Midweek Football Betting Tips – 24th, 25th & 26th April 2018

We have well and truly reached the business end of the UEFA Champions League with two mouth-watering semi finals taking place in midweek. On Tuesday night, Liverpool host Roma at Anfield, with giants Bayern Munich and Real Madrid squaring off in Germany the following day. The Italians are the only side without a European Cup/Champions League to their name. Between them, the Spanish, German and English giants have a whopping 22 but who will make it through to the final in Kiev?

In the UEFA Europa League, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid meet in a blockbuster semi at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday. That clash would have made a great final but as it is one will be disappointed. On the same night, Red Bull Salzburg make the trip to the Stade Velodrome to play Marseille. Neither side would have dreamed of making the final but one of them will, that’s for sure!

With so much to play for in Europe’s top two club competitions, we should be in for four fascinating semi-final first legs. Can Premier League clubs Liverpool and Arsenal steal a march in their ties before tricky away legs?

  • Liverpool v Roma – Liverpool to Win -1 (6/4 at Coral)
  • Bayern Munich v Real Madrid – Draw & BTTS (18/5 at BetVictor)
  • Arsenal v Atletico Madrid – Arsenal to Win 1-0 (15/2 at Betfred)
  • Marseille v Red Bull Salzburg – 1-1 Draw (15/2 at BetVictor)

Champions League

Before a ball has been kicked in these Champions League semi-finals, Real Madrid, who are the current holders, are favourites to lift the trophy in Kiev next month. Can they claim this competition for the third time in a row and 13th time in total?

Beating Bayern over two legs will be a tough task in itself but whoever does progress will fancy their chances in the final. In the other semi, Liverpool are favourites to see off Roma, but the Italian outfit showed what they are capable of in the last round. Coming from three goals down to beat the mighty Barcelona over two legs was an incredible achievement and the side from the Italian capital will fear nobody.

Liverpool v Roma – 24th April

On Tuesday evening under the bright lights of Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool get their semi final up and running against Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma. As we touched on, the Reds are the favourites on their own patch, but the Serie A side will be formidable opponents for Klopp’s men.

Liverpool did an excellent job to bulldoze past Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the previous round. After an outstanding 3-0 win at Anfield, the Reds dug in to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium. Roma, meanwhile, were 4-1 down from the first leg at the Camp Nou, but a memorable 3-0 victory in the Stadio Olimpico turned the tie on its head to put I Giallorossi through.

After seeing Roma thump Barca in Rome in the quarter finals, Liverpool will be desperate to take a decent lead to the Italian capital. We fancy the Reds to be too strong on home soil, so take a punt on Coral’s good price of 6/4 for Liverpool to win -1.

Liverpool to Win -1 – 6/4 at Coral

Bayern Munich v Real Madrid – 25th April

Bayern Munich v Real Madrid is one of the most attractive and indeed most-played football fixtures in European football. On Wednesday evening, the two heavyweights clash at the Allianz Arena for the first leg of their semi final. Bayern will want a win and a clean sheet but can they stop the Spaniards scoring?

Bayern have grown stronger and stronger under Jupp Heynckes’ this season, already winning the Bundesliga at a canter. In the last eight of the Champions League, the German side squeezed past Sevilla by a narrow 2-1 scoreline. Real got tremendously lucky, needing a controversial injury-time penalty to beat Juventus 4-3 on aggregate after squandering a 3-0 first leg lead.

Neither side will want to give too much away in this first match, so backing the draw could be the way forward here. BetVictor are offering generous odds of 18/5 for the draw and both teams to score in Munich and that looks good to us.

Draw & BTTS – 18/5 at BetVictor

Europa League

Atlico Madrid are favourites to see off Arsenal over two games and win the Europa League outright. However, with this being Arsene Wenger’s last season in charge, can the Arsenal legend leave on a high? Will the Arsenal board be scouting out Diego Simeone as a possible replacement? Although the winner of that tie is expected to go on and claim the trophy, don’t rule out either Marseille or RB Salzburg just yet.

Arsenal v Atletico Madrid – 26th April

Wenger’s Arsenal and Simeone’s Atleti get this tasty-looking semi final tie underway at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night. Although there’s virtually nothing in it, the Gunners are the slight favourites to take the win on the night.

The Arsenal faithful were shocked by the news on Friday that this will be Wenger’s last season at the club, ending a very fruitful 22-year spell. The Frenchman has won most things, but a European trophy has eluded him so far. Wenger and the fans would love his career to end on a high, with a trophy and Champions League qualification to boot. However, before they worry about that, the London side must beat Simone’s well-drilled Los Colchoneros first.

If Arsenal are to go through to next month’s final in Lyon, they really need a lead to protect in Madrid. This could be very close, but we can see the home team nicking it thanks to the great form at the Emirates this term. Put some money on Arsenal to win 1-0 at 15/2 with Betfred.

Arsenal to Win 1-0 – 15/2 at Betfred

Marseille v Red Bull Salzburg – 26th April

Our final European preview is the intriguing fixture between France’s Marseille and Austria’s RB Salzburg. Having both got this far against all odds, which one will make it through to the final? Rudi Garcia’s men are favourites, but can Marco Rose’s side continue their memorable European journey?

These two have already met in this competition, going head-to-head in the group stage. Before playing out an uneventful 0-0 draw at the Velodrome, Salzburg sealed a 1-0 win at the Red Bull Arena courtesy of Munas Dabour’s strike 17 minutes from time. Will those results have a bearing on the semi final outcome?

Salzburg have been the surprise package in the Europa League this season. As for Marseille, they have also gone further than many people had predicted. We can see these two legs being tight affairs, and we fancy Salzburg to leave France with a handy draw on Thursday. Take advantage of BetVictor’s top price of 15/2 for the 1-1 stalemate.

1-1 Draw – 15/2 at BetVitor