Midweek European Football Betting Tips – 1st, 2nd & 3rd May 2018

We have a massive week of European football to look forward to with four huge semi finals taking place in Europe’s top two club competitions. With the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid all featuring, get ready for what promises to be a fascinating week of action.

Things get started in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, as giants Real and Bayern go head-to-head at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, while Liverpool make the trip to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to play Roma the following evening. It’s advantage Real and the Reds right now but can Bayern or Roma stage a comeback?

Atlico Madrid and Arsenal meet in the Wanda Metropolitano in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, with Red Bull Salzburg welcoming Marseille to Austria in the other EL semi second leg on the same night. The French side are clear favourites but can the hosts upset the odds?

  • Real Madrid v Bayern Munich – Real Madrid Win & BTTS (23/10 at Betfair)
  • Roma v Liverpool – Draw (3/1 at BetVictor)
  • Atletico Madrid v Arsenal – Atletico Madrid to Win 2-1 (8/1 at BetVictor)
  • Red Bull Salzburg v Marseille – 1-1 Draw (6/1 at Betfred)

Champions League

After coming from behind to seal an excellent, though probably slightly underserved 2-1 win in Munich, Real Madrid are fancied to reach the final in Kiev. Liverpool, who hold a handy 5-2 lead, are the overwhelming favourites to join the Spanish giants in the final. However, Bayern and Roma will not go down without a fight and two late away goals for the latter at Anfield are sure to give them hope.

Real Madrid v Bayern Munich – 1st May

European heavyweights – with 17 European Cups and Champions Leagues between them – Real Madrid and Bayern square off at the Santiago Bernabeu for a tasty looking second leg on Tuesday. After a superb win in Germany, Zinedine Zidane’s troops are the clear favourites to get the job done on home soil and reach yet another Champions League final. Can they win this trophy for an amazing third time in a row?

Jupp Heynckes’ Bavarians looked to be on their way to a priceless win when Joshua Kimmich’s goal gave them the lead on the half hour mark. However, Marcelo’s stunning strike just before the break turned the tie in Madrid’s favour. Marco Asensio’s goal completed the comeback to give Los Blancos the lead and a second away goal on 57 minutes.

Real are Champions League specialists at this stage, and it’s hard to see them throwing this one away. However, we can see Bayern scoring in the Spanish capital, so take a punt on the home side to win and both teams to score at solid looking odds of 23/10 at Betfair.

Real Madrid Win & Both Teams to Score – 23/10 at Betfair

Roma v Liverpool – 2nd May

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool blew Eusebio Di Francesco’s men away for 70 minutes at Anfield, but how important will Roma’s two away goals be? In the previous round, I Giallorossi were three goals down against Barcelona and still made it through. This could be another thriller in the Stadio Olimpico and the hosts will believe they can achieve the impossible … again!

Two goals each by Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino and a strike by Sadio Mane put Liverpool 5-0 up at Anfield last Tuesday. However, late goals from Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti took the gloss off the Reds’ win. Still, 5-2 is a very good lead and should be enough for Klopp’s troops.

Roma have defied the odds to reach this far but turning this around against Liverpool’s free-flowing attack could be a step too far for Di Francesco’s side. A draw (3/1 at BetVictor) will be more than for the Premier League side to make the final in Kiev and we think they can hold the Italians to a stalemate, albeit one with goals aplenty.

Draw – 3/1 at BetVictor

Europa League

Atlico Madrid, who earned a solid 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium last Thursday, remain strong favourites to win the Europa League. However, can the Arsenal players give Arsene Wenger a great send-off by turning this around to reach a European final? In the other semi, RB Salzburg have it all do as they look to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Marseille, a club with whom Wenger has a bit of a history.

Atletico Madrid v Arsenal – 3rd May

Although this tie is level, Wenger’s side missed a real opportunity in the eventual 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium last Thursday. Despite playing for over 80 minutes against 10 men, the Gunners failed to capitalise. Atleti are now fancied to brush Arsenal aside at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The Londoners huffed and puffed and finally found a breakthrough after an hour at the Emirates. Alexandre Lacazette’s header gave Arsenal a lead which they were hoping to protect in Madrid. However, up popped Antoine Griezmann to equalise and notch a vital away goal eight minutes from time. Diego Simeone’s men are now in the driving seat in this tie.

This could be Wenger’s last European game in charge of the Gunners, but he won’t want his side to go out without a fight. As a young coach at Monaco he had a huge rivalry with Marseilles and he would love to beat them in the final. Having said that, though, Los Colchoneros, who are very good at home, should have enough to see this through and deny the French manager his dream send-off. BetVictor are offering 8/1 for the 2-1 Atleti win and that’s well worth a small wager.

Atletico Madrid to Win 2-1 – 8/1 at BetVictor

Red Bull Salzburg v Marseille – 3rd May

The second Europa League semi final takes place at the Red Bull Arena in Austria as Marco Rose’s RB Salzburg entertain Rudi Garcia’s Marseille. The Ligue 1 side have a handsome 2-0 lead to protect from their home leg. Will that be enough to take the French outfit through, or can Salzburg defy the odds on home soil yet again?

Whatever the outcome on Thursday night, Salzburg have had an incredible Europa League journey this season. However, goals from Florian Thauvin and Clinton N’Jie were enough in the Stade Velodrome to give Marseille a 2-0 win on home soil.

Salzburg have beaten some massive clubs to reach the last four, seeing off Lazio 4-1 at home in the previous round, too. However, turning this tie around against Garcia’s experienced Marseille will be a very hard task for the Austrian champions. With that in mind, back the 1-1 draw at tempting odds of 6/1 with Betfred.

1-1 Draw – 6/1 at Betfred