday. Ladbrokes are offering 13/8 for Eduardo Berizzo’s troops to win on the night.
Celta Vigo to Win – 13/8 at Ladbrokes
Manchester United v Anderlecht – 20th April
Manchester United looked comfortable in Anderlecht for 86 minutes, but Leander Dendoncker’s late strike sent Jose Mourinho and the travelling United contingent home unsatisfied. Still, a 1-1 away draw in Europe is never a bad result.
The Red Devils dominated for large sections of the match against Anderlecht, but failed to get that killer second goal. Instead, the hosts managed to sneak one in at the other end to make this second leg a very interesting affair.
Being at Old Trafford, you would still expect the Premier League side to make it through to semi-finals. However, we can see Rene Weiler’s men getting on the scoresheet in Manchester. Therefore, take a look at Betfair’s 23/10 for United to win and both teams to score.
Manchester United to Win and Both Teams to Score – 23/10 at Betfair
Schalke v Ajax – 20th April
Last up, Peter Bosz takes his Ajax side to the Veltins-Arena to face Markus Weinzierl’s Schalke with a strong 2-0 lead. However, the Dutch Eredivisie team are the underdogs on the night in Germany, which should make for an interesting game.
Two goals from Davy Klaassen was enough to seal a good win for the Dutch side. In truth, Ajax were much better on the day, restricting their opponents to very little in Amsterdam.
However, we’re expecting a different kind of match on Thursday. Despite Schalke’s indifferent league form this season, they have only been beaten four times on their own patch. We believe the home team will make things interesting in this one, and we feel there’s good value in BetVictor’s 5/2 for Weinzierl’s troops to win with a -1 goal handicap.
Schalke to Win -1 – 5/2 at BetVictor