Real Madrid v Bayern Munich Betting Tip Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals – 1 May 2018

Similar encounter to first leg expected at Bernabeu

Champions League Tips

Tuesday 1st May 2018 Kick off 1945hrs Real Madrid v Bayern Munich Football – Europe – Champions League This game was billed as the heavyweight clash of the semi-final stage when the draw was made, and whoever was victorious would be seen as big favourites to go on to win the competition. Following the first leg played in Munich last Wednesday there is arguably not as confidence behind that opinion in a game that was not of the quality we would come to expect from these two teams. Real come into the return match with an advantage and also a couple of away goals, which could yet prove vital. The tie is anything but over, of course, but there is a feeling amongst many that Bayern missed a chance last week.

One of the oldest adages in football is that a sign of a good team is one that wins without playing well – and that’s virtually the case of Real Madrid’s participation in this season’s Champions League. Although there have been a couple of games where the current champions have shown glimpses of their class, progress has – more often than not, been achieved courtesy of an unwavering resilience and determination. Bayern were big favourites going into last week’s first leg and having taken a deserved lead looked like they would go on and win the game comfortably. Zinedine Zidane’s men know, however, that these closing stages of the Champion League are a war of attrition and were able to withstand an onslaught from the home team to hit back with a couple of moments of quality and head back home with the advantage. The win has put Real on the brink of a third straight final and their fourth in five seasons – it’s a ridiculous record and collating that with the fact they have only won two La Liga’s in the last decade, highlights just how much of a specialist team they are becoming in this competition.

Bayern may well be suffering from a case of déjà vu following last week’s first leg defeat to Real Madrid in the semi final of the Champions League. It was little over a year ago when the Germans were on the end of the same score line in the first leg of a quarter final against the same opponent and would feel they should have been taking a lead to the return game in both instances. Despite taking the lead last Wednesday, the Bundesliga giants were sloppy in defence and suffered the consequences. Combine that poor defending and not being clinical at the other end means Bayern are now up against it to make their first final appearance in this competition since 2013. When you consider the quality of their attacking players, and how they put domestic teams to the sword week in, week out, their lack of ruthlessness in Europe is indicative of a mentality issue other than anything else. That has to change if they are to get the result they need in the Bernabeu on Tuesday but for a team who have performed much better at home than on the road in Europe this season, that’s easier said than done.

Real have come in for a huge amount of criticism because of their lacklustre displays in La Liga and although they are close to reaching yet another Champions League final, you wonder how long the club’s owner will sacrifice domestic glory. There is likely to be some major rebuilding done at the club over the summer with the likes of Gareth Bale rumoured to be one of the stars the club wishes to sell. His sale could fund the signing of Robert Lewandowski along with a host of others who have been linked to joining. Zidane will hope to be in charge come the new season but even his future is in doubt, which sounds incredible.

If anything, Bayern are the opposite of Real in the last few seasons with domestic dominance not being enough to satisfy the club’s hierarchy. It’s now reaching five years since the Germans reach the final and considering the efforts of the board to get them to the top of European football once again, that is seen only as failure. Bayern will be under the care of former player Niko Kovac next season and will have the task of trying to achieve both triumphs at home and in Europe, but that will be the furthest thing from the minds of the players or the current manager, Jupp Heynckes. Heynckes remains the last manager to lead the club to European glory and although he had the option to extend his current reign this time around, he would love to go out with another Champions League victory to his name.

Real Madrid v Bayern Munich Betting Tip

Bayern need only look back to their quarter final tie with Real Madrid last season to gain some hope that they are capable of turning this around. Although they eventually lost out 4-2 on aggregate, they took the game to extra time and only as a result of going down to ten men did they lose a handle of the game. It’s fair to suggest that Bayern were the better of the two teams over those games but you get absolutely nothing at this level for playing the better football and looking good – it’s all about winning, and Real have got that down to a fine art.

The absence of Arjen Robben is a huge blow for the visitors as so much of their creativity and goal threat flows through the Dutch winger. Real will have to rejig their backline with Dani Carvajal unlikely to feature but no matter who comes into the team, the system does not change and each player knows their job. I noted that Bayern are stronger at home and have laboured at time away from home in the Champions League this season but they need only take inspiration from Juventus to see what can be done against Juventus. The first leg showed that both teams gift opportunities to the other and that sets this one up for goals. Got for a repeat of the game in Munich and take both teams to score and over 2.5 goals.

Both teams to score and Over 2.5 goals 59/100 @ Marathon Bet